Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-19
METHODS OF UNION
NATIONAL BENEFIT
Barred BY AGENT
Tells of Attempt Made to NuIlify
Claim Held by Andern-
son Woman.

lellS OF AtIempt Made 10 NulilIy
Claim Held by Andern-
son Woman.
Further revelations were brought to
light today concerning the methods
employed by agents Of the Union Ma
tional Benefit Association, with offices
in the Union building, in dealing with
policyholders of the association.
The one instance which has been
brought before the courts is the claim
made by Mrs. Mary Andernson, of 70
Pennington street, whose late hus-
| band, Charles Andernson, was insured
by the Union NATIONAL Clarence
Wander Blatt, president of the asso-
citation, has contended that the in
sured was not in good standing at the
time of his death. Mrs. Anderson is
suing to recover the death claim.
George Gottheimer, a former agent
of the Union National Benefit Asso-
citation, makes the charge that he
was hired to pay back Mrs. Andernson
the sum of SLIPS, the last premium
that was paid on her husbands
| policy. If Gottheimer had been sue
cessful in persuading Mrs. Anderson
to take back the SLIPS the woman
| would have relinquished her rights to
any death benefit from the company,
declared the former agent For this
service Gottheimer declares he was
offered bonus of O box of fine cigars
by DIR. Louis Davidson, an official of
| the company. Dayidson's cards state
he Is a doctor and attorney at law
II did not know anything about the
death claim presented by Mrs. An
dernson,' is the statement ma lie by
Gottheimer in the presence of wit
nesses, land Blatt, the president of
the company, told me he had little
job for me to do. He told me to
visit Mrs. Andernson and return to her
$1.25. Then l asked for no explana-
ton, believing that the woman was
that Blatt was taking a proper
method to dismiss her from the asso-
citation.
Promised Box of Cigars.
II asked for no explanation and
received none. DR.. Davidson told me
that If | succeeded In getting Mrs.
Andernson to take back the $1.25 L
would get box of cigars for my
work.
II went down to see Mrs. Andern-
son." continued Gottheimer, and
when / told her where / came from
she said. Did you bring me my
money!
1T thought she referred to the SIPS,
and / told her l had the money with
me- Then I offered her the $1.25,
which Blatt gave me, and she was
surprised at getting such a small
sum.
Another English-speaking woman
was present and was listening to the
whole thing. She advised Mrs. An
dernson not to take the s1.25, be-
cause there was some trick in it.
she said. / wanted to know what she
meant by trick. and then for the first
time l learned that Mrs. Andernson
had death claim against the COM
panv.
when l realized what they want
ed me to do | was sore. | did not
make any further efforts to induce
the woman to take back the SIPS. !
went back to Blatt and reported that
I could not get the woman to take the
money"
Gottheimer was positive that he re-
lated the story of the Anderson af-
fair exactly as 1t happened. He declar-
ed that he did not insure Mr. Andern
son and did not collect In the locality
in which the Andernsons live. Got
theimer left the employ of the Union
National Benefit Association short
time after this incident. He is now
employed by the Prudential Insur-
ance Campony is stationed at the
Prudential branch office. located at
Broad street and Belleville avenue.
Inspector Makes Statement.
Another Interesting story of the
Andernson claim is told by Bernard
Croll, for a number of years an in
spector of the Union National, who
figures prominently in many COM
plants made by policyholders. Croli
declares that he Joined the association
In July, 1870 and remained in Blatt's
employ until April 20, of this year.
Croll's statement follows:
when l heard that Blatt was not
] told him that the woman had a just
told Blatt that he would have to do It,
/ told him that the woman nd just
claim and | intended to see that she
got the money or / would have moth
ing further to do with the association
At that time 1 held the office of treas
urer.
II told Blatt that not single penny
would be paid out Of the associations
son was paid. To back up that threat
l notified the cashier of the Union
National Bank not to pay out dol
lar of our funds Il think we had
about 5000 or $500 in the bank at the
time) unless my signature was on
the check to be cashed.
"Blatt heard of this and he noti-
fled me that he would throw me out
of the company unless l came around
to his way of thinking about the
Andernson claim. He told me that he
would lock the doors of the insur-
ance company's offices so that l could
not get in after | refused to change
my stand Then l was Disguised and
told Blatt there would not be any
necessity to lock me out and / re-
eft Association on the spot.
I've had lot of trouble with the
Union National since that Time" con-
tinued Croll. 81 started in another
concern and Blatt had me arrested
couple of times on charges of OBJ
tanning money under false pretenses.
But he has never been able to do
anything about 1t. l know that Blatt
will make as much trouble for me as
he can, but / expect that, and have
expected 1t from the time he notified
me that | was getting too noisy
and trying to find out too much about
the Union National Benefit Associa-
ton"
Jones y Gleason, attorneys for Mrs.
Anderson assert that Andernson was