MORE INSURANCE MYSTERIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 184, 6 August 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

MORE INSURANCE MYSTERIES.

'ARDLAMONT' MONSON ARRESTED

AGAIN.

SAMPLES OF SWINDLES.

Alfred John Monson, second cousin to the British Ambassador in Paris, and only eight lives removed from the barony of Monson, on whose trial in 1593 for the murder at Ardlamont of" young Cecil Hambrough an Edinburgh jury found a verdict of 'Not Proven,' appeared at Bow-street on Monday in custody together with Victor Honour, n West End money-leder; Robert Metcalf, a commision agent; arid Percival Edward Norgate, of no occupation, on a charge of conspiracy to defraud the Norwich Union Life Assurance Society. In addition Norgate'was charged with forging a promissory note for £120, and Honour with'"feloniously procuring the forgery. The fraud 'of which they were accused is alleged to have been committed some two years ago. It is said tliat Norgate desired to obtain a policy of insurance on his life as collateral security for a loan, for which he had applied to Honour. As Norgate's life was unlikely to be passed by the insurance company, it is alleged that he was personated by a more robust individual,on the strength of whose appearance the Norwich Union issued a policy to Norgate. At all events, the Union had the policy set aside by a Chancery proceeding, and apparently determined not to prosecute. Now the Public Prosecutor takes up the running. Mr AA'ory, who appeared for the prosecution, said the charges now made were only samples of many others, information of which had been given them. Inspector Arrow gave evidence of the circumstances attending the arrest of the prisoners. Cross-examined for Norgate, he said he had been receiving information from him ever since March, and had seen him by appointment several times. Prisoner gave him full details of his share in the alleged criminal acts. He had all along regarded Norgate as a prospective witness for the .prosecution. Inspector Arrow added that some months ago Monson communicated with him and had from time to time supplied him with a good deal- of information. He had acted generally as an informer, and witness had submitted all he told him to the Public Prosecutor. He found on Monson a telegram, calling him away to the North, and did not allege that he was absconding because of these charges. The prisoners were remanded, bail being refused except in Norgate's case. The case being still sub judice, it is impossible to comment upon it, extensively, but one of the insurance organs anticipates that attention will be drawn to the existence of a vast and org-anised system of defrauding insurance companies. It is a strange coincidence that Monson was arrested only a day after the 'Daily Mail' had interviewed him in connection with the Tangier shooting case, another insurance mystery the trial of which is now proceeding at Tangier. The facts of the latter case so far as they have been ascertained at present are as follows: — Hubert Birkin, an Englishman of 30, with a small allowance but £200,000 expectations, borrowed money on his reversionary interest, from the Life Interest and Reversionary Securities Corporation, of which one Stanley Jones is solicitor. Monson, by the way, has admitted the introduction to Jones of gentlemen with reversions, and seems to be well versed in that gentleman's affairs. The Company agreed to pay Birkin an annuity for ten years if his expectations had not meanwhile been realised. By way of additional security they insured his life in various insurance companies for £50,000, paying heavy premiums, as both of Birkins' parents had died of diabetes. At the office of Abrahams, the solicitor who had introduced him to Stanley Jones, Birkin met Callan, a solicitor's clerk of remarkable ability, the son of a former Irish M.P., and once sjecretar3 r to General Boulanger, but whose record is not altogether a clean one.. Callan became Birkin's secretary, and soon exercised a remarkable influence over him. Birkin was a victim to; the cocaine habit. After travelling about in England together they left for Gibraltar and Tangier. Tangier was the extreme limit covered by the insurance policies. ■ On the 19th of May Birkin made a will leaving everything to Callan. At midnight the proprietor of the Bristol Hotel, where they were both staying, was awakened by attempts1 to enter his room. Opening the door he found a pool of blood, and down below Birkin, ghastly and faint from a bullet wound"through the cheek and blows on the top and back of the bead. THe wounded man said Callan askeel him to look out of the harbour at the pier lights, and then attempted to murder him by striking him on the back of the head and pushing him out of the window, and finally by firing four revolver shots at him, oiie df which took effect. A Belgian officer, awakened by Birkins' cries, rushed out and arrested Callan as he was grasping Birkin by the throat. Callan explained that Birkin had attempted to commit suicide, and in the course of a clever cross-examination procured admissions from Birkin of extraordinary actions, an endeavour to set fire to a steamer, and the stabbing of two of the crew, with a view to showing insanity on Birkins' part. Birkin, on the other hand, alleges that Callan put drink in his way and egged him on to take it and cocaine in subtle ways, and had designs on his life from the time they left Liverpool together. A cotirier and interpreter who appears to have spent a good deal of money on Birkins' behalf has sworn that Callan told him that Stanley Jones was coming from London to pay everything, and that when Callan was leaving- Tangier to meet Jones in Gibraltar he had instructed the. witness to make Birkia as drunk as possible that night, as Jones would be over to see Birkin in the morning. Mr Stanley Jones is now on his way to Tangier to give evidence. The 'Review,' an insurance journal, anticipates a startling denouement to this strange case. Meanwhile, the insurance compajiies with which Mr Birkins is insured have refused to ac : cept payment of the latest premiums due, amounting to £ 1000, pending the termination of the charges against Callan. . .