The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1904-04-02
A FRAUDULENT AGENT
LESLIE E. HULBURT MAIN
TANNED A GRAVEYARD
ON HIS OWN HOOK.
A Pretty Piece of Detective Work
Did Fraudulent Business
in Mexico Where He
Is Now in Jail.

Rochester, N Y, March 26.-De-
teetive w. J. Gray, of the New
York Life Insurance company, de.
tailed the story of his five months
work in running down Leslie E.
Hulburt, former Rochester attor-
ney, who is now in Mexican Jail
awaiting the action of Mexico's un-
certain courts. At first it was
thought be would be shot, but later
reports indicate that he may receive
a life sentence. He is under in
dictment in this country, and prob
ably met worse fate by hoping for
safety in Mexico.
I According to detective Gray,
Hulburt maintained a graveyard.
Suspicious circumstances attend
ing certain claims made on policies
had aroused the officials of the New
York Life insurance eompany, and
Detective Gray was directed to go to
Ell Paso, Tex, where, Hulburt was
the companys agent, under the
name of Richardson.
| Gray reached the place apparent.
1y under the influence of liquor.
Two hours after he had arrived
Hulburt was on his track and had
a policy on his life for 100000.
Then began for Gray nerve
racking experience. Hulburt, be-
coming suspicious, laid traps for
Gray. but was so skillfully count
cred that his suspicions were allay-
ed. AS his confidence in Gray in
creased he let drop hints Of his
method of operating. He took Gray
around with him, introduced him
to friends, and insisted on treating
him as an intimate acquaintance.
Hulbult did business in Mexico
with his headquarters and home al
Chihuahau, and eventually Gray
was successful in getting an. invi
tation to visit there. The residence
was a large house, magni6cently
furnished. Hulburt spent money
lavishly and was regarded by Chi
] hauhauans as a rich, eccentric A
.merican.
HIS eccentricity was manifested
ina peculiar and gruesome manner
His nome backed up on a graveyard
Gray noticed it, and did lot o
thinking. Inquiry sho wed tina
when one of Hulburt's policy hold
ers had died in the morning he wa
buried before three o'clock in th
afternoon in the graveyard back o
Hulburt's Mexican home.
Gray had been associated witt
Hulburt for about three month
when the latter again became. dis
trustful. Gray was seen talk
ing with a representative of tn
New York Life Insurance company
Mrs. Hulburt saw the meeting an
reported 10 her husband. That al
ternoon Hulbnrt called Oh Gray 7
|. his Office.
"I think you're a detective fo
the New York Life Insurance CON
< pany," was his greeting to Gray
. Then Gray played trumps by indie
Z nantly jumping from his chair an
s kicking Hulburt out of the offic,
s His evidence against Hulburt ws
6 not yet complete. The vigoror
!. treatment had its effect, and Hu
. burt, believing that he had misjuds
3 ed Gray, was more friendly tha
: ever. Gray now became a frequer
s visitor at Hulbe1t's house, althoug
: it made him nervous to dine at tt
Z same table with the suspected mai
Z THAT graveyard" said Gray, "w;
i always in my mind at such times
: Detective Gray made anoth'
S trip to Chihuahau and after his r
& turn the exposure of the Hulbu
Z gangs methods was followed by tt
= arrest of Hulburt and his accon
3 plices. When Hulburt was a
s raigned he first learned of the ideI
s tity of Gray.
Z District.Attorney Warren was Q
{ thusiastic in his appreciation
= Gray's ability. ."It is the finest /
2 of detective work l have ever hea
s of, said he. when one thinks
8 the kind of man Grsy was workil
E against it sends chills up and dov
{ him. Nest people in his positi
3 would have feared poison in ever
& thing that they ate or drank in HI
burt's company.
: ~And when you think of the til
be put in on the case," continu
Mr.. Warren, sit is all the more !
markable that he did not make