davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18
HURLBERT. MITCHELL AND HARL
UNDER SENTENCE FOR COLD
FLOODED MURDERS.
were GANG OF LIFE INSURANCE SW|NDLERS
Killing of Their Victims a Part of the Scheme
by Which They Had Made Large Sums
Had Another Victim Marked
for Death.

Chihuahua, MeXico.-Through a skein
of plot and counte plot, that, if
evolved by a writer of fiction, would
have been considered ex%travagant, the
story runs of the crime of the three
men, Hu-lbert, Mitchell and Harle,
now under sentence of death here.
The crime for which these three
men are to die is murder, an incident
of their series of carefully planned life
insurance swindles.
The particular company victimized
is one of the greatest in the world, and
only carelessness on the part of the
plotters, resulting from over-confi-
dence, saved it from a heavy loss.
Practically in its entirety the affair
is as follows:
Commenced in 1902.
1t was in the spring of 1902 that a
life insurance company was called
upon to pay two death claims in Chi
huahua, the first on the life of Harry
M. Mitchell for S15,0 900 under a policy
assigned to his sister, Helen Richard
son, and the second on the life of
James Devers for $4,000 under a pol
icy of which one Willis Meredith was
the beneficiary. Mitchell had died
on February IL of that year, and
Devers on March 90, and the agent in
both cases had been c. T. Richardson,
who had formerly been in the employ
of the company at Chihuahua, but was
now living in Dallas, Tex.
Now, life insurance agents in Chi
huahua, Mexico, even those who SUBJ
.sequently move to a town like Dallas,
do not, as a rule, support private
teams, nor drive out in style with
negro coachman and a footman or two.
All these things We're included in
Richardson's establishment in Dallas,
to the great amazement of a repre-
sentative of the life insurance COM
pany, who went down from the Ell
Paso office, where the check for the
Devers policy had been forwarded, to
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18

brother Of Devers, William Meredith,
Harle was not cross-examine1, and he
left the stand thinking he had got
away with the goods"
Confession from Harle.
AT this point Bottome from Eel Paso
telegraphed Harle that he was COM
ing to chihuahua and wanted to see
him. Harle thereupon started for El
Paso, and Bottome, when he was we'll
on his way to the Mexican town, rot
a wire on his train that ne would
pass the train on which Harle was
travelling in mid-route. Bottome left
his train at a convenient station and
boarded the other. Then, as he did
not know Harle, he sent q porter
through the Car with q Western Union
telegraph envelope addressed to the
doctor, and Harle tumbled into the
trap. Bottome and n detective led
Harle into the smoking compartment
and started a quizz Of the third de-
gree" order that wound up that night
with a 50-page confession duplicating
Harle in the death of Devers, and
telling enough of the circumstances Of
Harry Mitchell's death to indicate
how his suicide" had been arranged.
Harle said that Devers had been
brought from Chihuahua from Ell Paso
by Richardson in December of 1901,
and that Richardson had said that he
had explained to Devers that Devers
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18

the Fort Worth Office at the request of
Meredith, and when it came back after
collection through a Fort Worth bank
it bore Meredith's Endorsement for de-
post. Inquiry at the bank in ques-
ton developed that soon after the
claim had been filed on Devers' death
Meredith had called at the bank in
company with Richardson, and had
obtained there a loan of SIS, 1000 upon
Richardson's assurance that the COM
pany had admitted the claim under
the policy and was about to pay the
money. This loan was paid in part in
cash and in part by a draft on the
Seaboard National bank, of New York,
and it was this draft for $1,000, to-
gether with it's Endorsement to Rich
ardson, that forms the first link in the
chain of evidence that was to connect
him with the crime.
So the search led back to chihuahua,
and when more light was sought on
the manner of the deaths of Harry
Mitchell and Devers it was found that
in the first case death had occurred
in the house in which Richardson and
his wife lived and within half an hour
after Mitchell had talked with a
friend in the street, apparently in
perfect health. This was hardly con-
sistent with the theory of spinal men
nights advanced by DR.. Harle, the
physician signing the death certificate,
who happened to be also the physician
who had examined each applicant for
insurance Upon his admission to the
company. In the case of Devers it
appeared that death was due to dysen-
terry, as might easily have occurred
with a man of Devers' dissolute man
ner of living. Of Richardson nothing
could be learned, except that he had
appeared in Chihuahua in the sum-
mer of 1901, with his wife, Helen
Richardson, as an American looking
for business opportunities in Mexico,
and had secured an appointment as
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18

