THE OMAHA DAIXV BEE: MOXDAV, XOVEMBEK 12. 1900.
iXSUIMTE INCITES CRIME
Monrj PledjrcJ on Life tho Remit of Hunt
Foul Conspiracies.
"EN WHO MADE A BUSINESS OF IT
tlrorl tif Mi-lntHm, Manlcr, Sulfide
nml .witnittnli'il ! t ti 1( til I n ar a
ii Trnilr I'mnniix t'nrs
K milt ii.
Kor nearly Ino rears nen and women
have been devising cbetnes for defrattd
IriK Indurative companler. Thn chronology
of Insurance swindles begins with 1730.
when a ntii.u In h rutalcptlc sleep satis
lid an Ins irav nmpny of her- death, as
rihe pretended Tho "kind, llghthcarted
Janus Weathercock" of Charles Lamb's
memory, dabbled In theno schemes In the
rarly '2d of tho present century. Follow
ing these haH whip a Ioiik procession of
lmltatorf. Sum" of these have blundered
and failed. Others huve rnrrlrd out In
conlou'i schemr to .t miecei that could
tin quest lt-n d nni : nfl-r the money had
been paid owi . in the follnwlnff tirtlrlo
Ihc Chicago Tribune elves the famous rates
of tbls pcrlr.it In tho order 'n v.IiIpU they
Were planned-
Curiously etiouKh. ln most striking Il
lustration, find, mi fnr as known, the only
successful i asn of simulated death, Is that
ef this flrt fraud in the history of life
Insurance, planned In 1730. Tho two con
splratorn were n m.iu and woman. Through
levcral years thuy obtained laro sums In
various cities by tho woman's falling Into
n ratnleptlc sleep. Doetors would slve
"rttflratcs of death, mock funerals would
tin held nnd Incidentally thn Insurance
nuld be rollectrd.
In 17S0 tho first known rase of linper
donation by which the conspirators se
cured $10,000 was recorded. There were
two sisters, one healthy, the other an In
i amble invalid. The healthy one made
replication for the Insurance and was nc
i eptcd under tho Invalided sister's name.
When the latter died u few months after
the othor secured payment of tho Insur
nice taken out under the namo of her dead
(later.
A I'll in on Sn luillrr.
Janus Weathercock, well knonn con
tributor to man) London periodicals on
the nubjecta of art and artists, described
by Charles !,amh as "kind, llRhthenrtcd
Janus Weathercock." stands out as one of
the most remarkablo characters In tho his
tory of life Insurance swindlers. Hn was
a man of culture and had a voguo of hlii
own about 1SJ0, when ho contributed to
the London Magazine contemporary with
ISlla and Harry Cornwall, nnd when Huzllt,
with Allan Cunningham, added to Its at
tractions. Tills man, whose mind and writings were
Intenso with tho love of the beautiful, was
one of tho most tlulstcr characters of his
time, and, as It afterwards proved, It was
death to stand In his path It was death to
bo his friend -It was death to occupy the
houso with him. In some few years
after ho had burned out his literary efforts
and his lovo of I hi: voluptuous had replaced
that of tho classically beautiful, he visited
with his wife his undo, Soon after his visit
commenced IiIb undo died nnd James Walo
wrlght Inherited his uncle's property. This
waa quickly squandered and more must bo
had.
On March 28, 1830, Mrs. Walnwrlght. with
her stepsister, Helen Aborcomble, a beauti
ful girl, made tholr first appearance In the
Insurance offices of London, socking life In
surance. Finally, to the great disappoint
ment of "kind llght-hcurted Jame:i Wea
thercock," ouly 18,000 wan placed at two
and three years on tho life of his beautiful
titcr-tn-Iaw, Helen Ahercomblc.
But affairs In cum o desperate In tho mean
time and the man grew familiar with crime.
Block had beeu Invested In the Hank of
England, of which he and his wife were only
entitled to the Interest. Whllo waiting for
Helen's death he forged the names of
trustees to u power of attorney six bucccs
alve times and thus obtained the capital.
This money gone, ho sold and morlgnged
everything ho possessed, and finally ended
In apartments In Conduit street for himself,
his wife, anil his sister-in-law. Immediately
after thla Mips Abcrromble made a will
under the suasion of James Walnwrlght In
favor of her sister. Madeline, appointing him
sole executor.
Walnwrlght's claim for the 18,000 In
surance was resisted nnd, being called ou
to prove an insurable Interest, he quickly
left Kuglaud. In 1S3S he started suit, the
companies resisted and tho Judgo, after
hearing the implications of guilt, said a
criminal and not a civil court should have
bfen tho theater of the case. Tho Insur
ance compsules later won and as his for
geries on the, Hank of Knglnnd hnd been
discovered, Walnwrlght remained In
Krenee,
At Houlogno Walnwrlght lived with an
Knullsh ofllcer, whoso Ufa ho Insured for
5,000. One premium only was paid, when
his host died. Walnwrlght then left Hou
logno, assumed a feigned name, but was
flcally arrested by tho Krenrh police, when
attychnlitu was found on his person, for
uhlch ho was confined in Paris for six
n.cnlbs.
After his release he returned to Loudon,
Intending to remain ouly forty-el-ht hours,
but he was recognized whilst peering from
hln hotel window, urrosted and sentenced
to transportation for life.
irnvi-iiril liimirnnrr.
The countess of Athlono was Insured for
over $100,000, distributed with seven com
panies. Over 1100,000 wan placed after sho
had been taken with paralysis. She dlou
about live years after the insurance was
effected nnd her relatives compromised
with tho companies on a basis of GO cents
on tho dollar.
Mrs. Juno Evans insured her servant's
life for over $30,000 and tho servant died
within three mouths of the last policy
being effected. During the trial of the case
It was clearly proved that tho servant, Ann
Elsworthy. was an Inveterate and habitual
hard drinker, whereas this wnb denied In
the list of quest inns asked of Mrs. Kvnns
at the time she applied for the policies.
After loug litigation, sometimes In her
favor und sometimes against her, thn last
appeal decided against her.
This namo Mrs. Kvans, It was found by
Investigation Instituted by thn Hrltlsh Com
mcrrjal Insurance company during the liti
gation, had made proposal!) on tho life of
her sister, Dinah Keyscnmeyor, in 1827, for
Bums aggregating over $116,000 In various
companies, of which she secured about one
fourth. Soon alter the policies were Issued
acr Nlstcr died.
