The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-06-26 00:00:00

A QUESTION OF " ACCIDENT3L "
DEATH.

--
In thy Court of Common Pleas, in London, the cause of
"Reynolds , Executor, v. the Accideotal Assurance Com-
pany," has been heard, and was an action to recover the
amount of a pacy of assurance upon the life of "lhomas
Humphrey a for 1;300; and the defendants pleaded that Mr.
Humphreys did not die by violence.
The plaintiff was executor of Mr. Humphreys, of
Sevenoaks, who di, dat the ase of 61. In July, 1857,
Mr. Hurophreya insured for £3OO fogaiust death by
accident; and .41 the 14th June, 186 S, he went on an
excursion to Hastings, principally with the object of
bathing his legs, which were diseased, in the sea.
About four in Vie afternoon he sow a friend, walked
to the beach with Lim, and slid that he would
bathe his legs once more before he returned
home. Soon afterwards he was seen by the
water undressing, and a little later he was in a
shallow pool of water behind a shingle bank. The loot
time he WWI seen alive he was leaning back so that the
water might flow over his breast, and the next thing
known of him was that he was lying face downwards
in the pool dead. The coroner's jury found that he
had fallen in a fit, and had no become drowned. Under
them circumstances the question would be whether
the death was of such a kind as was contemplated by

the policy.
Mr. Salter (the defendants' counsel) said of course
the company were not bound by the finding of the
coroner's jury, and the question would be whether the
deceased died of a fit or of drowning.
Mr. Hawkins (the plaintiff's counsel): And it
might be a further question whether the tit was not
caused by going into the water. He suggested that
it should be referred to somebody to find what the
cause of death was; and that the facts should be
stated in a special case for the opinion of the Court.
This suggestion was adopted, and a formal seri]
was taken for the plaintiff, subject to a special case.

chase

A VERDICT AGAINST A RAILWAY
COMPANY.—DAMAGES £750.
Mr. Baron Martin, with a special jury, has tried in the
Court of Exchequer the case of " Burton r. the Midland
Railway Company," which was an action by a frame worker
knitter, earning 251. a week, living at Ilucknall, near
Nottingham, to recover compensation in damages for serious
bodily injuries sustained by a collision between two trains
near the Mansfield Junction in December Mat.
The plaintiff was brought into court in a chair,
propped up with pillows, and his voice was so weak
1 that he could only be heard by the usher, who com-
municated his answers to the court by placing his ear
close to his mouth. He had formerly been in the army,
and before the accident was said to have been in good
health. It dial not seem that he exhibited any serious
symptoms until some time after the occurrence, and he
and another man went two or three days afterwards
from Hucknall to the office of the defendants at
Nottingham and received £lO each an compensation for
the injury they had sustained. The plaintiff admitted
having attached his mark to a document on getting
the money, but said he had no recollection of its saying
that the looney was given in full satisfaction of all
, demands he might have on the company.
The jury. after having a brief absence from court,
gave a verdict for plaintiff—damages £750.

PREPARATIONS FOR A FASHIONABLE
WEDDING.
A DEAN'S APPREHENSIONS. TIII,MtIi the courtesy of a friend (says a correspondent of
a New Yolk paper), we have been permitted to examine the
Dean Boyd, in the course of his sermon at .. trousseau, part of which was imported from Paris, of a belle
dral on Sunday, said," lof Madison-avenue, who is shortly to be led to the hymeneal
During the last two or three weeks there has been
, altar by a Boston gentleman of high social distinction.
before the Houses of Parliament a questien which is ! All the articles and dress material sent from Paris
making the hearts of most men tingle, and the hearts ' wt re done up in packages elegantly embroidered and
ot honest Christians throb. No matter what his edged with Valenciennes lace, each package being en-
political feeling, every cue feels that the country is on closed in a substantial case of straw. A packet of
the point of a terrible experiment—on the point of handkerchiefs like cobwebs in quality, each bearing the
trying the experiment whether it be a safe thing or an ' monogram of the young bride in now and unique
unsafe thing for a nation to repudiate connection with l designs, won our admiration, and we were struck with
its Church. Looking at the probable issue of the con- I several sets of laces of exquisite pattern. The bride's
troversy shich has been going on in the houses of I dress, made by the court dressmaker, is of white satin
legislation we find this to be fact—that whereas 'of rare magnificence with an entire overdrmo of point
an Established Church is left to England, and
' lace, which is looped' up at the sides with large satin
an Established Church is left to Scotland, for ' rosettes and orange blossoms. The bridal veil is also
the first time in England's history an Establiahed I of point lace, made to order in Brussels, the pattern
Church has been tienied to Ireland. I pass no corresponding wtth the lace overdress. The expectant
opinion whatever upon the policy or the righteous. bridegroom has given his/in/las an elegant Pet of seed
Imes of the step, but surely as Christians we are pestle, purchased at the Paris Exposition, which are
justified in asking ouradves the question, " Can to be worn on her wedding day. We saw athulig
it be safe for a nation to repudiate its ecelesiaa- many beantif al silk dresses one of pink, the
ticsl connection with God? is it safe for a nation to I new shade, made with a long train, anti trim.
east away the connection which has hitherto been so I Med with a deep point lace flounce : above which
close and sacred, by the expulsion of the Church out of , is • row of pink and white marabout feathers as a head.
Ireland, and pro Imam this great truth, Here for ever i lug. The short skirt is turned over at the back, and
the State of Ireland and the Church of Ireland shall ' fastened with a small bunch of pink and white feathers.
be separable anti separate from each other?" I say ' Boots to correspond, of pink silk with high pink
that, whatever political views we hold, we must admit , French heels, were shown us, which we admired as a
that we are on the edge of a tremendous question. I matter of course. Another dress of blue corded silk is
Perhaps God may pardon us, and sanction what is ' trimmed with two point applique flounces, with head-
being done. Nevertheless, it is one of those experis jugs of peacock's feather's beautifully arranged. The
meads which have never been tried before; it is fraught I dress is made with a corsage cut quite Oecollate, with
with difficulty, danger, and perplexity. Petitions have berthe of applique and tufts of peacock's feathers. As
been poured into both Houses of Parliament, the with all the other toilettes, boots, glove., fans, &c.,
voice of the nation has been lou thy heard, all the correspond in shade and pattern. A reception dress
yumcis 442 alakineuce said wrgiumht have Nam lof guy satin is bwkwhfully trimmed with the new

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