was to be used in swindling one VIII.
lis Meredith cut of a lot of money.
For this purpose Devers was to pose
also to AXE out a life insurance pol
icy in his half-brother's favor. But
Devers never signed any papers in this
connection; that wa all arranged be-
tween Harle and Richardson. SO that
when Willis Meredith, who turned out
to be Mason, arrived on the night of
Harry Mitchell's funeral with a wom-
an who posed as his wife, it was neces-
sary only that the final preparation
should be made to put Devers out of
the way before collecting both of the
policies. These were easily arranged.
The bogus Meredith and Devers went
to live together. On February %
Harle vas called to see Devers, who
appeared to be suffering from acute dys-
EMERY. Harle gave him some medi-
cine to ease his pain, but shortly after
he died.
In his confession Harle said he knew
Devers was being poisoned, and sup
posed that bichloride Of mercury was
given him in whisky. Harle filled out
a fake burial certificate and the
other papers necessary to collect on
the policy, after which Richardson.
n Mason, who had now become Will
liam Mitchell, took it to the Ell Paso
agency and eventually raised the 49,
600, OF which we have heard, at the
bank at Fort Worth. Harle, of course,
was Immediately arrested, and event.
ually came to trial with the other men.
Hurlbert's Criminal Record.
But in the meantime photographs of
the trio had been distributed through
the usual police channels throughout
the country, and when they reached
Rochester, N. Y, the photograph OF
Richardson was recognized as that OF
Lester e. Hurlbert, a lawyer, who had
jumped that city in May, 1901, after
the exposure Of an extensive divorce
mill which he had operated in the
cities of Rochester and Buffalo. VIII
liam Mitchell, or Willis Meredith, or
Mason, as he was ~variously known,
turned out to be the brother of Harry
Mitchell, who was killed in Chihua-
hua in order that the gang might COL
lect on his Sic, 900 policy. Mrs. Rich
ardson was identified as the wife OF
Hurlbert, and investigation in Roches-
ter developed the fact that she was
the sister of the Mitchell boys. Will
liam Mitchell's trail, indeed, was fol-
lowed ever to Hot Springs, Ark,
where the wealthy lumberman" Gray
had his brother-in-law insured, for
Mason" was the engaging young
man who had himself examined by
the Hot Springs doctor as John ].
Evans.
The trial of the three men had been
reported in part in the papers through
out the country, and 1t served only to
develop the facts in the remarkable
case which have been very simply mar
rated above. The verdict CT guilty
quickly followed the presentation OF
the facts to the jury, and 1t remained
at length necessary emily for the x
%cutioners to carry out tho sentence
| OF the court Wv
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18

agent for the life insurance company
in the territory.
Gray's Entry Into the Game.
1t was at this stage of the case that
there came to Dallas, where the Rich.
ardsons were living in style, a pre-
possessing citizen named w. J. Gray,
a dealer in lumber lands, who opened
an office of some size and took a house
In the best part of the town. The
Richardson's happened to be in Hot
Springs, Ark, at the time, n so
Gray, the lumberman, who wasn't in
any hurry to get his Dallas affairs NOV
ing anyway. took a trip over to the
Arkansas resort and registered at the
same hotel with the former life in
surance agent, his wife and child.
The two got acquainted and became
famous friends. Then one day Rich
ardson proposed that he should insure
Gray's life. Gray demurred, but he
recalled that his wife had a brother
who was Ill with consumption, dia-
betes, and several other troubles, and
it occurred to him that If there were
any way in which a policy might be
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18

