Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-02-18
O'NElL FLIES BY NIGHT
Sanford II O'NeiI Skips Out OF Town an
Alleged Embe zzler and Absc0nder

Sanford Fl. O'Neil, insurance agent,
is badly wanted hereabcuts, but the
chances are that Sammy" as he was
Familiarity called, will not come back
to Audubon unless he is brought back
by the authorities.
O'Neil, it is alleged, is an embezzler
from the companies by which he was
commissioned to act as local agent, but
the amount with which he has abscond-
ed is not known at present. 1t is how
ever, variously estimated at from 5000
to $500. 1t will take considerable
time and much labor on the part of the
insurance companies representatives
to get at the exact amount he is alleged
to have failed to turn into the COM
panies for policies he has written
within the past three months.
O'Neil represented half-a-dozen or
more insurance companies, as he
worked life, fire, lightning, tornado
and accident lines, and it is thought
that at least four of his companies
will find that policies have been writ
ten for them and premiums collected
of which they are at present in abso-
lubC uhNC 0Iu WhlCu bllOy Will
doubtedly have to stand good for.
About two weeks ago O'Neil claimed
to have written So, 900 fire and light
ming policy for prominent farmer
living a short distance from this city
and also claimed to have collected the
premium upon it, and If this proves to
be true the sum embezZled may reach
larger figure than is now expected.
or ThnrS1 a ninht n3Nnil Skinnn1
out on the North Western north bound
train and is supposed to have gone to
Carroll and waited over until one of
the through trains came along and on
which he continued his flight. Several
persons suspected that he was about
to make his getaway, but they thought
he would at least take his grip with
him, but Sammy fooled them when he
went flying light
the insurance companies which
O'Neil represented are the Hawkeye,
Btna, Continental, Commercial, Stand
ard, Sun (of LixerpooD and perhaps
one or two others. Representative
of the Commercial and Hawkeye are
now in the city strengthening up the
affairs of their companies so their
patrons will be secured from any loss
through O'Neil's dishonesty. Mr..
Fred ID. Hougham, special agent of
the Commercial Life Insurance Com
pany, and G. T.. Fleisbach, of the
hawkeye, are the gentlemen now here.
Others are expected to arrive before
tie end of the week. All the compan
les will do what they can to make good
the policies written by O'Neil and the
public need have no fear of loss
through his departure for parts un-
known.
The insurance companies are not
the only losers by any means. A num-
Der of Audubon's merchants are also
his victims, as are also the Park Liv-
cry barn and the Park Hotel, into
which he had piled up debts ranging
from $50 to S75 for horse hire and
board. This being the case, it is more
than probable that the total amount
of O'NeiPs embezzlement will reach
fully $500. The authorities have
made no effort to apprehend O'Neil as
no information has as yet been filed
with the prosecuting attorney, no war
rant has been asked for or any step
whatever taken to apprehend him.
His bondsmen, however, may take
some action in that direction as soon
as the insurance companies ascertain
the amount of the embezzlement.