Mrs, Kvans' father was also found to
have benefited by that lady'3 death by
V.!.
In ISIS, in Berlin, (icrivany, a surgeon
was bribed to certify to the death of an
lusured persun who watt perfectly will,
consequently Mill alive. A roftin wus pro
cured and filled with stones nnd rotten
straw, which was iiolcuinty Interred with
all religious ceremony. The plot wns boon
discovered and all those concerned In It
punished. The same trick was attempted
tn n western Mnto a few years sluco, with
llko result.
It n U of .Novel' l'lot.
Charlcci Hemic, tliu famous novelist, has
worked Into one of hU stories tho follow
ing facts;
Four men In London at dusk cno evening
hired a boat just below tho Hlnckfrlars
bridge and proceeded on a pleasuro excur
sion up the Thames. While quietly row
lng not far from shorn the boat suddenly
capsized and the four were struggling in
the water and the darkness. In response to
tholr cries for help succor arrived, but
only threo were rescued, the fourth must
have drowned. Iate that '.tight the same
party In a small boat with muffled oars
quietly stole down the river and deposited
a deal body procured from sotuo hospital
or cemetery on the river bank. A reward
was offered by them for the recovery ,f
the body of their friend, and tho corpso was
discovered. They paid the promised re
ward and collected the life Insurance on
tho bodv of their dead friend. Later they
tried the same scheme again, when It
failed rind brought to light their first suc
cessful effort.
In 1S50 Hernard Harking of Madgeburg
poisoned his wife with arsenic to gain n
small life Insurance he hnd persuaded her
to carry, much against her will. Her death
at the tlmo was ascribed to Asiatic chol
era and caused no suspicion. Tho Insur
ance wns paid after a ollght delay. Twenty
.months later he polboned his mother's sis
ter so as to Inherit his share of her small
savings. This death caused suspicion,
which resulted In the exhumation of his
wife's body nnd the discovery of the
poison that cnused her death. He was
hanged
Ono of the earliest recorded case In
America of Hiilrlde of an Insured person was
that of William Calender of Vork, t'a. Cul
lender rede on horsebnek to Harrlnburg.
where on March 26. 1S5I. he obtained a
policy of Insurance on hli life In the Mini
of ;,000. He started home the same after
noon, was taken sick on tho way and obliged
to demount from his hore at a tollhouse
on the turnpike, where h died during the
night.
The policy was conditioned to be void If
"the n'sured died by his own hand." This
they illsrovcred to be the case, he having
self-admlnlstercd arsenic.
icc iiln lit r ltiaiirnmr.
In lSi.' A. Svenson of C.irlscrona Insured
the life ut uti old soldier named Hoffstcdt
in various companies. Hoffstcdt wns a con
tinned drunkard and Svenson. after the
Insurance wna placed, kept him welt sup
plied with money so as to hasten his end
through excessive tlrluklng. which eventu
tllly si receded, although arsenic n found
In the dead body. The ihargo of poisoning,
however, was not sustained. Count Pom
merals, In his attempt to defraud Insur
ance companies of f50.000 francs, lost his
head on the gulllotlue.
In ISO 3 Count de la Pommernls Induced a
Mme. Pauw to Insure her Ufa for 030,000 ,
francs in six French and two English cum
parties. He advanced the premiums and
had the policies trancftrrcd to himself.
He wus well known us a phyalclnn and had
attended her husband bofore hla death.
Investigation afterward shewed that he
had poisoned her with digitalis.
In July. lS6r, the supposed body of Mrs.
Mary Davis whs discovered In nn advanced
stage of decomposition In u Held adjoining
Richmond, Ind Tho coroner's Jury de
cided it was that of the wifo of John B.
Davis, a shoemaker. Insurance carried lu
one company was paid tho guardian of
the dccctscd woman's children, but an
other company refused to accept the evi
dence and suit was started to collect. This
onded In the discovery of tho living Mrs.
Davis and a plot on the part of tho hus
band and wifo to defraud the companies
by substituting the body of a woman pro
cured from a cemetery and dressed lu
Mrs. Davis' clothes.
In 18G5 a man calling himself J. II. Bar
gent Insured himself for three months
agalnM accidents for the sum of $3,000.
The man went from Ilockford, 111., to Bo
lolt. Wis., to effect tho Insurance, and
mado it payable to Mrs. Achsah K. Har
gent, a widow, living ueur Pccatonlca, 111.,
whom he at once murrlcd after the Issuance
of tho policy In Helolt. Sargent soon after
this wns reported drowned In the Po
catonica river while skating with frlonds
who, afterward It w.hh found, wcro fellow
conspirators to defraud. Search was made
in tho liver for the dead Sargent. His
body not being found, the living Sargent
was sought. Tho case resulted In the dis
covery that Sargent was a fictitious namo
used by one Allen, who van Indicted by
the grand Jury.
An analogous cace wax that of Vital
Douut, a Bordeaux wine merchant, who In
sured his life lu 1305 for 100,000 francs In
Paris. To escupo prosocutlon for fraudu
lent bankruptcy he soon after lied to Lon
don. Somo tlmo later his wife, clad In
widow's weeds, presented herself nt the
Insurance office with documentary proofi
of her husband's death. Suspicions wore
aroused und Inventlgai Ion staricil. Douut,
on arriving In London, resided nt Ford's
hotel. Thcro ho procured a certificate in
English from a waiter declaring hia death
from heart dlneaHe. This wan presented to
tho register of deaths. Douat assumed
tho namo of Dernardl, a funeral was hold
at which he was tho chief mourner, Tho
coffin was made extra heavy by using more
lead In tho lining. When the sham was
discovered ho fled to America. In 1S6G he
returned to Europe, was arretted In Bel-
glum on a charge of Incendiarism, tho au
thorities hnndlng him over to tho French
officials. He was tried on tho charges of
fraudulent conspiracy und attempted In
surance frauds and sentenced to penal
servitude.
lli'uoiucorii fuse.
