THE ATTEMPT TO DEFRAUD INSURANCE COMPANIES.

Kumara Times, Issue 2888, 7 January 1886, Page 2

THE ATTEMPT TO DEFRAUD INSURANCE COMPANIES.

THE SEVERED HAND MYSTERY. ARREST OF HOWARD. On Tuesday we published a telegram from Wellington, dated 4th instant, announcing the arrest of Howard, the reputed owner of the discovered band, and who was supposed to have been drowned at Sumner on Saturday, 10th October last. The Welllington correspondent of the Christchurch Press telegraphed farther particulars on Monday as follows; The Sumner mystery of the “ severed hand ” has assumed a new and sensational phrase. Howard, the sup. posed owner of the discovered hand, who, moreover, was thought to have been drowned at Sumner some months ago, was confronted in the flesh to-day at Petone, about six miles from Wellington, and proved to be alive and well, not at all drowned, and in the possession of both his hands—not in full possession I .should explain, for the is missing from the right hand.

Ifc appears that more than a week (he police had reason to suspect that ■lie missing man Howard was working in disguise in the vicinity of Welliu° ton. They sue leticcnt at present, and prefer not to state the origin of their suspicion, or the means by which they veiified it. About a week ago they •satisfied themselves definitely that the fact was as staled, ami a careful watch was kept on the suspected person, who was occupying one room in a house at Petone, and who in the daytime, was in the employ of the Gear Meat Company at their Peione Works, under the name of Watson. At half-past four this afternoon, acting under instructions from Inspector Goodall, Constable Hainelt proceeded to the spot and anested the person under suspicion. He manifested considerable surprise, and on being informed what was the giound of his arrest, indignantly denied his identity with Howa.d, assertin'’ that his name was ‘‘John Watson.” On being examined it was found that he was wearing a wig and a false moustache, without which his identity with the man he was believed to be, became very apparent. He was conveyed to town this evening in custody. On arriving at the Police-station his attitude changed altogether. His tone of indignant repudiation utterly collapsed, and he voluntarily admitted to Inspector Goodall that he was the missing man Howard, as they had surmised. He declared, however, that his wife was wholly innocent of any complicity in his proceedings. He said he was aware she had been anested, and he had made up his mind to give himself up, but when it came to the point his pluck failed him, and he could not summon up courage to take the step. His ai rest is on the charge of conspiring to defraud the Government Insurance Association, and other insurance companies of certain moneys. He will be brought before the R.M. to morrow morning. The affair has excited great interest here. The strange tale of the severed band created a deep sensation. I hear the prisoner was in the Wairarapa district for some time before he settled at Petone, and the police up there had their eye on him. In fact he seems to have been sharply watched ever since he came up hither from the south, and periodical reports as to his movements were furnishod by the local constable to the Inspector, so he has been practically under constant surveil'ance. The Lyttelton Times of Tuesday last, commenting on the circumstances connected with Howard's disappearance, says lb was on Sunday morning, October 11, ISSS, about 11.30 o’clock, that it was reported to Constable M‘Gill, at Woolston, that some clothes, apparently belonging to a man well-to-do, had been found at Sumner, on the breakwater which was then in course of construction in connection with Mr S. L. Bell’s baths. These clothes were identified by Mrs Howard as her husband’s; they we/e taken charge of by the police, who still retain them. Howard, was a fitter, employed in the Addington railway workshops, and in receipt of 9s fid per day, out of which he had to sup. port a wife and two children. He had the reputation of being a good swimmer and on Saturday, October 10, hid told several persons that be was goinxr to bathe at Sumner. It is stated that some time previous to this lie had said he had a narrow escape from a shark while bathing there, and on this particular afternoon he had asked one or two of his mates to accompany him, but these were men who were not at all likely to he ab'e to go. He went down to Sumner about I o’clock, and was seen hovering about the rocks by some men working at the breakwater. None of these men, however, saw him get into the water, and when they left their work at 5 p.m., he was still lingering about as if undecided whether (o bathe or not. Where he went to that night is not known, and though the police have now got him alive, Inspector Pender considers it would be indiscreet to make public what is known of his movements. It is a fact however, that the steamer Rotorua left Lyttelton for the Noith between 9 and 10 p.m. on October 10. It is quite within the bounds of possibility that Howard took his passage by this boat. U hen the clothes were found, Mr Day, the Pilot at Sumner, expressed the opinion that it was not at all likely a body could be washed out to sea from the place where the supposed fatality had occurred. Every effort was made to recover the body by means of draging the sea, but without success, notwithstanding that enterprise was stimulated by the appearance of the following advertisement inserted by Howard’s friends in the Star of October 13 ; £SO Reward Re Arthur Howard, drowned at Sumner, on Saturday last iiio above reward will be given for tlx4

