Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-23
NO EVIDENCE OF SUICIDE
Had Trouble as Pres dent of the
Mutual Reserve.
WAS UNDER FIVE INDICTMENTS
Charges of Forgery and Grand
Larceny Followed Investigation
by Armstrong Commission.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
NEW YORK, December 23-Frederick
A. Burnham, former president of the Mu-
tual Reserve Life Insurance Company.
was found dead In bed at his home, 66
East 18th street. this morning. having
been killed by gas.
The case was reported to the coroner's s
office as one Of suicide. The police re-
turns had it supposed suicide Members
of the family maintain that Mr.. Burnham
met his death accidentally. He was fifty
seven years old.
After Coroner Acritelli had made an in
vestigation he supported the family S
theory of accidental death. He said that
he found nothing to show that Mr. Burn
ham had committed suicide. There were
no signs of preparation the coroner said.
An inquest will be held next week.
Burnham lived with his wife Katherine
and his son Frederick X. Burnham Mrs.
Burnham. noticing the odor Of gas. went
to her husbands room at go O'Clock this
morning. She found him apparently un-
conscious. The household was aroused,
measures taken to resuscitate Mr.. Burn
ham and medical aid summoned. DR.. Ed
ward E. Miller of 963 Madison avenue was
the first to respond. but when he reached
the room he found that Mr.. Burnham was
dead.
Adjoining Mr.. Burnhams bedroom was
a bathroom, with a connecting door, In
which was gas heater with three COCKS.
One of these cocks was turned on full, SO
that the gas was escaping freely. Mem
bers of the family are positive that MI.
Burnham turned the cock by accident.
Had a Stormy Career.
Burnham had a stormy career as presi-
dent of the Mutual Reserve Llfe lnsur-
ance Company, a position he held lot
something over seven years. his fesis-
nation came in May, 1907. when he was
forced ont by the other directors, follow
ing developments ON the insurance III
vestigation by the Armstrong coHiH
Criminal prosecution was maze. anu burn
ham and others we're indicted. Inc III
dctments against Burnham charseu Aoi
cry and grand larceny.
Burnham had been able in the eiectloh
of the preceding December 10 put d nun nun
ber of his own supporters IN tne oIIec-
19O7 in getting himself elected president.
though at the time he was under lndicl-
ment on five counts charging grand Jar
ceny and forgery. His brother' Georse
Burnham, jr., who had been counsel lor
the company, was then serving a term
of two years in Sing Sing on a conVic-
ton growing out Of the same charges, al
though the appellate division afterWard
reversed the conviction and restored Burn
ham to standing at the bar
Charges were first brought against
the insurance company president as far
back as 1900, when the company was
called the Mutual Reserve Refund Life
Insurance Association. The evidence
was submitted to Attorney General
Davies who declined to start prose-
cutiOn
The Armstrong Investigation.
The investigation Of the Armstrong
committee of the legislature, for whom
Charles E. Hughes was acting as counsel,
brought out enough evidence in 1906 to
make the grand jury feel warranted In
bringing five indictments Tor forgery and
grand larceny against each or three OF
ficers of the insurance company. FREEZER
ick Burnham, the president: his brother.
George Burnham, jr.. counsel, and
Frederick Eldredge, vice president. They
were all based on charges of misapplica-
tion of funds. and false entries IN the
company's books, In 1901. The transac-
tions in particular that brought the in
dictments were charges on the company S
books for $500 and 5000. respectively,
which, it was alleged by the district at
torney, were in settlement of private suits
instituted by J. Douglas Wells and j.
Thompson Patterson against Frederick A.
Burnham and Frederick A. Burnham and
EradericE Fl6radpp Jointly.