In lyJU at Eaton O. B. M. B.itchelor, an
apothoenry ami Insurance agent; William
Abbott, mayor of Caton; Dr. N. S. Itlchard
von, who on a previous occasion bad swin
dled a life lniiuranco company out of $4,000,
and his brother, Frunk, formed a partner
ship to swlndlo life companies. They In
vented a fictitious personage, whom they
named W. T. McFndrlen. This Individual
was personated by Abbott, who procured
Insurance for a largo amount and proceeded
to dlo on Christmas evo of malignant
choler.v Frank ordered the cottln nnd plenty
of chloride of lime to avoid rotitnglon
spreading, The funeral was ordered to take
place at Kuton nt midnight. Various Inci
dents aroused the suspicions of neighbors
and searchers found tho coffin filled with
broomcorn Instead of tho cholera-Infected
body of the fictitious Mr. McF.ldden.
In ISijij Jo:ieph Lcppen carried $10,000 life
insurance policies, lie mysteriously disap
peared from the Ohio river boat that year
while on his way to Wheeling. When tho
boat arrived Lcppen wns missing, but his
clothes and effects were found in his state
room. Two days later a body was found in
the liver, some twcnty-flvo miles below
Wheeling. His wifo applied for the Itiaur
ance money, claiming tho body wus that of
her husband. Later developments exoner
ated the wife of fraud, but Lcppen con
fessed that he gambled on tho boat, lost his
money, got to lighting ami that ho and an
other man fell overboard. Ills companion
was drowned. Leppen followed down tho
river the corpse of his companion and ex
changed clothes to try and create the Im
pression of bis death, Strong suspicion ex
isted thnt leppen pushed tho other man
overboard.
In 1S66 a man named Knox spent 50 cents
for a two days' Insurance against accident
for $5,000, under the name of John
Smith. He coached a youth to tell the story
of his drowning In the Susquehanna rvor
whlol bathing, Tho company demurred
at paying Mr. Knox $5,000 without further
Investigation; consequently, when affairs
grew hot Mr. Knox disappeared. Ho was
discovered in tno army.
Alvah K. Hurter notoriously dlsap
peared nnd caused a flutter In tho ofllcoa
of beverai Insurance companies lu 18C$,
Hurter was senior partner lu tho Arm of
Hurter i; Dewey, Boston cotton brokers,
nnd Various companies wrote $10,000 in
Durance on his life. He had misappropri
ated $2,000 belonging to his firm, bor
rowed In the name of his father $1,000 and
t3 0UO of other parties und as payment or
prosecution became Imminent he cleverly
devised the appearances of accidental
drowning at Hcarborouah, Me. The condi
tion of his finances becoming known re
sulted In the discovery of tho attempted
fraud, which compelled Hurter to go to
Canada,
A l.nkr I'.plsoilr.
In Chicago, the Itlgger caso of July 20,
1S6S, attracted much attention. Monroo C.
Bigger as a sailor, living at 103 Church
street, and In June, 158G, he took out a
policy of $5,000 In the Travelers' Insur
ance company of Chicago, paying tho flrst
annual premium of $30. Only a fow days
later ho went tn the nfllce of the company
nnd pnld an udvaneo of $10 for permission
to ;mke trips on the lakes In certnln sca
sona. und still later ho paid $20 more for
the privilege of sailing tho lakes ut all
times.
On July 20. while on the brig Mechanic
sailing ut night ostensibly sixteen miles
north of Cleveland, Second Mate Wagner
ordered Bigger to crawl out on the bow
sprit for some purpose nnd Bigger fell
from It Into the water. Warning of "Mau
overboard" was called, but Bigger was not
picked up.
Within a week Mrs. Bigger appeared nt
the othcn of the company to collect tho
death claim An attorney came with lnr,
which was regjrded as rather an odd elr
cumetaucc, and, In addition, ho brought
affidavits of tho husband's death, sworn
out In Cleveland Instead of In tho Chicago
offices of tho company, where they would
have been recorded without charge.
Under tho circumstanced tho company
refused to ray the $5,000 claim, especially
as It was ngnlnst tho company's rules that
a sailor should bo Insured for an amount In
exres.i of $2,000. t'udor scouting of detec
tives the plot was uncovered. It Involved
Bigger, his wife and the second mato of the
brig. Mrs. Bigger made, a confession. In
stead of tho boat's being sixteen miles oft
there It wai less than halt a mile away and
Bigger woro a life preserver. The second
mate had manned tho search boat and, In
the dark, had rowed' away In the opposlto
direction irom tnni wnicu mggrr una initcn.
Mrs. Bigger left Chicago nnd Hlggcr was
Inst heard of as a sailor on an ocean liner
out of New York.
Charlcn Auguste Debuls attempted to e
curo 50,000 francs Insurauco by forging pa
pers with tho object of confirming proof of
a relative's death. Investigation by the
company's officials discovered tho fraud
uttemptcd by revealing the relative alive,
Captain Martin L. Bryan, Twenty-flfth
regiment, Georgia C. S. A., secured in 1868
$SO,000 life Insurauco, after which "proofs
of death" were adduced showing death by
drowning. Ho hnd willed Robert Bryan, his
son, executor. Endeavors to collect fol
lowed the captain's demise, but before the
collections could be effected he was discov
ered enjoying the waters of perpetual youth
at Ponce de Leon, Flu.
;mlctl lu I'fitltmtlnry.
Charles W. Mills was roported to havo
beeu drowned from the Pelican stato whllo
going through the San Louis pass ou the
night of May 17, 1869, nnd Valentine C.
Spruell endeavored to colloct tho Insurance
on Mills by paying $50 nud promising $500
to a man to make false affidavit to the samo
effect. Tho amount Involved about
$25,000.
1). K. Boswell wus an extraordinary avrln
dlcr. He endeavored, amouug other crimes,
to secure $16,000 from various lusuranao
companies and adopted the qulto common
plan of falling overboard cn a Missouri
river boat. For awhile his drowning was
accepted as a fact, nil but one company
puylng his wife the Insurance. Finally tho
"general" wus discovered masquerading us
Judge Hov.o In tlulcsburg, 111. Ho and
his wife, who was found an accomplice tn
his crimen, wcro finally bruight to tho bar
of Justice. She suffered a term of Imprison
ment, but he, after many delays, broken In
health, was released on ball and in the end
secured acquittal on a legal technicality.
