Evening star., 1936-06-15
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SPRINGFIELD. Mass, June Is
District Attorney Thomas +. Moriarty
today obtained an order for the ex-
humation OF the body of Frank Hal
gas, so, Of Ludlow. with q view to
determining the kind and quantity OF
poison in the body prior to his death
on April 4 in an automobile accident.
HalgaS is believed by State and local
authorities to be one Of number Of
victims Of . widespread insurance
racket"
DR.. William Boos Of Boston, State
toxicologist, will examine the organs
of the deceased man. Quantities OF a
poison easily obtained in drug and
other stores have been found in the
bodies Of at least three persons known
to have died under suspicious circum-
stances in recent months and in an
inquest report made by Trial Justice
George B. Haas it was indicated that
Halgas' death appeared TO be "mur-
derous act"
Ludlow officials believe that over a
period of Is years large number of
deaths in that and other nearby
towns may be attributed to what they
call an insurance racket"
Information Requested.
Another development in the State
police investigation Of the deaths to-
day was a demand made on Judge
Haas by District Attorney Moriarty
for all information he may have con-
cerning the alleged racket.
Ludlow police reported several for
eign-born residents. apparently fright
ened, had reported outsiders" were
carrying insurance upon them and
sought information concerning how
they might get rid of that insurance.
Moriarty sent State Police Sergts.
Raymond Foley and Theodore john
son to Hartford, Conn, TO check the
insurance records Of three victims Of
poison.
Termed Gigantic Racket.
From those records, Detective Lieut..
Richard Cotter said. police hoped to
find some trace of the person or per-
sons behind what Judge Haas has
previously called "a gigantic insurance
racket"
Cotter indicated he expected an ar
rest in the inquiry, but said this would
not come for several days, anyhow"
Charles w. King, secretary Of the
State Board of Registration in Phar-
macy, dispatched inspectors into this
area in an effort to uncover the source
of poisons found in the bodies of three
victims and to enforce restrictions on
poison sales generally.
Demanding stringent curbs on sales
OF poison, Moriarty said DR.. Boos pur-
chased an ounce Of the poison at q
drug store where he was unknown
without even being asked to sign the
book which is kept for such purposes"
Insurance Companies Act
At least two insurance companies
began an independent investigation,
reviewing policies issued IN Ludlow.
Chicopee and Indian Orchard.
Meanwhile, Judge Haas offered to
help Moriarty. He said he would be
glad to give Moriarty ANY informa-
ton which have concerning the mat
ter and give him the source Of my
information"
while we may not be able to get
legal evidence sufhcient to warrant
prosecution and conviction" he said,
'I think that the exposure thus far
made will be sufficient to cause those
who think have been engaged in this
business to get out Of the racket.
Furthermore, am confident that
the insurance companies themselves
are bound to be more careful in the
future Of the risks they insure in this
section. And that will also be bene-
fiicial in its results"
My whole concern, OF course, is TO
see the companies clean house In this
matter. and cease insuring these kind
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