Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-08-26 00:00:00

COUNTY COURT.-THURSDAY.

[Before J. B. BLAIR, Esq., Judge.]
CLAIM AGAINST AN INSURANCE COMPANY.—COYNE
v. LIVERPOOL AND LONDON FIRE AND LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY.—This was an action brought by John Coyne,
tailor and draper, 33, Pitt-street, by which he sought to
recover the sum of £43 19s. 3d. from the above com-
pany, in consequence of damage done by fire to his
goods, they being insured with the defendants to the
amount of £4OO. Mr. Hime appeared for the plaintiff,
and Mr. Danson for the company. From the opening
statement of Mr. Hime, it appeared that the plaintiff
formerly carried on business as a beerseller, and
at that time he insured for £2OO. He afterwards
insured his stock-in-trade for £2OO, and his house-
hold furniture for £2OO. On Sunday, the 19th
March last, the fire took place. On that day the plain-
tiff went out, in company with a captain, about a quar-
ter before nine o'clock in the evening; he went home
again between eleven and twelve o'clock, when he found
a fire had taken place in his absence, and his
house was in the possession of the salvage parties.
In a few days, he sent his claim to the company
for £5O 14s. 9d., which was made up by calculating
that the stock had been damaged to the amount of
£26 16s. 6d., and the household furniture to the
amount of £23185. 3d. When the claim was presented, the
secretary told him to go to the parties who set the house on
fire. The plaintiff went to an attorney, and on examination
it was found the claim was too large in amount, and it
was afterwards amended to the sum now sought, £43
19s. 3d. Of this amount £23 14s. 6d. was for loss of
stock in trade, and £2O 4s. 9d. for household furniture.
The first claim was sent on the 16th March, and the
amended one about the end of this month, with the usual
declaration. The fire did take place; but how it had
originated no one knew. A fire had been left burning
in the room where the plaintiff had been sitting, and he
believed he had turned out the gas before he went out.
The sister of the plaintiff, who lived with her brother,
was outside the door talking to a woman named Mrs.
M'Donnell, when they discovered the fire. Miss Coyne
went into the house, and, on going up stairs, found the
place in flames. She then called on the neighbours, and
they poured water on the blaze, and did all they could
to extinguish the fire. When the plaintiff came home,
he found the men from the fire-office in the house, but
the fire was out. The plaintiff had a large stock on his
premises. Several witnesses were examined, who proved
the above statement. Mr. Danson cross-examined
the witnesses at some length, and then stated in
defence that it was quite unusual for that company to
come into court to dispute a reasonable claim ; but they
believed, from the evidence which they had, and which
would be brought before the court, that the claim very
considerably exceeded the loss sustained by the plaintiff.
It would also appear in addition that the fire was not
accidental. That was not the place to prefer a charge
of arson against anyone ; but he was sure the court
would agree with kim, when the evidence was heard that
was laid before the officers, that in this case the house
was set on fire. The fire was said to have occurred in four
rooms, and exactly at the same time. There did not appear
any evidence as to how the fire leached the two upper rooms.
Mr. Hime said he must object to that, as Mr. Danson
had not asked one word as to the cause of the fire.
After a long discussion, in which Mr. Rime said if it
were a matter of pounds, shillings; and pence, he would
not care so much, but a charge was made for which
there seemed to be no foundation, and which might en-
danger the life of his client. His Honour said he was of
opinion that Mr. Danson should have cross-examined
the witnesses on that point, and then Mr. Hime could
have prepared for that line of argument.—The case was
adjourned till to-day at twelve o'clock.

A TALKING SPARROW.—iVir. Sendell, of Stratford, is
the owner of a sparrow which will call "Jerry" with a
distinctness truly marvellous. He will sit on has master's
shoulder, nibble food from his hand, beSides performing
a variety of other evolutions scarcely to. be credited. Mr.
Sendell some time since made a miniature ladder and
placed it in his cage, which the bird will ascend or carry
about on his back with the ease and agility of a modern
lamplighter. The owner has had the bird in his p9ses-
sion about two years, and it is, as may be surmised,
highlnirized by him—Essex Hero&