Franklin B. Evana In 1870 endeavored to
swlndlo the Travelers' Insurance company
of $1,500. He was afterward convicted of
the murder of Ucorglauna Loverlng, nged
14 yesrs, grandchild of his sister. Ho then
confessed to another murder, that of tho
daughter of Mr. Mills of Derry In 1850, and
In Jail wrotn a letter to tho. Insurance com
pany detailing tho scheme ho had dovlscd
to rob them.
Dr. Palmer, n man as highly versed In
law as medicine, was tho first of modern
murderers tn uso strychnine as a poison.
and many lives were sacrificed for tho pur-
poso of securlnc lusuranco money. His own
mother and sister wero tho first known
victims His atablo boy left him on ne-
eouiit of his health, and a friend, Ben Hogg,
to whom he owed money, lied In fear. Hla
boldn' r.j Increased owing to success at
tending every former ease, and finally ho
gave the poison openly an medicine. Ills
lnnt victim, Cook, who died lu groat agony,
brought Palmer to the scaffold, when his
hanging was witnessed by 50,000 porsona
In London.
Charles McCormlck In 1S70 secured In-
suranco ou his life and protended drown
ing soon nfter, selecting tho river St. Law
rence for thn exploit. No Insurance waa
collected.
CliIenKU lire Kpitoilr.
In 1S7I an attempt was made to mako It
appear that Durlus Oreeuo had boen con
sunied In tho great firo, with tho Intent to
obtain $5,000 cnrrled ou his life by his wife.
Tho attempt, however, proved abortive, us
the Insurance company, through Captain
of Police Peter V. Cool of Bloomlngton,
111., discovered tho living Darius Greene
One of tho most carefully prepared plans
to obtain lusuranco was that of Captain
Colvocoresues, a distinguished retired of
fleer of tho United States navy. Late on
tho night of June 3, 1S72, tho captain was
fouud dead In Bridgeport, Conn., apparently
brutally murdered. Investigation revealed
the startling fact that It was n case of long
premeditated suicide, tho object being to
obtain for hU family $200,000 from various
life Insurance companies.
Tho case of Leo was somewhat similar.
Fox Insured John Clark Lee. who dlod In
New York In 1S72. Tho effort of Fox to
collect $20,000 'nsuranco on Loo's death di
vulged that Lee was specially prepared for
u medical examination, being kept from
drink some tlmo previous to effecting thrf
insurance. After this was accomplished
Fox aided Lee lu every way to drink him
self to death.
Two young men, Winner und McNutt of
Kansas City, Id 1873 conceived tho Idea of
Insuring tho latter fer $5,000, To legalize
the policy McNutt ruairled a woman and re
moved to Wichita. Winner left McNutt In
Wichita and returned to Kansas City for
tho dellbcrato purpose of Inveigling eome
young man who physically favored McNutt
Into his confidence und then murdering him
for tho $5,000 Insurance. Iln appears to
have revealed his plot to McNutt's wife,
who wuh living In Kansas City. The woman
wrote a frenzied letter to her husband In
Wichita, begging htm to abandon tho plot
and offering to sell all she had if ho would
but give up the companionship of McNutt
This letter was Intercepted by the authori
ties and Iurnl3hcd tho necessary clues to
their discovery and conviction. It was
learned that u young man muned Kevlera
wan Induced to accompany Winner to
Wlchitu, Thero ho wna intoxicated with
brandy and drugged with ether. Cords
were bound tightly around his body, his
clothing saturated with kerosene, and the
paint shop, where, the deed was enacted, set
on tiro, His remains were found among
tho embers and wero at flrst supposed to
bo those of McNutt. Winner reported they
hnd been attacked In the night, McNutt
killed and the shop burned.
Uddorzook waa executed In Pennsylvania
In 1S73 fer the murder of Gobs, whoit life
had been Insured. There was a conspiracy
between him, his wife and Udderzeek to ob
tain the insurance. A dead body wa placed
In a building where (loss was accustomed to
work and the building was srt ou lire. Tho
charred remains were declared to be those
of Gors and a demand was mads for the
paymeut of tho policy. Whllo this was
under consideration (loss threatened to be
tray the conspiracy and tfddenook lured
him from his hiding place and murdered
him.
In July, 1S73, George Shepherd called at
a farmer's house In Maryland, near the
Potomac river, nearly opposite Alexandria,
and obtained permission to stay the night.
Ho iugratlatcd himself with tho farmer
and obtained work for his brother on the
farm. George v'llted his brother Jamet
on the fai-m frequently. One ovcnlng at
dusk while rowing and fishing George Shep
herd fell overboard, but as tho boat was
specially nrraugod at the end with a pro
jecting platform over the water, the farm
er's son, who accompanied tho brothers,
did not see that tho head of the supposed
drowned man kept well abovo water. Tho
boy swore Innocently to tho drowning and
the long, fruitless search, but the In
surance companies wero skeptical aud a
legal light was thn result, owing to the
police arrcstlug James while In hiding nnd
discovering suspicious papers upon his per
son. I.rnillnsr 1lnns;arlnn Cusr,
In 1874 tho baron's estate, worth $2,000,
000, was sold for debt and his mansion In
Pesth mortgaged to tbn latt brick. His
beautiful young wife was kept In absolute
Ignorance of her husband's affairs by tho
baron, who maintained bis usual princely
style of living. Ills great lovo for hla wife
prompted him to insure his life In five
different companies for 100,000 gulden each,
which was to be paid his family at death.
From a robust man, In a fow months tu
sickened nnd hud to take to tils bed. Tho
doctors diagnosed his rase as hasty con
sumption. Fourteen days ufter he was
dead. Evidence wns afterward found that
implied his death was due to nicotine
poisoning through the willful act of ex
cessive smoking,
Donald McLood of Sherbrooke, Canada,
secured Insurance In 1876 und five du'8
later was reported drowned In tho river
at that place. His widow demanded pay
ment, which was delayed owing to doubts
oxlstlng In tho minds of tho Insurance of
ficials. McLood was finally materialized
on u sheep ranch In Llvo Oak county,
rexas.
James Hearns wns reported killed In the
Black Hills during the gold mania In that
section. Tho dutiful son tried to collect
tho Insurance placed upon his llfo by
tliougntrui Hearns senior. Suit followed.
which tho sou won, but the company still
rislstcd payment, for which they were aft
erwards thankful, us they found Hearns
Hculor In Madison, 0 where they reunited
father and son In Jail.
