The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-03-26

DR.. George A. Fritch, No. sos Trum-
bull-ave. who achieved considerable
unpleasant notoriety In connection
with the death of Edith Presley, a
F., Lansing girl, two years ago. along
with Rep. Charles K. Ward, Is again
! In trouble. In a warrant issued by
Justice Jeffries, Friday morning. on
complaint of Attorney Charles H..
Buell., representing the Knights of the
Maccabees of the World. DR.. Fritch
is charged with perjury in that he is
alleged to have made false state
ment as to the cause OF DR.. Ira p.
Golfers death. which occurred in ST.
Josephs retreat Dec. 2, 1906.
1t Is alleged that, In sworn state
ment conveying proof OF death to the
lodge, DR.. Fritch gave the cause of
death as Bright's disease of the kid
neys, when, the claim is. Collier COM
mitted suicide by strangling himself
as he lay In bed.
On the strength OF the alleged false
certificate DR.. Golfers widow, Mrs
Susie A. Collier, collected $4,000 insur-
ance from the Maccabees OF the
| World. II is alleged that she collected
$4,000 more from other companies or
societies. making total of $1,000.
Armed with the warrant Detectives
Downey and Fox at once started out
In search OF DR.. Fritch. His arrest
Is expected at any time.
A chance remark by woman who
had known DIR. Collier, In a conversa-
ton with Attorney Bull recently. led
to the latest prosecution OF Dir. Fritch.
In the conversation DR.. Golfers name
cd 10 nt.A h..
called that, while viewing DR.. Golfers
remains as they lay in the casket.
either previous to or at the time of
the funeral, she noticed marks on his
neck. To Mr.. Bull the woman ex-
pressed the opinion that the doctor
had committed suicide knowing that
the widow had collected insurance
from the fraternity, Bull began an in
vestigation. What he learned at the
retreat was great revelation ~ MIN.
DR.. David Clark, superintendent OF
the institution. told Mr.. Buell. that one
morning soon after Collier had been
received as a patient in the retreat.
nurse had reported that she was
unable TO awaken him. An inyestiga-
ton revealed that DR.. Collier had TAX
er the cord from his bath robe, twist
eel II in surgeons knot about his
neck and had thus strangled himself
&c death. These facts Dr. Clark said
he had related TO Or. Fritch, and the
latter, according to information I'm pos
session Of the prosecutor, afterwards
tried to get DR.. Clark TO give another
cause OF death. Dr. Clark will un.
doubtedly be an important witness for
the prosecution when the case comes
to trial.
What was given as the cause OF death
! In the death certificate Is not known,
as the prosecution has been unable
to find any such certificate as yet.
There Is a possibility. however. that
| II may have been fled I'm Macon.
Mich. where DR.. Collier was buried.
! The sworn statement submitted TO
the Maccabees as proof OF death was
made by DR. Fritch. according to the
complaint. on Dec. II, 1906. before
Paul T. Davis. a notary public, and IL
Is on this statement that the prose
cution is based The insurance certih
/ cate issued TO DR.. Collier Jan. 20
| 1904 contained clause multiplying the
policy in case of death by suicide.
Or. Fritch was charged with man
slaughter in connection with Miss
Presley's DEATH as was Rep. Ward.
After Wards acquittal for lack OF
legal proof as TO the operation, tn
case against Fritch was dropped June
3, 1908.