The Dark Side of Insurance: Self-Mutilation and Fraud

This chapter explores the disturbing trend of self-mutilation and insurance fraud during the 1890s depression. It discusses cases of individuals intentionally harming themselves to make insurance claims, including a man who shoots himself in the hand and another who plans to mangle his foot on a train track. The chapter also examines the role of lawyers and banana peel specialists in exploiting these situations for financial gain.