Colonel Dwight had been a man of pru
dent habits and well-to-do until he sud
denly launched out luto extravagant spec
ulations. These soon reduced him to bank
ruptcy; then he Insured his life lu various
companies, rolling up In a short tlmo a
grand total of $300,000, nnd suddenly died,
his friends claimed, by an overdose of
morphine. Tho companies clalmod he
committed suicide by Htrangulatlon, which
was strengthened by tho fact that at the
autopsy a mark which resembled that of
a rope, but might havo been produced by
a necktie, disfigured hli neck. The in
surance companies claimed he committed
the act to enrich hla family, to repair his
fault of having impoverished them by his
own foolish acts. Alloulots support tho
theory that the colonel suffered from pa
rotic dementia. Howcvor, the courts de
cided In favor of the heirs.
Various French companies lost $20,000 In
a rase cited by Lo Grand du Salle. Two
brothers presented themselves at the office
of a French alienist. The elder entered the
office first and asked tho allcnUt to ex
amino with cure the patient brought him.
"Thorn seems to be nothing the matter
with my brother," said he, "but he Is no
longer the same." The physician, after a
long examination, said: "Your brother Is
In the initial stages of paretic dementia."
Explanations were then given and the
prophecy mado that tho patient would die
In three or four years. Tho following day
an Insurance of $20,000 was placed on tho
life of the patient. Three years ufter tho
brother pocketed tho amount.
Dr. Heury C. Meyer was ono of the most
remarkable men In the annals of crlmo. He
made a business of insuring people's lives,
then poisoning his victims to simulate by
its effects tho symptoms of dysentery. He
irsured a half-witted man named Brandt,
under the name of "O, H, J. Baum," for
$$,CC0 In favor of Mrs. Meyer. Brandt was
given suiRll doses of tartarlzed antimony to
produce tho effect of symptoms of dysentery.
Brandt was kept suffering for a long while.
Ho consulted a physician, who pronounced
bis complaint "chronic dysentery." Meyer
finally took pity on his patient and ended
his life by giving him arsenic. In a post
mortem analysis mado by the contents of
the stomach arsenic wbb found. Meyer was
tried and convicted for the crime of mur
der lu the sreond degree in May, 1894, and
ended his days In Sing Sing.
Dr. Horman Mudgett, alias II, H. HoIiups,
was executed at Philadelphia on Moy 7
1896. Hn Is believed to have put at least a
scorn of his moribund patients "out of
misery." Like Dr. Meyer, he began life as
a country doctor and was not patient enough
to bee.r the trials that precede success. lie
wanted money without work or desert und
chose Insurance murders as the easiest way
of gaining his end, For a long time he was
successful with his murder potions, but In
splto of great natural shrewdness detection
and conviction came at last.
Thn two cases now awaiting trial In Cook
county end the history of conspiracy against
llfo Insurance companies.
Itl'SHIANS nini; l. I.UXt'HV.
Ai-rniircnuriita fnr Trnrrlliia an the
Mnncnvlte IlMllronds,
The train which runs every week be
tween Moscow and Irkutsk, over tho Trans
Siberian railroad, relates tho American
Architect, deserves tho credit of helm; tho
most complete railway train In thn world.
The Journey takes nine days, traveling day
and night. Tho train consists of one first
class and two second-class cars, a baggage
car and a dining car. As In many case
on the continental rallwas, the dining
cur contalus also a parlor, aud, on the
Trans-Siberian railway. It Includes nUo
a libra.)', a piano, a bath room with gym
nastic apparatus nnd a barber's shop, Tho
haggago car contains the kitchen and
pautry, refrigerator aud linen closet, and
tho sleeping rooms of tho seventeen train
men. The pabsengcr cars, both of tho llrst aud
second class, have numbered seats, so that
every one Is sure of his place, and they
contain also the usual toilet rooms, two
speclul HUto rooms with large windows
for obiieriatlon und a dark room for photo
graphy. The ulr In t ho ears Is warmed
In winter by steam or hot water and lu
cooled In summer by a refrigerating ma
chine, which .Is cupablo of reducing tho
temperature In them to a point fifty de
grees below that of the outsldo air. A
story has been circulated In this country
to the effect that tho Trans-Siberian line
Is poorly built, and that It will have to
bo reconsfructed before It can be of much
commercial use. Whether there Is any
thing In this beyond a very unturnl prob
ability that tho track -nan flrBt laid with
light rails, which will be replaced by heav
ier ones as tralllc Increases, Is doubtful,
but the rolling stock, at least, seems to
be modern enough, ko far ub the passengers
are concerned.
OMAHA LIVE STOCK MARKET
Light EeceipU All tho Week Probably
Owing to Election.
HOG MARKET ACTIVE AND HIGHER
Cnud Corn CnMIe mid I'rrdern Stronic
for Ilip M'rrk mill Covrn ;n
ulilrnlily lllulier t'holce JOierp
nml Lnnib Also ltliclirr.
SOUTH OMAHA, Nov. IV.
""V"'.'!''8 were: Cattle. Hog, rilv'cp.
Ofllclal Monday 1.607 2,Sl 7,1"7
Ofllelal Tntdday -,,G M7J 1,10
Official Wednesday 3,6S C.!N0
Official 'Ihursduy . 2,a46 f,Mii
Official Friday MK 4,75'J 4.W.2
Olllclul Saturday 169 4.693
... T"l this week 8.2M 26.421
Week ending Nov. 3 17,591 30,370
U Nnl, I. ...!.. - . . . M 1:1- 1:1 llt
20.778
29.110
ni.13.1
f,7,Mi5
M.752
i ! u'iiK uci, .....ll..w ,v',un
",' ending Oct. 20 20,M"i SSI.945
V.. I UCl 14 JU.IJll ..1..110
V Pll An,ll.,H r-i e in o-l in litn
40.SS,
AVernffA ,.(,, . .,.i.i t... rn, tn lut
evral days, with comparisons.
1 90). 11 199V, 189S.1 1897". . lV. . 1 1 M'5 -! I S94 .
f
3 76) 4 W
3 701 t 74
a u
4 U
a 67
I
a 62
a 60!
a 4$
4 07
4.6i
( E
a
J 6-l
3 oV 4 44
a 47
a 44
t 39
3 31
3 40
3 43
3 44
4 a
4 7
3 17
4 34
4 44
4 41
4 45
4 39
4 41
I &
4 6
4 2
4 29
4 41
3 33!
