An Alleged Swindler in 1906
Sometimes we, as a people, have the inclination to believe life was pure and good ‘back in the good ole’ days’… If only we could go back to the good ole’ days. But in reality, those ‘good ole’ days’ had their problems and shortcomings the same as we do today. The most important thing to remember might be that we have the opportunity and perhaps the responsibility to make our future and our children’s future better than it was before we arrived on the scene.
In particular, I want to tell you about an alleged insurance swindle believed to have been committed by S. G. Duckworth, who was born in MD, moved to Doddridge County with his parents, Uriah, and Dorcas Smith Duckworth when he was but 5 or 6 years old. He was a member of the prominent and well-respected, Duckworth family and brother of C.A. Duckworth. Samuel was said to have had a serious gambling addiction, which might have accounted for this chain of events.
The following was clipped from the West Union Herald on March 29, 1906:
“S. G. Duckworth, local agent of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, of New York, was arrested last night by the police at his home at 906 Virginia Avenue, on a warrant charging the larceny of $5,000. He is in the county jail in default of $10,000 bond.
The circumstances leading up to the arrest are most sensational. In the specific case on which the warrant was issued, it is alleged that Duckworth as agent wrote a policy for a fictitious West Union man. The policy provided that $5,000. was to be paid to the beneficiary at the policy holder’s death. Later on, Duckworth is alleged to have reported the policy holder dead and to have offered in proof a forged death certificate. The name of the county clerk of Doddridge County was forged to the death certificate. He received the money for distribution. As the beneficiary was likewise a fictitious person, Duckworth is alleged to have appropriated it himself.
The specific case is but one of probably a score, the police say, in which Duckworth has figured, and by means of these transactions it is said that he has probably secured thousands.
Duckworth has been here for some time in his present capacity. He originally came here from West Union. He was employed as a sub-agent under the state agent of the company at Wheeling. For some time, he seemed to be doing an immense business. He wrote many policies for $1,000. And on up to $10,000. Or more.
Somehow Duckworth’s policyholders exceeded the average death rate by a good deal. This attracted attention at the home offices. The death rate may be said to have been unusual. He offered no explanation. He continued to send in certificates of death at a rate which would have soon depopulated Doddridge County, from which point he secured most of his business, and of which, by the way, Duckworth was a former resident.
About a week ago, Thomas C. Gaskins, inspector for the Equitable, and a big insurance man, was sent to Parkersburg to secure evidence. One of the first things he ascertained in his investigation was that Duckworth was a heavy player of the races at the turf exchanges. It is said that he frequently placed wages of $100. To $200. On a single race. He had a reputation locally as a big plunger. It is also known that he has been a heavy loser. He has lost more money, it is said, than a man could afford to lose on five times his income.
This was not evidence, but it was a clue. The inspector made a thorough investigation with the result that a policy written in a certain name, alleged to represent a party at West Union, was in reality written by Duckworth to a fictitious person. It was for $5,000.
He had reported the death of the fictitious policyholder and sent with it the required death certificate. The inspector learned that the alleged policyholder never existed, and that the death certificate was a forgery. He learned also of other cases, but this being the strongest, he made it the basis of the specific charge.
The warrant was sworn out yesterday before Squire Ruttencutter and placed in the hands of Constable E. J. Savage and Lieutenant Smith, of the police force. Duckworth has been regarded as a man of wonderful shrewdness, and the investigators proceeded with caution.
Officer Smith, who has had long experience as a police officer, knew that if he went to the Duckworth home and failed to find him there, it would be all off. He would fly the coop. So, the officer went to the telephone.
“Give me Duckworth’s residence – – Hello, this is a party from Cairo,” he said. “I want to get some insurance. I just got in and some one told me to sign with you. Will you be at home this evening?”
“Yes, any time,” came back over the wire. “Drop out or I’ll meet you and we’ll fix it up.”
“Well, we’ll make it about 8:30 o’clock at your house,” said the pretended applicant.
“All right,” came back and the officer rang off. Then, the lieutenant and the constable went out to Virginia Avenue, got there at the appointed time, and took Duckworth by surprise. He protested innocence.
Squire Ruttencutter was waiting at the office. The clever ruse of the officers had worked so perfectly, and they got such quick action with it that by 9 o’clock the prisoner was before the magistrate. The Magistrate, the prosecutor, the officers, and counsel for the prisoner were in conference until about midnight. The magistrate fixed bond at $10,000. Finally for a preliminary hearing Monday. After considerable effort to get bond, Duckworth gave it up and went to jail. He found no on ready to accommodate him, though he tried many of his friends. Indeed, most of the time that the authorities waited at the justice shop was spent in waiting on the prisoner. He finally reluctantly declared he would give it up.
Duckworth has been a highflyer in local gambling circles and is accredited the reputation of having been a heavy loser in the long run, though he frequently made big winnings. He took his losses stoically. It is said that he has lost as much as $300. or $400. In an afternoon. At the time that H. T. Gratz, the Kentucky plunger, brought suit against the turf exchanges for the recovery of money lost at gaming, Duckworth was expected to take the same course. He did not, however, though he did become surety on Gratz’s bond in the attachment proceeding. Later, he asked to be released from the bond. He still kept busy in the racing business himself. Outside of the money he lost there, Duckworth was reputed to be a good spender. He seemed to have a large income and was popular with the element that bets on the races. No One ever suspected that he secured the money dishonestly.
Duckworth came here some time ago from West Union. This probably accounts for the frequent use of Doddridge County names in life insurance policies as alleged.
Thomas C. Gaskins, who swore out the warrant for Duckworth’s arrest, and who will be here during the preliminary hearing tomorrow, is reputed to be a big man in life insurance circles in the East. A reporter of the Dispatch-News last night tried to gain an interview with him concerning this case, but Mr. Gaskins said he did not wish to talk concerning it.
Duckworth is a young man of good breeding and has a family at 906 Virginia Avenue.
The following clipped from Monday’s Dispatch-News adds another chapter to the story:
Further details learned yesterday concerning the operations of Insurance Agent S. G. (C.) Duckworth, arrested Saturday night at the in- sta?? of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, mark him as a premier of swindlers, if all that is alleged against him be true, incidentally it is shown that
not all of the stealing in the insurance business is done in the home offices.
It has developed that Duckworth has been engaged in writing bogus policies for months (the fatal bogus policy was written a year to the day before Duckworth’s arrest – on March 25, 1905, and that after paying the first, and perhaps, in a few cases the second premiums be reported the policyholder dead, and in some cases received the money or checks for disbursement to the beneficiaries. This money he appropriated to his own use.”
In part two of this story, we shall learn how Duckworth used his own sister-in- law, Nancy B. Haught in this money-making scheme. The problem with that…Nancy was alive and well here in Doddridge County.
God Bless
Patricia Richards Harris
Doddridge County Historical Society