Gilpin observer., 1906-02-15
FRAUD.
GRAVE ROBBED AND CORPSE DY-
NAMITED AT VICTOR.
TO GET INSURANCE MONEY
John J. McEachern, Supposed TO
Have Been Killed, Arrested To-
Two Women IMPLICATED.

Have Been Killed, Arrested To-
sether With Three Other Mem
Two Women Implicated.
Denver.-A Republican special from
Victor and Cripple Creek tell the fol-
lowing story:
Because Marshal Naylor had
'hunch" when the supposed body of
John j. McEachern was blow up in
the Three Jacks tunnel on the morn
Ing OF January 26th. McEachern
and his partner, John Varley, Frank
Naudlin and Lutte kellogg are under
arrest here charged with robbing the
grave OF Robert Speed. dynamiting
the body and attempting to defraud in
surance companies out of sums aggre-
eating $1,000 by passing off the man
gled remains as those of McEachern.
McEachern's widow" and her sis
ter, Mrs. Frank Naudlin, are under ar
rest at Colorado Springs, charged with
being accessory to the alleged con-
spiracy.
No time will be lost in getting to
trial John J. McEachern, Jack Varley,
Frank Naudlin and Kellogg, arrested
here, charged with being in plot to
rob life insurance company. A di-
rect information charging McEachern
with obtaining money under false pre-
lenses will be issued, perhaps along
with other charges of more serious
character.
When the explosion tore a human
body to fragments in the Three Jacks
Eachern and Varley were leasing,
Marshal Naylor became suspicious
and started an investigation. He
learned that McEachern had taken
out policy ninety days previous in a
life insurance company for $4,000. in
the Modern Woodmen for 81 900 and
in the A. o. u. w. for 81 900, and had
tried to get $4,000 in another company
which refused him.
Naylor found that the grave of Rob
ert Speed. who died from an accident
and was buried the day before the ex-
preston, had been robbed and that
piece OF scalp with brown hair on it.
resembling Speeds, was among the
supposed remains of McEachern. who
had red hair. The marshal secured
confession from man who said he
was paid $50 by Mrs. McEachern after
she received $4,000 of the insurance
money.
ne OinCeTS lOuuu MCEdCutTH llu-
ing in the home of his brother-in-law
Frank Naudlin McEachern was ar
rested after a gun fight.
McEachern came here from Lead
vile last September
One insurance company has paid
Mrs. McEachern $4,000, but the other
insurance has not been settled.
McEachern is suspected OF being a
professional insurance swindler. 1t
was told that he collected a large
sum Of money from another company
years ago, feigning death in coffin
for three days. He and Jack Varley.
his partner. are held without bail.
William Naudlin was released on $2,-
900 bail
Lutte Kellogg, local pugilist. who Is
saic to have tipped off the case to
Marshal Naylor, was arrested Satur-
day on a charge Of defrauding the In
surance company out of $50. Kellogg
was to have received $1,000 as his
share of the $1,000 for which McEach-
ern was insured, but got cold feet be-
fore the night on which the corpse
was to have been stolen.
After witnessing the funeral and
learning of the $4,000 being paid to
the supposed widow, he wanted a
share. When rebuffed. ne told the
story to Naylor. He was arrested be-
cause, 1t is claimed, that he received
$50 from Mrs. McEachern as part pay
ment of the total Of 81 600 he was to
have received.
1t is believed that McEachern wit
messed his own funeral procession
from the windows of his brother-in-
laws house. where he was hiding.
Jack Varley denies all knowledge OF
conspiracy. He says he went to build
a fire outside of the tunnel at the sug-
gestion of McEachern, the latter say.
ing he would remain in the tunnel and
prepare the fuse. After the explosion
he says he reported to the coroner. A
man VINO looked out of n cabin near
by Immediately after the explosion
says Varley merely glanced into the
tunnel. apparently. he believed. to see
whether the corpse, under which for
ty-hve pounds of powder had been
placed, was properly scattered.
Friends of Robert Speed are in
censed by the use made of his corpse
Talk OF lynching is heard, but Nc
Eachern is carefully guarded in the
county jail here.