Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-05-21
CLEVER SWINDLER IS
NOW LODGED IN JAIL
Was Writing Insurance Illegal.
ly in This County.
Claimed to be Special Representative
of the Great Lloyds Company,
of London, England.

MS name as Joe GIBSON IS DeninI
the bars of the Grant county Jail.
face to face with the grim-eyed law.
Gibson, who is a man about 90
years old, with almost snow white
hair and mustache, has been operat-
ing in this section Of country for
several weeks past, posing as an agent
for the great insurance company
Lloyds, of London, England, and his
business has been that of writing in
surace upon high class registered
horses and cattle, particularly horses,
with a fondness for racing stock and
breeding stations.
Lloyds is one of the oldest and best
known Of the companies handling
this class of insurance. and as the
rates quoted by Gibson were con.
siderably lower than ordinary he mad
little difficulty in finding plenty of
business. He explained this low
rates by saying that he was
special salaried representative of the
company, direct from London and
his price represented the Lloyds' net
rate, exclusive Of brokers' commits
sions, etc.
He wrote a number of policies in
Lancaster and vicinity. including
horses for Joe Mccoy. Sheriff W. B
Dyer, Cardy and others, collecting
at once, the premiums in most cases
averaging $50 and $50 from eacn
patron.
On May 9Th he went from here to
CassvilIe, thence to Dubuque, Cuba
City and Platteville. Suspicion was
aroused here over some CT his actions
and the question arose as to whether
or not he was authorized by the state
to write insurance in Wisconsin. as
required by law. Mccoy and Dyer,
each acting without the others know
ledge, made inquiry at the state
capital and found no such authority
or license had been granted, and
Sheriff Dyer received orders from the
state authorities for Gibson's arrest
He was accordingly arrested at
Platteville Wednesday and brought
here, but examination was postponed
and he was not committed, but allow
ed to go to the Wright house for the
night.
At about 2 80 Thursday morning
Gibson quietly dressed and quilted
the hotel, walking to Sitter, where
he secured team and driver to take
him to Fennimore to catch the early
train on the narrow gauge road. He
did not leave there by train, however,
but hired team, without driver,
and drove to Boscobel. where he
crossed the Wisconsin river and pro-
ceeded to Prairie du Chen.
After his disappearance from here
Sheriff Dyer phoned ia all directions
a description of Gibson and asked for
his arrest. Sheriff Harris at Prairie
du Chen located his man in the Com
mercial hotel Thursday night but de-
layed the arrest for further develop
ments. Gibson had left call for
80 o'clock at the hotel, saying he
was going north ON the early morning
train.
About 1 O'Clock IN the morning he
left his room and came down into the
Office, saying he had dyspepsia and
could not sleep, so he settled his bill
and left the hotel. He went to the
depot where he purchased a ticket for
ST. Paul, and was standing along side
the track north of the depot when he
was arrested. just before the arrival of
the north bound Burlington train,
about o'clock a. III.
Deputy sheriff Decker. of this
county, arrived in Prairie du Chen
that night and he took charge of the
prisoner, bringing him to Lancaster
on the noon train Friday. He was
taken before Justice Burrows on Fri
day evening, where he waived
examination and was bound ever
for trial at the October term of court
in the sum of 5000 bail. He is now
in jail and has nothing to say con-
corning his case.
$3.50. 80 in currency was found upon
his person. The officers also found a
large number of written applications
representing policies he has sold since
April 1, and he claims he has not
sent any in to the company since
that time.
Following his investigation of the
company's right to do business in
Wisconsin Mr.. Mccoy on Friday
cabled to Lloyds. in London, ask
ing whether or not such man was
in their employ and has received