The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-07-25
A B0[O INSURANCE
FRAUD WORKED
BY LADY
Bemidji Woman Passes Self
Off For a Widow and Col
lects $1,000 on q Policy.


petrated in Bemidji recently, when a
woman going by the name of Mrs Jen-
ME Anderson, by passing herself off
as Mrs. Jennie Anderson. wife of
Andrew E. Anderson, deceased gained
possession of $4,000 insurance money
due the widow from the Ancient Or
der of United Workman.
Through the merest chance, fortu-
nate mistake that will happen once in
many years part of this sum, a draft
for 1,40O has been recovered, but the
woman and 5000 in cash is still in
parts unknown. A warrant for her ar
rest, charging grand larceny has been
issued by County Attorney Mcdonald
and the sheriff, is now hot on her
trail.
w. B. Anderson, of Minneapolis, at
torney for the order, has been in Be-
midi for two days searching out evil
dence, and he declares himself deeply
impressed with the remarkable fea-
lures of the case In the twenty
eight years that the A. o. u. w. has
been doing business in Minnesota.
says Mr.. Anderson, this is the first
case on record where a fraud of this
character has been successfully car
ried through. Mr.. Anderson left Be-
midi fully convinced that he could
protect the order against loss, although
he expected law suit with the bank
cashing the draft
Andrew E. Anderson of Bemidji was
member of Little Falls lodge No. 1O4
and was insured for $4,000. He died
at Bemidji May 2. Proofs of death
were executed and filed May 10, and
June IL warrant for the full amount
of the insurance was sent to L. w,
Vasaly, recorded of the Little Falls
lodge.
Had Mr.. Vasaly sent the warrant to
the recorder of the Bemidji lodge for
delivery to the widow, as is customary
all the trouble would have been avert
ed. But he preferred to deal directly
with the beneficiary himself,
May %, Mrs. Anderson, the rightful
widow wrote Mr.. Vasaly, saying that
she was in impoverished circum-
stances and urging that he hurry the
money If possible, and the recorder
answered that she could have the war
rants when she produced the certifi-
cate which had been issued to her
husband when he took out the insur-
ance
1t was this letter that was delivered
to the wrong Mrs. Jennie Anderson
presumably seeing a chance to make
an easy $4,000 she took the letter to
an attorney, c. w. Scrutchin of that
city, and told him that she had the
money, but she had lost her certificate,
having no reason to doubt the wo-
mans honesty, Mr.. Scrutchin consent
ed to act as her attorney, and wrote
letter for her to the Little Falls re-
cOrder, explaining that she had lost
her certificate.
The answer came back that the wo-
man must make an affidavit to that eff
feet, and Mr.. Scrutchin, as a notary
public took her acknowledgment. The
affidavit did not satisfy the head Off
GERS Of the order and printed affidav-
it was sent to be filled in and sworn
to.
Mr.. Scrutchin acted as notary public
in making out this second paper also,
and mailed it as requested. In short
time the draft was sent to Mr.. Scrut-
chin as Mrs. Anderson's attorney.
The draft was made payable at the
First National bank of Bemidji and
the attorney and the fraudulent Mrs.
Anderson went to the institution to
get the draft exchanged for money.
Mrs. Anderson signed the draft with
her mark and c. w. Scrutchin and R.
H. Schumacher, cashier of the bank,
signed as witnesses to the mark.
The bank then paid over 5000 in
cash and the balance, $1,400 in the
shape of draft. Mrs. Anderson inn
mediately left town and no more was
heard of her until she presented the
draft to bank at Escanaba, Michigan
for payment. Then it was discovered
that in writing the draft the numerals
had been made to read 81, 400 and the
written figures fourteen dollars. AS
the written figures always govern on
a check or draft, the Escanaba bank
sent the paper to the First National of
that city for ratification.
This draft for $1,400 was received
yesterday and the bank is holding on
to it.
There is lively dispute as to which
shall stand the 5000 loss, the bank or
the order. The order claims that the
bank did not exercise due diligence
identifying Mrs. Anderson as the
rightful beneficiary.
Mr.. Anderson while there yesterday
said his order was willing to stand the
expense of a suit to find just how law
on such cases would be interpreted by
tho cONrtS