Arizona state miner., 1924-11-01
A PATHETIC STORY
inhumanity to Poor Invalid Woman
At Wickenburg

The case of Hiram Allison Steach
charged with embezzlement, which is
now pending in the Superior Court,
before Judge Phelps desires more than
passing notice at this time. Steach
made his appearance in Springfield
Missouri, some time during the fall
and winter of 1922 and 1928 He was
acting District Manager for the Yeo-
mans Society for the State. Among
his new recruits in Springfield was
one Mrs. Florence Munger, who al
though in very delicate health, was
induced to join the order in Spring
field. In this way he became quite
intimately acquainted with herself
and family. Ernest Harlem Munger,
her husband, was working in a pack
Ing house there for a firm named
Welch & Gleun. On the 1st of April,
1923, he was so badly scalded through
the bursting of a tank of hot lard
that he died on the 18th of that
month. He was insured in their pro-
tective insurance and his wife was
paid the sum of $4,000. He was also
a member of the Odd Fellows and his
insurance, which she also received,
was for $1,000. The family thus be-
reaved consisted of his wife and three
children and Mrs. Munger's mother,
who lived with them. The eldest
child was boy under twelve, and
two girls aged respectively nine and
six.
The excessive worry and nervous
strain thus caused soon began to un-
dermine the already weak condition
of Mrs. Munger and eventually dew
eloped into we'll defined case of
I. b., and in the spring she was
advised to seek a warmer or more
healthful climate. 1t was at first de-
c1ded to go to Colorado and not until
arriving in Lordsburg, N. M, they
learned different. Steach, who was
posing as a Doctor and who volun-
teered a few electrical treatments.
prior to this had repeatedly urged
her to leave, going so far as to offer
to drive her car, which he had also
advised as the most suitable way of
taking her and her family. A new
Ford truck was purchased and fitted
out with q commodious covered body.
to accommodate the family,
and with bed for Mrs. Munger, as
she was not then able to sit up. It
was on May 18th that I first made ac-
quaintance OF Steach. He arrived
with the outfit at my Camping Park
and came to me representing himself
to be a doctor who was looking for a
desirable location for building a sani-
tarium to care for the sick members
OF lodges he was interested in. He
said that he owned the entire outfit,
as people with him were destitute,
and that he was going to cure the
lady in the car who had both lungs
with the r. B. He asked
me if l did not have some place he
could rent for two or three months
where she would not be disturbed, as
he did not want to leave her in the
public camp. pointed out some
arge cottonwoods near, where there
was plenty of room and shade, and
after he had investigated the place
ne drove the outfit over and later
paid me two months rent in advance.
did not meet any Of the party with |
him at that time, as l was called
away on business at the Grand Can
7on and on returning four days later
'Ound he had gone and they were
living in a miserable old rick of a |
,ent without table or chairs or any
comforts such as a sick person should |
nave had.
On inquiry learned that the "Doc-
or" had left the following morning
lfter telling them he would be back |
n a few days and had taken the car
Ind contents. I was surprised when
saw the condition of the lady. Her
mother stood by her side as she lay
IN the cot with her head and face
covered with damp cloths and was
vigorously tanning her as she gasped