headquarters. Gray used to hear from
Richardson how it wasn't really neces-
sary to bride a doctor in an insurance
fore the medical mar to pass the
physical examination, and Richardson
had just the dummy that filed the
bill, a young fellow named Mason,
once q miner in Chihuahua.
So the months on, and it was
in October of 1902. The Gray-Ricnard-
son-Mason combination was now in
good running order, and it Was
planned that they should go to Ell
Paso, where Mason would AXE out
100000 insurance in the name of
Marshall d. Sanguinetto, an individ-
ual whom Richardson said he knew to
be dying of consumption in Mexico.
They were to make Gray the benef-
ciary Of the policy, wait until Sanguin-
etto died, and then collect the $780,
600. But a hitch arose. Richardson
remembered one day that mis- friend
Sanguinetto, was a young man Of
middle age, whereas Mason was but a
youngster Of 20. Why not, then, have
Gray take out the policy as Sanguin-
etto, making Mason the %benenciary,
and then collect in the usual way?
Gray Marked for Murder.
Gray was not o~veranxious TO make
his death a possible source Of profit to
Richardson and Mason, but he con-
sented to be Sanguinetto for the pur-
poses of the policy, and to own Mason
as David Sanguinetto, his son and
heir. After various introductions the
policy was made out and the deal
closed-apparently. What introduced
a new element into it that Rich
ardson and his friend Mason had not
counted on was the fact that Harry
Bottome and a couple Of detectives
had been keeping in nightly touch
With Gray and incidentally had been
doing a little work on the side, listen
ing to conversations between Rich
ardson and Mason when Gray wasn't
around. 1t was in one of these con-
versations that Richardson gleefully
remarked that Gray had been the cas-
lest thing imaginable in the Sanguin-
etto case, and added:
1--WE won't do a thing to him when
we get him over the border"
Bottome and his men decided that
matters had gone far enough. They
laid their information before the dis
trict attorney of Ell Paso county, and
warrants were issued for all three, in
Guiding Gray, for it was inexpedient
just hen to have an exposure of the
part which the lumberman-detectiye
had played in the case. Gray, however,
was 500 released, and the next step
was a charge filed in the City Of Chi
huahua accusing Richardson and Ma
son OF the murders of Mitchell and
Devers. In the preliminary hearing
DR.. Harle was called as a witness, and
testified that Mitchell did die of strych-
nine poisoning instead of spinal men
nights, but that Richardson had told
him that the case wal one Of sui
eide, and wanted to have things hushed
! up. Devers, Harle still declared, diod
OF dysentery. HaSle said that he had
bean called In to attend him by a half
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18

wasted away in bed for ten weeks,
After being given up, l began using
Doan's Kidney Pills. In a couple Of
months I regained my old health,
and now weigh ISIS pounds. Twelve
boxes did it, and l have been well
two years"
Sold by all dealers. so cents a box.
Foster-MDburn Co., Buffalo, n. Y.
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18

look into the matter. These things
were reported to the home office, and
under the direction of Second Vice
President Kingsley, Harry H. Bottome,
a lawyer of New York, and a detective,
who may remain nameless, got busy
on the case.
1t was discovered that Devers had
been in Chihuahua a few weeks before
his death, and that nothing was known
about him except that he vas a hard
drinker and of a type of social out
cast common enough in that territory.
This strengthened a theory that the
very possession of a $4,000 policy by
such a man required some further
explanation, let alone possible suspi-
cious circumstances attending his
death. So the Investigators turned to
the payment OF the Devers policy at
the El Paso office, after the company
had unsuacessfully tried to have the
check sent from New York intercepted
in transit.
First Evidence Secured.
1t appeared that the check had been
forwarded from the Fl Paso Office to
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18
S~easonable Hour.

Stern Parent-What time did that vounu
man leave?
Pretty Daughter-Just when you got
home from the lodge, ma returned from
her bridge party and Bridget came back
fiom her night out.-N. Y. Sun.
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18

No one is himself when his nerve cen,
tiers are exhausted, whether from cxces.
siNe use or from lack of proper food. The
quality OF ones thought, ambition, en-
ergy, aims and ideals, Is largely a matter
OF health.-Success Magazine.
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18

For fifteen years
l had kidney trou-
bles, and though I
doctored faithfully,
could not find a
cure. l had heavy
b~ackaches. dizzy
headaches and terri
BILE urinary disor-
ders. One day I
collapsed, fell in
sensible on the side
walk, and then
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18

All %upto.date ~housckeepers use Red
Cross BAL Blue. 1t makes clothes clean
and sweet as when new, All procers.
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18

A good many modern novels would be
oil more lasting value if their authors
ouly devoted more time to thinking what
to say instead of how to say it.-Boston
Globe,
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18

You always Get full value in Lewis Sin.
gle Binder straight &c cigar. Your dealer
or Lewis Factory, Peoria, Ill.
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18

Complexion bad? Tongue coated? Liver
ieranged? Take Garfield Tea.
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18

BE patient; card houses are built in an
hour-cathedrals take centuries.
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18
WASTED TO A SHADOW.