recovery of the body, or the first portion received thereof recognisable. Apply Times office. Mrs Howard had made application to the insurances offices in which her husband had taken policies (the Government, in which he insured in June, 1884, the Australian Mutual, and the Accident Assurance Association, in both of which he insured at a later date), but these companies declined to pay, in default of some reasonable proof of death. It was a significant fact, however, that Mrs Howard never made any application to the police for assistance in finding the proofs she desired, and now it may be mentioned that suspicion was aroused very early in the minds of the police and the insurance officials. The large amount for which Howard had been insured—.£24oo in all—coupled with the fact of his moderate income, was the only suspicious circa instance. It was ascertained that shortly before his disappearance he had been making great efforts to dispose of some property, and that he had, in one instance, allowed a section and house to go simply for the amount that the Building Society would advance upon it. About a week ago a warrant was taken out for Howard’s arrest on a charge of conspiring to defraud the three assurance associations interested. Had that arrest never been made, the police here could have produced proof that Howard had been seen alive. It is staled that letters containing money had been received by Mrs Howard from Wellington; and, indeed, so certain was Inspector Pender of securing him, that he had almost made up his mind to start for Wellington himself, in order that he might have the satisfaction of running the game to earth. Though, of course, we should not detract from the smartness displayed by Constable Harnett, of the Wellington district, it should be stated that the arrest was due to information supplied by the Christchurch police, who had been well advised as to the whereabouts of the man they wanted. This, coupled with the fact that the insurance associations bad offered a stimulus to action in the shape of a reward of £25, has brought about the desired result. At the R.M. Court, Wellington, yesterday, 6th inst., Howard was charged with intent to defraud the Government Life Insurance Association, and remanded to Christchurch, whore he would this morning be brought up in company with the two Godfreys and his wife at the adjourned hearing of the charge of conspiring to defraud the insurance companies. AMERICAN CO.’S HOP BITTERS ARE THE PUREST AND BEST BITTERS EVER MADE. They are compounded from Hops Malt, Buchu, Mandrake, and Dandelion—the oldest, best, and most valuable medicines in the world, and contain all the best and most curative properties of all other remedies, being the greatest Blood Purifier, Liver Regulator, and Life and Health Restoring Agent on earth. No disease or ill health can possibly long exist where they are used, so varied and perfect are their operations. They give new life and vigor to the aged and infirm. To all whose employments cause irregularity of the bowels or prinary organs or who want an Appetizer, Tonic and mild Stimulant, American Co.’s Hop Bitters are invaluable, being highly curative, tonic and stimulating, without intoxicating. No matter what your feeling or symptoms are, what the disease or- ailment is, use Hop Bitters. Don’t wait until you are sick, but if you only feel bad or miserable, use Hop Bitters at once. It may save your life. Hundreds have been saved by so doing. £SOO will be paid for a case they will not cure or help. Do not suffer or let your friends suffer, but use and urge them to use American Hop Bitters. Remember, Amrican Hop Bitters is no vile, drugged, drunken nostrum, but the Purest and Best Medicine ever made. Try the Bitters to-day. Get at Chemists or Druggists. Beware of imitations. Genuine has Dr. Soule’s name blown ni bottle. A Lady’s Wish. —“Oh, how I do wish my skin was as clear and soft as yours !” said a lady to a friend. You can easily make it so,” answered the friend. ‘ ‘How V’ inquired the first lady. “By using Dr. Soule’s Hop Bitters, that makes pure rich blood and blooming health. It did it for me, as you observe.” Read.