"GRAVEYARD SHARKS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6261, 10 December 1881, Page 7

"GRAVEYARD SHARKS."

Thk New York Herald's correspondent at Scranton, Pa., writes: —The appearance here of a number of agents and adjusters from some of the "home offices" of the grave yard insurance companies has caused quite a flutter among local canvassers and policyholders. It is stated that the visitors are accompanied l*y two detectives, and that the object of their visit is to enquire into .a number of deaths recently reported from this section, and some of which are said to be bogus. The boldness with which those engaged in the nefarious traffic of graveyard insurance glory in their work is illustrated by the fact that when six of these visiting officers wrote their names on the hotel register they grouped the entire number under the head of "Graveyard Sharks," doubtless in defiance to those who criticise their ghoulish calling. They have been scouring the suburbs during the past twenty-four hours, and in that time have obtained some information concerning the popular impression of the business they are engaged in. Some of the deaths reported to them were of persons who died several days before they were insured, and in one case an effort was made by the policy holder to realise on the life of a man who is still living. An agent of one of the companies told the Herald correspondent this morning that he proposed to quit the business and leave the town, as lie anticipated there would be a : lively time here iu the course of a few days, ; and that some arrests have been made. The : adjusters and officers who are now here are : mostly young men. They appear to live on i the fat of the land and drink nothing less ; expensive than champagne, although many ■ of them could not buy beer six months ago. The frequency of deaths has caused them ■ some alarm, as policy-holders in other parts [ of the State are beginning to "kick" against I the numerous assessments levied on them, , and unless a check is put upon the rate of ; mortality it will seriously cripple the business in a short time. This would be a great draw - • back to the agentsand officers, whoarerapidly i growing rich, and who expect to be financially s "fixed" by the time the business explodes. ' A local agent who advertises himself as "The i Pioneer Mutual Assessment Man" is said i to have made a fortune already, and but a faw t days ago offered £10,000 for a hotel on I Lackawanna Avenue, irlis office is constantly i crowded. He has a large circle of acquaiub tances, and upon the strength of his blarney t every one of them hopes to become indepen--3 deutly rich in a. short time—as soon as "his i man" dies. The current query continues, s " How is your man ?" and the announcement 1 of a death is frequently the signal for rejoic--1 ing among policy-holders, who, "from hesitating investors, have become unscrupulous speculators in the lives of old men and women"