3 3.1
.1
.1 43
3 45)
3 39
Indicates Sunday
brought In today by each road was:
cattle. Hogs, u srs.
r . M. Jtr hi. i ii.. i
O. & St L. Ily 2
Missouri Pacific Hy 1
Union Paclilc system 1 13 1
C. & N. W. Hy 2
V., E. ti M. V. It. II 10 2
8. C. & I. Ity 1
, Ht. P.. M. & O. Ity 4
H. K- M. It II. B 3 II 4
C, H. Q. Ity j::
K. C. & St. J. Ity 4 2
('.,' It 1. A P., east 2
C, H. I. & P., west 1
Total receipts 7 l.S 7
Tim fllftlwinttlalll nf ttln Anvn rrnln(M will
as follows, each nttyer purchasing the num-
tier or neau inaicuieu:
Buyer. Cuttle. I loirs. Sheen.
Omaha Packing Co 7f2
O. II. Hammond Co KV)
Hwift and Compnny 9 1,141
Cudahy Packing Co 1.US7
Armour A. Co 713
Swift. Kansas City !9
Other buyers Ill .... 227
Totals 127 4,578 227
CATTLE There were only lust u few-
odds and ends of emtio on sale this morn
ing, and those, sold at Just about yester
day's prices.
There hus been an exceptionally light
run of ntoclc here ull this week, probably
due tn u large extent to election. Good
sturr nan oeen in active demand and the
prices paid have been very satisfactory.
A larger proportion of the receipts have
been cornfeds and u smaller percentage
of western cattlu than has been tho case
for somo time. Buyers all . seemed to
want the better grades of good nandy
welclit steers und mild kooiI. stronir orlcos
all tho wok. In somo cares tules looked
qulto ii little higher, but the majority of
cases wouiu no eoveriii ny calling it a
rood, stronu:. nctlve market The common
kinds and coarso heavy cattle navn oeen
muw sate ull along nnd for the week are
no more tluin steady.
Cows have been In light supply all the
i r i
v iuur ruuu ui
is not complete. No
-ci, 16,. A 4 a
Oct, 16... 4 72$
3 63i 61 S 191
4 20 3 69 3 20
4 16 3 70 3 23
4 10 i 7 I 54
4 If 3 73 t tO 3 a
4 14 3 71 3 64 1 27
4 IS ' 3 M a 21
a M I 6S 3 26
4 H 3 63 3 2
4 14 8 6$ 3 25
4 13 3 M 3 46
4 18 8 S4 8 41 a 26
4 10 3 47 3 18 3 17
4 10 3 62 3 42 3 13
3 54 S 38 3 It
4 09 3 31 a 17
4 03 3 6 3 13
4 01 3 63 S 23
4 04 3 45 3 41 3 27
4 04 .1 47 3 43 3 30
4 02 .1 61 3 43 3 31
3 62 3 44 3 21
4 01 3 46 3 17
4 02 3 6R 3 2.1
4 03 3 62 3 64
4 06 3 45 3 41 .1 28
4 03' 3 47 3 31 3 27
Oct, IS... Utf k.J
Oct. 20... 447 3-S
Ct. 21...
Oct. 23... 4 i
Oct M... 4
Oct IS... 4 4j
Oct. 2... 4s;u
Oct 21... 4&l4
Oct 28...
Oct 2... 4 ul
Oct 80... 4fO4
OCL 31 . 4 4614
Nov. 1... 4 8sJ
Nov. 2... 4 go
Nov. 3... u
Nov. 4...
Nov. 5... 4 a;
Nov. ... 4 6li J
Nov. 7... 4 67
N A 4 Tfi't
N'C 9... 4 68tk
Nov. 10.. 4 731,
ever great his attainments, however extensive his infor
mation, but is more or less dependent on his books.
Every reader, every student, every searcher aft'
knowledge, depends a great deal on his dictionary. In
fact, no study, no home library 1b complete without a
good dictionary.
The latest and best is
The Standard
No dictionary has received so much pruise from the
people scholars, students, teachers, professors and the
people.
An opportunity is offered the people to procure a
Standard Dictionary
for $7.00
This low price places the book within the reach of bo
many that a discussion of the merits of the book seems in
vain. But here are some of the opinions:
R. D. Blackmore, the English Novel
ist; "The Standard Dlct.onary Is most
comprehensive and correct."
William lilack, the Scotch Novelist:
"Admirably comprehensive and eiact."
A Cenan Doyle, the Rminent Eng
lish Novelist, Ixmdon: "It baa
become quite a joka with ui that w
cannot trip up this dictionary. W
have several times been Bure that w
would, but have always failed."
Sir Edwin Arnold: "A noble piece
t work, destined te be moit useful.
. , , Everywhere ceptous, erudite,
and reliable."
Knglneer and Iron Trades Adver
tiser. Glasgow, Scotland; "Taken al
together, the sum total Is, the Stand
ard Dictionary la without a peer."
Youths' Companion: Edward Stan
wood, Managing Editor: "We have
(elected the Standard as the diction
ary for the uie of our proof-reader la
his ewn room."
The Times-Democrat, New Orleans:
"He who hm the Standard at hli el
bow to ref.r to for the meaning, pro
nunciation, or derivation of a word,
or for Its compounds, synonyms, an
tonyms, or phrase use, will never
need another dictionary to help him
out."
THE STANDARD has
words. The Century 225,000,
ter's 105,000.
THE STANDARD was produced at n cost of a mil
lion dollni'H. v
THE STANDARD will bear comparison with any
other dictionary because there is nothing omitted. 4?
THE STANDARD contains the best definitions K
from the most eminent scholars of the day. j?
Step into the store and see the work. t
Megeath Stationery Co. $
4 IflOQ Fnrtmiti Strnf ?T
week, nnd as packers had to hnvn a few
they paid considerably higher prices than
they Old a neck ago. Mor rornfed cows
and heifers are arriving now than wan the
case a short tlmo ngo, and on tho choicest
grades prices have advanced perhaps a
quarter. The same Is true of the very
best Krus stock. The medium kinds are
n!sn a little higher, but a dime would
probably cover the ndvanre, Common
canners, however, have been slow and the
market can be quoted no more than steady
nnd In some cases It seemed a little weak.