Gut Found a Cure After Fifteen Years
Of Suffering.
A. II. Stotts, messenger at the State
Capitol, Columbus, o., says:
The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-18
Twenty Five Bushels
of w heat to the Acre

The Canadian Government gives absolutely
free to every settler 100 acres of such land.
Lands adjoining can be purchased at from Sc
TO so per acre from railroad and other corpora,
tions.
Already l75,000 farmers from the United States
have made their homes in Canada.
For pamphlet Twentieth Century Canada"
OF Ottawa, Canada, or to the
following authorized Canadian Government
Agents
u.s.. CRAWFORD, 1875 West 9th St.. Kansas City. Mo.
CD. BROUGHTON, 4s0Quincy Bldg. Chicago, III.
Mention this paper.
The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1906-06-01
was attended bv DR.. Wenz.

Evangelist Winter will deliver the
following addresses commencing Tues
day afternoon, Juae, s, to which all
are cordially invited: Tuesday after
noon, "How to reach the young m IN
for Christ, and keep them there. I"
Wednesday afternoon, IA Woman"
Thursday afternoon, "Diyins Heal
ing" Friday Afternoon, ssThe mean
Ing and demands Of a holy life.".
Order your suit now for the 4th of
July. Suits $l8 up, try the suit on
while it is being made.
j. MOSS, the Tailor.
Next door to the Telephone office.
DR.. F. Wenx and G. L. Hoffman,
the only people ia Rathdrum who
have any money really at stake In the
Pend d'Oreille Rapid Transit COM
pany, although Others have subscribed
thousands In stock, made trip to
Spokane Saturday afternoon to in-
vestigate the Iceberg trouble.
STRAYED OR STOLEN-Sorrel
poney-with white face and feet. Gone
3 weeks. Reward IL same is returned
to S. d. Watkins, Athol, Idaho. jl-S
Fresh cows for sale. e. j. Young.
Rathdrum. IT..
The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1906-06-01
NOTICE OF ELECTION

NOTICE is HEREBY GIVEN,
That, Whereas, petition signed by
more than one fifth of those in School
District No. qualified to vote at
School Elections for the levy of taxes
and Issue Of bonds, for the creation Of
Independent School District No. 2,
out OF the territory Of School District
No. 2 and no remOnstrance against
said petition having been aled, 1t IS
therefore ordered, that an Election be
held on the 23rd day Of June, 1906,
at the School House in School Dis
trlct No. 2. The question to be yot-
ed on at said election will be ''Shall
Independent School District No. 2,
Kootenai County, Idaho, be created
to consist Of same territory now
embraced within the limits Of School
District No. 2 as now constituted. y
At said election all persons residing
10 said District who are qualified Il
vote at School Elections for the issue
of bonds and the levy of taxes will be
entitled to vote. At said election
the polls shall open at o'clock and
shall close at the hour OF 7 O'Clock,
P. M.
In witness whereof, l have hereun
to set my hand and affixed the seal d
the Board or County Commissioner
on this Goth day OF May, 1906.
r. L. QUARLES.
Clerk of the Board of County Com
1 missioners in and for KO0tenai Coun
ty, Idaho. jun IL;
The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1906-06-01
NOTICE OF INTENTION OF THE BOARD
OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF
RATHDRUM. Municipal Corpor-
alton. Situated in the County Of Kootenai
State Of idaho. to Issue and Negotiate
Bonds.

