PLAYING SHE HAD A DEAD HUSBAND.

Western Star, Issue 1002, 25 November 1885, Page 4

PLAYING SHE HAD A DEAD HUSBAND.

Mf Henhoper had his life insured for L 2,000. Several nights afterward, while he and his wife sat- by the fire, he remarked : “ Look here, Jane, I’ve been thinking the matter over, and it now seems to me that I have made a mistake in having my life insured,” “ Why, Jody,” replied he wife, “ the money will he paid in case of your death.”

“Yes, in case of ray death. But hang it all, I don’t want to die. If I had a shop I could have it insured, burn it down, and make sevral hundred pounds on the transaction, but you don’t suppose that a man wants to commit sucide, do you? Wonder if I can rig up some scheme for beating this game?” “I don’t only see one way, and that would result in the death of us both ; for Jody, if you were to die I would take poison. I would cut my throat with an old case-knife rather than live without my Jody,” and she put her arms around his neck and wept. “ I tell you,” said the husband, after a few mom tuts’ reflection. “ I’ll be found dead. Don’t look frightened.” He then unfolded his plans. He would get a skeleton, put a lot of bruised meat around it, stuff the whole arrangement into an old su’t of clothes, put it in the bottom of an old gravelpit not far from the house, and cave the walls in. The idea was a happy one. The coroner would hold an inquest when the remain&svere brought out, everything would'dia satisfactory, and the insurance company would pay the money. Then the husband would slip home, take his wife and leave the Gauntry. The other morning a report was circulated to the effect that a gravelpit had caved in upon Mr Henoper, and that his wife was almost crazy. Henoper was well-known in the region, and the accident caused a sensation. After three days of hard work the mangled remains were reached. The coroner held a hurried inquest, and the jurymen held their noses and said, “ Poor fellow, what a horrible death!” The money was paid to Mrs Henoper. At one time it was thought necessary to send her to an asylum, but she improved gradually until people said the blow would not kill her.

Henhoper waited and waited, expectting to receive some word from his wifo, and failing, stole home at night. The house was dark. Crawling through a window, he entered his wife’s room. On a table lay a letter addressed to him. The contents were as follows : “Jody: The idea of playing you are dead is too sweet to relinquish, and I have concluded to go away with another man who tells me can judiciously invest my two thousand. lam still your friend, however, and if you ever get hard up and tramp out my way, you may rest: assured that I’ll give you a lift, ’ Just as Henoper finished reading the letter, an officer entered the room and took him to jail.