There have been Very few feeders on
sale the past week. Oood stuff, howover,
met with ready rule nt steady to stronger
prices, bjt the common kinds were
neglected tind barely steady. Htoek cows
and heifers have been scarce nil the week
and If good sold nt ii little stronger prices,
The same could be said of handy weight
stock bull, but stock calves have been n
drug on the market all the week nnd nre
In some cases a good ileal lower.
The few wi'stern gross beef cnttle thnt
have been arriving have sold at good strong
jirleeH und the choicest grades are now its
high us they have been any tlmo this
s:isiMi. Tho common kinds urn rather
slow sale and prices nro showing no Im
provement The choicest range cows nro
l.ic, nnd possibly In some cases 2.1c higher
than they were n week or ten days ago.
but emitters nre no more than steady,
while the medium kinds lmvn nil vn need
ubout a dltnr. Good feeders are steady
to strong for the week, and tho common
kinds about sternly, but dull.
IIOOS-There wus rather u light run of
hogs here today for even a Saturdny. nnd
nn the demnnd on the part of puckers wns
In good shape the market was 2itf?.'c
hlgber thun yesterday. Buyers started out
bidding mil nvich different from yesterday,
but they did not get the hops and raided
their hands tn .M,70 and $4.724. At those
bids the hogs began to sell, but most every
thing brotlRht $1.7214. nnd. In fnct. It w.n n
72Mo market. As the morning advanced
.It became evident thit there were Imrdlv
enough Iiors to go Rround and sellers held
for more money and, as a result, the later
sales were largely at $4.724 and $4.76. so
that tho last end of the market was close
to 6c higher As high as I4.77H was paid
today and everything was sold and weighed
up early In the morning. The bulk of all
the sales went ut IU2V4ff4.73. with the long
string Rt $4.72U.
Bccelpts during the last week have been
verv llzht. a decrnnso of 3.910 bet no- tinted
as compared with the previous week nnd of
m,oii iiT-.in un itniiiuiieu wmi me samo
week last year. Am will be seen from the
table of average prices, the general ten
dency of the market has been upward nil
tho week, Monday started In with an ad
vance of nearly u dime, but lost 1c on Tues
day nnd pained So on Wcdneidav nnd 3e
more on Thursdnj. Friday the market fell
off u couple of cents, but Saturday neurly
ti nickel was put on, which curried the
market tn the hlch point of the week nnd
nlsn to the highest mark reached since the
middle of October. As compared with u
week ii no prices are He higher.
SHEEP There were no fresh nrrlvuls
hero today tn muko ii lest of tho market
Thero has been u falling off In sheep re
cclpts this week, the decrease ns com
pered with last week amounting tn 8,332
head, und us compared with thn correspond
ing week of lust yenr there Is nlsti a dc- ,
rreuse liinnuntlng to 4.S91 head. The de. I
mnnd for good stuff, both sheep and lambs,
whh gnod nil the week nnd the tendency
of prices upward. Quite a cood deal of fed
stun arrived, moro In fact than hus come
In before this full. HaI- wcro made ilur- ,
lng tho week that looked till the wny from
15c to 25o higher than the samo kind f
stuff, cither fed or gruss, was selling for
the week before. The market was unlive
and strong all the week, the demand up
pnrently being In excess of the supply
The commoner grades were, of course, not .
ns ready sellers nnd did not show as much
advance ns tho better kinds. Very few-
good lambs arrived and packers are all
utixlous for that class of stuff.
Oood feeders sold nt fully steady prices
and wethers brought u little higher prices
In somo esse. There wus not much de
mnnd for the less desirable grades of either
sheep or lambs nnd prices Hro no more
than steady for thn week.
Quotations- Choice fed wethers, H.Wit
4.15; fair to good fed wethers. $S.9W.O0;
choice grass wethers. $3.!;?f4.00; fair to
rood irrass wethers. $.1.6583.Hi; choice ewes,
$3.26fiCt.&0; fair to good cwcb, $3 00fj3.2j;
choice spring Inmbs. $5.00i6.25: fair to good
sprlm? lambs, 4.7fiji6.(i0: feeder ewes, J2.2"5f
3.P0; feeder wethers, $3.603.75; feeder lambs,
$4.Ol3H.40.
Kansas City Lire aiocw Market.
KANSAS CITY. Nov. 10.-CATTl.K- Ho
celpts, 200 heud; receipts this week. 3.000;
trado has been exceedingly good ull this
week nnd values are 20y25c higher; nutive
steers today. $4.2Bff4.60; Blockers and feed
ers. $3.00jjf4.25:, butcher cows nnd heifers,
$3.00?4,75; canners, $2.60T?3,00; fed westerns.
$3.754u,25; wintered Tcxans, $3.G."jf4.60;
i i a S
ivnuwieuge )j
man, however studious, how- Mp
The Christian Cynosure, Chicago:
"It Is difficult to rtptak adequately
of thli great work without iteming
to bo extravagant."
The Interior, Chicago: "It waa a
stroke of genius to give a full cat
alog, for example, of the name of
every tool and of every device em
j devle am- S3
r; to glva us W
i of the vast 75
adders have fr.
ployed by the carpenter;
the name f every one
varieties of apple. The editors have
forgotten nothing. It b all here.
and everything where one can lay
hand uoon IL"
The Tribune, New York: . . ,A if
wuujpai mou wiiu mo century Dic
tionary leads to the Inference that
the Standard Dictionary has nude
a distinct advauce In certa n fields.
. . . Tho new dictionary Is rich In
y is ricn in i-w
ultlsiu aad 9f4
t, nostont ig
did pier of iJ
terms pecullnr to occultism
oriental religions."
The nnnemratlniiAtlitt.
"It Is positively a splendid pier of is
work and nn honor to our country." fir
The Western Druggist, Chicago:
"Americans have Just reasons to St
feel proud of this achievement."