/. NOTICE is HEREBY GIVEN
That the Chairman and Board OF
Trustees OF the Village of Rathdrum,
situated in the County Of Kootenai,
States of Idaho, intend to issue and
negotiate the sale of negotiable coupon
bonds Of said municipal corporation,
under and by virtue Of Ordinance,
No. XXXVI, Of the Village of Rath-
drum, municipal corporation, situ-
ated In the County OF Kootenai, State
Of Idaho, duly enacted and ordained
on the 10Th day VI March, 1906, and
by virtue Of an election duly called
and held on the 9Th day Ut Nav, 1905,
by electors qualified to vote on such
matters In the said Village of Rath-
drum, whereby the Chairman and
Board of Trustees OF said municipal
corporation are authorized to issue
negotiable coupon bonds to the
amount of $l2,5O0 in denominations
of $500 each payable in not less than
ten years and not more than twenty
years from date of issue and to bear
interest at the rate of six per cent per
annum, interest payable semi-annual-
ly; said coupon bonds to be the bonds
of said Village OF Rathdrum, mum
icipal corporation, and described as
follows, towit:
Bonds to the amount of $12, 500, for
the purpose OF purchasing, improving
and extending the present water
works, water system and water rights
Of the Rathdrum Water & Power COM
pany, a corporation, situated at and
near said Village of Rathdrum, In
the County OF Kootenai, State of
Idaho, the purchase price Of said
water work, water system and water
rights to be the, sum Of $500, and
the remaining $4,000, the proceeds OF
the sales OF said municipal coupon
bonds to be applied In improving and
extending said water works and water
system and water rights.
Sealed bids will be received for said
municipal bonds at the Office Of the
Clerk of said Board of Village Trus
tees in Rathdrum, Kootenai County
State Of Idaho, at any time on o.
before the 9th day Of June, A. D.
1906, twelve O'clock noon, at which
time the bids will be opened. Th
Chairman and Board of Trustees o
said municipal corporation reserve tn
right to reject any and all bids.
. Done by order of the Chairman ant
) Board of Trustees of the Village q
> Rathdrum, municipal corporation
y situated III the County OF Kootenai
> State of Idaho, this the 18th day q
May, A. D., 1906.
t Attest: W. A. HART,
d A. COOK, Chairman
= Clerk.
% May18.June8.
The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1906-06-01

New mileage and excess baggage
books of the Northern Pacific BY.
company take effect today as follows:
Mileage book, 5000 mile ticket at 2
cents, or SIS; 5000 miles at &c, or
$500: excess baggage book, face value
$50, will be sold at rate of $48.5O.
These tickets are nom transferable,
and are good on N. p. east Of Beach,
N. d and other roads either wholly
or In part. For further particulars
call on the N. P. agent, Rathdrum.
We learn that the statement last
week that Mr.. G. j. Shoemaker had
resided in Kootenai "many years" il
not literally correct, but that he has
been a citizen of prominence In Coeul
d'Alene for the past two or three
years. We thus correct the forme
statement. The truth does no hon
est man harm.
Have your old clothes made as goot
as new. MOSS, the Tailor. Mex
door to the Telephone office.
BY an oversight In the mention 0
the commencement exercises las
week, mention of Mrs. A. A. Frever
playing the accompaniment for Rev
IL. II. Martins solo, "Erl-King", wa
omitted. 1t was a difficult piece an.
was played very creditably.
The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1906-06-01

II you knew the value of Chamber
lain's Salye you would never wish to
be without it. Here are some Of the
diseases for which 1t Is especially val
liable; sore nipples, chapped hands,
burns, frost bites, chilblains, chronic
sore eyes, itching piles, letter, salt
rheum and eczema. Price 25 cents
net box. For sale by DR.. f. WenzI
The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1906-06-01
Unknown Friends.


There are many people who have
used Chamberlain's Collie, Cholera
and Diarrhoea Remedy with splendid
results, but who are unknown be-
cause they have hesitated about CIV
ing a testimonial of their experience
for publication. These people. how.
ever, are none the less friends OF this
remedy. They have done much to-
ward making It a household word by
their personal recommendations to
friends and neighbors. 1t is good
medicine to have in the home and is
widely known for its cures of diarr-
hoea and all forms of bowel trouble.
For sale by DR.. f. Wenz.
The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1906-06-01

If your stomach troubles you do
not conclude that there is no cure, for
a great many have been permanently
cured by Chamberlain's Stomach and
Liver tablets. Get free sample al
DR.. +. Wenz's drug store and give
them a trial. They also cure cunsti'
patton and biliousness.