Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-29
mo clue as to the whereabouts

have some clue rs to the whereabouts
Of the insured
sweeping search for lost policy
holders was recently Instituted by a
connecticut company. which resulted In
tne compilation OF some very interest.
January l. 1915. inquiries were made
concerning 3,GAa policyholders. OF this
number the addresses OF 2Sls were
secured and 65S were found TO have do
ceased. leaving 1877 cases still un
known. Tho per cent of tho policy
holders whose addresses were secured
ana those who had deceased, to the
number OF cases Investigated Is s5,4.
The total cash payments by thl.
company made during the period
named. on account OF tho claims It
had discovered during this inycstiga
t!on. were s265.2254l
1t IS interesting to note this inves-
lgat'on brought TO light the fact that.
In many cases, the death of tho Insured
had occurred moro than thirty wears
ago. rs to the amounts OF Individual
pohcies thus paid as death Claims, 49,
900 was tho largest and 500 was the
smallest.
In conducting this campaign by
means OF correspondence and advertise
Nnehts IN the various newspapers re-
piles were received from dctect,v.
agencies Offering their services for n
stated percentage OF tho amount to be
collected. but such assistance was In
variablJ declined with thanks. Bcnc-
'iciar.es were put to no expense what
ever aside from that incurred In the
furnishing OF the necessary papers.
Appreciated Letters Received.
Many npprec!ative letters wero re-
ceived from bcneHcinries on payment
o! claims which they would never have
known OF had II not been for tho
initiative on the part OF the insurance
company. while others received amounts
dua them without remarks And there
was every reason TO believe, from the
tone OF some OF the communications
tfat many cases OF real necessity were
relieved. On the other hand. the d.
re-sity OF human nature was well Illus
trated by tho fact that many bene
'iciar!cs made inquiries to ascertain
mat they were receiving all that was
due them. II was probably very diff
CUT Ter some OF them TO understand
that the life Insurance company was
voluntarily making payment OF moneys
OF whica they were entirely Ignorant
without some slight sus p!cion on their
part that tho settlement offered might
! IN some way !nurc to the benefit OF
the company IS we'll as themselves
II Is perhaps needless TO state that
exact Justice was done in every case
One beneficiary. who was inclined to
question tho mysterious and unknown"
settlement, appealed to tho insurance
Commissioner OF the State in which he
resided. The latter, however highly
commended the company's action and
! intintated To TIE claimant that she was
to be congratulated.
This exhibition of such negligence on
tho part of policyholders in Keeping
tho company informed as to their
whereabouts. or their failure to con-
hde In their wives or nearest relatives
as TO the nature and tho amount of the
policies they carry Is gross laxity
rD
holders In the United States to-day,
and IT is safe to say that Il surprisingly
large number Of them who hold paid
up policies arc inexcusably delinquent
ana lax In making sure that these
benefits will so. without delay, to those
for whom they were intended