The Christian Secretary, Hart- k
ford: "We cannot speak In too high TSi
praise."
a vocabulary
Of
H00.000
Webster's 25,000, Worces
grass Texan, $3 26S 60: calves. $3.60JfS.W
HOOH Bccelpts 4,P0u neud; market c
five ami at 6c itdvance; rvctluts this week
43,000, the light supply strengthened value
tho advance for the week ainnuntltiK !
about 2(V, heavy today. $4 SOtM jm; light at i
mixed. 4.7!W4 SSi pigs, $1 31.40
SHEEP AND I.AMBS-Beccllits. 2iW hea.i
rrcripis ior trie wees., lo.WM; trie imprmeri
demand advanced prices ubout 2ve, Iambi,
M.2f;Sf5.40. muttonf, $8 7&tf4.C6. sto- kers in, ,
feeders, $3 ivi culls, $2.753.2.i
M. tnni t.lvr .Stock MnrUrt.
t LT ,U1V'H. Nov. lO.-CATTLE-Brrelpts,
1.500 heud, ncltidlng 100 Tcxans, markci
Jte'idy, iiutlve shipping nnd export steers,
J.i.ltii5.,0; dressed beef nnd butcher steers
$l.(Xii..r.0; steers under 1,000 lbs., $.1.po16.00:
Blockers and feeders. $3.2o4il2fi; cows ami
l".''11!',5 Wi c"!1"-'"". $l-2f''tr2 75; bulls
$l.twif3 50, Texns -nnil Indian steers, J3..V,lf
I, G5; cows und heifers. $2.49'f1 55.
HOfIS-Bccelpts. 3.MW head, steadv to
J'rP"Ki l,B,9 'J'"'! "Kill. $4.7fH K5; packors.
$1 inff4.8.i; butchers. Ji ivVjfi gj,
SHEEP AND LAM UH Bccelpts. 160 head .
market steady; tititlve muttons, il.6e-ff4.2f.
lambs, $ .s.vrifi.fin; calls unit bucks, $i.6ia
3 5, Blockers, $2.o0ttJ w)
ctv Vnrk Live Miiel..
N''::u',y?R,V N'ov. 10,-llEKVES-Hr
celpts, 2S head; nominally steady; cubles
slow; shipments, 1.C69 cattle nnd s.iss uuur
tcrs nf beef.
.CALVE8 Bccelpts 22 head; feeling l
steady, Krasscrs, $.1, ycurllngi, $2.iHi.6ii
veitH nninln.lt.
SHEEP AND LAMBS-.Becelpts. 4,(.
head; good sheep firm, other? Mnd ; choice
lambs linn, others slow . sheep. $J.uifM ft,
lambs, $o.iri5 s."i. I'anadlun l.imbs. $5.:r"Mf
6. 85
HOCIS- Itecelpts. 2.232 head, Heudy led
lng, pigs firm.
SPARKLING
IN
PURITY
AND
GOODNESS
BEER.
Fill- STAR MILWAUKEE J
Blafz Malt - Vivine
rxle.uit.) t
An Im aluatilc Tonic
All Druggists.
VAL BLAT2 BREWING CO., MILWAUKEE
OMAHA HUANCU,
1(12 Douglas St. TEL. 1081.
JOBBERS & MAHJFA3 TUSER
OF OfilAHA
"dry goods!
HE. Smith & Go.
Importers and Jobbers of
Diy Goods, Furnishing Good
AND NOTIONS.
BUiLcii mi J miicI' inui4 WUrirC
.1 . ..I I i,
Dr&ka, Wilson
ft Wwm
uccrssora Wilson A Drake.
Manufacture boilers, srnnko stacks ami
brei-cliliiKs. pressure, rendering, sheep dip,
lard and water tanks, butler ui Den con
stantly on hand, second hand boilers bought
ani sold. Special and piompt attention to
repalri In c'tv or country t'h nml Plorre
ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES.
Uesiem E.ecfcical
Electrical Supplies.
Electric Wiring Dells and Gas Ltchtlne.
a. XV. JOHNSTON. Mirr U.10 Howard Bt.
oAFii Aiil) lit JW .i Otttj.
ho Gond.a Safe
mi Iron Works
ti. ANDRIilvN, Prop.
Make, a specialty of
J-l 1 liw s 1 1 UTTK RS,
And Burglar Proof Hufes Vault Doors, etl
OlO H, 14th Bt,, Omukn, Net).
Davis & Cowgil! Iron Works.
MANUFACTUHKHB AND JOBBERS
OK MACIllNBItY.
GENEItAL nRPAiniNO A aPBCIALTi
IRON AND DRABH FOUNDERS.
ICOl. ir.K! nail inOB Jackson Street,
O inn ha. Neb. Tel. B.18.
M. Zabjlskle, Agent, J. B. Cowglll, Mgr.
Omaha nlsnhlne Works
Pattern Makers and Model Builders.
Manufacturers and Ieulers Strain
l-'lttlnKs, Elevator Supplies. Steam
Unzlncs nnd Hullers, O.isolluo ICn-glnt-s
Cream Separators. Machin
ists Supplies, High tirade Itcpalr Work a
Specialty l-'nctory run! office C0S-14 South
Tenth St. Phone ?.r J
ET.EVAfJ ( SlJVPLlESr
ELEVATORS
Improved Quick and Kany Itlslng '
Steam, Electric and
Hand Powar Elevators.
AUTOMATIC HATCH CATES.
Send for eatalogua.
KIMBALL, UHOS., COUNCrr, 1U.UFFS, la.
1M3 9th Street. Telephone U.
r
Ii. Davis & Son
4 Aiceutn for thr lltehmon.l
ftnlcty natm nnd
1'lrc Doors.
Klevator Hydraullo and Hand Elevators.
Elevator rcpalrlUR a specialty. feathrr
Valve Cups for Eleratorn, KnglnM and
Printing Prcssses.
ror ii
RR.PEHME.Yaca
BOOrMHYUrE
CRAMCH lOJorUfl
illlCOLM M
JMES F, D0YD & CO.,
Telephone I03U. Omati., Mat
COMMISSION,
GRAIN, PROVISIONS und STOCKS
HOAHB OF THAIIB.
Correspor.ueuce. Juhn A. Warren Ce
isirect wtrne lo Chicago and Mew TerA
-v
Ur Kay's Utlnttre curf nail
f, IB in, f). I ((Ml., u,n.a
aiidiwlvlccfreo. lr 11. J, Kay, fiuraLui.N. Ii
4