New-York tribune., 1911-10-01

with suspicion any case OF accidental dcdth
i'm which the body has not been recovered
and they take full advantage of the nom
mated time I'm which they have TO pay "A
claim after proof of death has been made
This caution often saves the companies big
sums of money.
one OF the most curious, intricate ana
daringIy executed efforts 10 defraud an IN
surance company was that of William Rad
loft and Louis Kostrauch-a case known IN
insurance circles as the Radloff conspiracy.
on the morning of April l6, 1892. the house
Of William Radloff, four miles north of
Seattle. in a forest, was burned. and i'm the
ruins we're found the charred remains OF "A
human body. RadloT had come TO America
from Germany few years before and had
married an American woman. They We're
not very happy together, and young
Austrian. who lived with the family, Louis
Kostrauch. became very friendly with the
wife. At the time of the fire Mrs. Radloh
and her baby were i'm Tacoma visiting her
parents. and KOstrauch was also away.
The police jumped 10 the conclusion that
Kostrauch had killed Radlon and attempted
10 burn the body in order that he might
marry the wife, and arrested him. Kos
trauch had in his possession a love letter
from Mrs. Radlom, and "A money order
made out to her by her husband
Kostrauch was very rcticent in what he
said 10 the police, and denied having talked
with Radloff the day before. At last he
said he would tell what he knew If assured
that he would not be hanged. That clinched
the matter with the police-they had the
murderer. and the search was abandoned.
The case was complicated a little later
when it was found that within two months
Radloff had taken out $1,000 Of life insur-
ance $4,000 I'm the New York Life, $1,000
i'm the Equitable and $1,000 in the Mutual
Life. The investigating bureaus Of these
cOrnpanies scented a conspiracy and began
10 work on the case There was ceme-
terry near Radlon's house; this was eX-
amined and IL was found that the body
Of r. d. Levin, n neighbor. who had died
On February II of consumption, had been
taken from the grave only the rough BOX
having been left. The proof was so com
plete that at the inquest kostrauch con-
fessed that ne. Radlon and Mrs. Radlon
lad planned the whole thing. on March 9
Radlon had applied for the insurance i'm
the three companies. and payment Of the
premiums had been made within two weeks
before the fire.
few DAYS after Radlon had been
PASSED ly the medical examiner ne and
Kostrauch went 90 the cemetery and OK
humed the body Of Levin, rebuyiEe il IN
thc chicken yard ot Radon house. AS
soon ae tHe policies were received MIS-
Hadlo1 was sent i' Tacoma kostraucn
and EadioH dug un the BODY placed u on
taolon 5 "e!, I''in- "A ', " "a-' '. ''i'-
lofts trousers They a.od th. room W',l
saarurs, saturated with Kerosene OIL and
lel two burning candles. which burned
Gown 600 about two hours. setting fire q"
ue niamuab.e ulto a. VIII" Tue tW"
men Were Tar away Ion 'H' lonely mousse
E.d .o1 70 once started Tor san francesca.
Wa... .l.i.aHcl remained "tHlno To play
very clever part but one Which was
b.oaght To uaurht through the suspicion
and ingenuity OF the insurance companies
Investigators Mrs. Hadlon denied all
knowledge OF the conspiracy, hut Kos
trauch said they were AN three 10 meet
in Germany aiterWard ana ENJOY 'hc
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