Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-21
PROBERS CHECKING
FUuMURA POLICIES
Missing Importer Changed
Beneficiary One Day
Before Sailing.
By the Assoeiated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, August 2l.--Federal au-
thorities today were checking Insurance.
policies left by Hisashi Fujimura, Japa-
nese importer, who disappeared uiys-
teriously from the steamship BeIgen-
land last Friday.
Assistant United States Attorney
Hubbard said he had learned that Full
mura had changed the Beneficiary
clause Of $4,000 policy the dey be-
fore he sailed. naming his wife instead
Of his estate. That policy and one
for $4,000 were taken out recently. He
had policies totaling $4,000.
BeneIlciariea Sought.
Hubbard sought information as to
the identity of the benefieiaries. The
$4,000 policy has a clause inyaiidating
Il for suicide within two years after
the date OF issuance.
/ Hubbard boarded the BelgenYand to-
day when II arrived from Halifax and
set UP an inquisitorial room in one Of
the salons to question members of the
crew and passengers.
Jan Ribas, an artist employed by the
line to make sketches Of passengers, told
the assistant United States attorney
that about "a hours before Fuiimura's
disappearance he heard the importer
berating 4 woman IN his state room
| "for fiirt ng with other men,
Ribas occupied state room No. 90
and FljimnS> No. 50. Mary Reissner,
former showgirl, hired as governess for
Fujimura's 7-year-old daughter Kashira
and now the chief figure IN the inquiry,
occupied No. O..
Ribas would not say whether he knew
the identity Of the woman Fuiimura
was reprimanding.
Beginning TO See Light.
Hubbard told reporters that he was
beginning to see light" but declined
to amplify his statement
In his inquiry today he was assisted
by Fujimura'S attorney, H. G. w.
Melick: two assistant United States at
torneys, q member Of the Investigation
Bureau Of the Department of Justice
and two special agents OF the Red Star
Line.
Federal investigators have announced
their conviction that Futinura had been
thrown into the sea.
The Department Of Justice yesterday
assigned three Of its agents TO aid in
an attempt to solve the mystery Of
the missing importer.
Although interest in the investiga-
ton has been expressed by two other
governments, the Japanese and the
6IlIkSA, Tic OLlbcu 0OAbc8 httOKuGy y
ONCE here claimed Jurisdiction in the
case.
It was commended the inquiry was be-
ing conducted on the superstition q
homicide had occurred and that the
Belgenland was being operated by
American agents for q British steam
ship company.
Case BEFORE Grand Jury.
The case win 60 to the grand jury
Monday when Miss Reissner, who ac-
compAnied Fujimura and his little
daughter on the six-day cruise to Hall
fax, viii be questioned again.
Wednesday night the young woman,
once a chorus girl, spent six hours in
the office Of Assistant United States At
torney Hubbard, sobbing cut her story.
She denied she had gone on the trip
az governess for the child.
I'VE had q suite" she said. "He and
his daughter had one room. had an
adjoining room. We quArreled the night
he disappeared. He didn't want me TO
go to q party In the ships salon."
The party was In charge Of Mrs.
Mildred Harris Chaplin, ships hostess,
who told investigators she knew Miss
.ReisSner only casually.
The former actress said she went to
the party in spite OF the importers OBJ
jections, and when she returned, went
directly to bed. It was the next morn
ing when she learned he had vanished.