Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1857-08-28
Daniel webSter's Experience in In,
Surance,

surance.
Nearly or quite fifty per cent. Of the losses
sustained by unIcrvritcrsor insurance com.
raniss are caused by fraud on the part Of
tho insured, or the torch OF the inceniiary.
COMPANIES not unfrcquently pay losses,
which they arc satisfied, from circumstan,ial
or other cyiicncc, are fraudulent. The fol.
lowing authentic anecdo,c Of Daniel Web
sier's experience, as an attorney IN such
cases is given in late number Of lIarpcr's
Magazine
Soon after | had commenced tie practice
Of my profession in Boston, said Mr.. Web
strr. a circumstance occurred which forciby
impressed upon my mind the sometimes con-
elusive oloqucnor Of silence, and wondered
no longer that the ancicuts had erected u
statue to her asa divinity.
Aman in New Bedford hal insured q ship
lying at the time at tho wharf there. for an
amount much larger than its real value. in
our insurance Offices in Boston one DAY
new. arrived In Boston that his ship had
suddenly taken FIRE, and been burned 70 tho
water. clsc. IL had bcon insured in tho
Mass, Insurance Company, Of which General
Arnold Wells was president, and myself at.
torncy.
ten. Wells toll me Of the misfortune III t
bad happened io the company, IN the loss
ofa vessel 80 largely insured; communica.
TIM 70 noe, az thc same time the somewhat
extraordinary manner in which it had been
destroyed.
"Do you intend, asked him, "to pay
the insurance 80
"Ishall be obliged to do 50, " replied tho
General.
~ think not for I have no doubt, from
the circumstances attending tho loss, that
,hc ship was .ci on IRE with the intent to
d,!nuI the company OF the insurance"
But how shall we prove that? anl
whn, shall ,ly to Mr.. -- when hc make.
application fpr the money!"
"Sny nothing" | replied, " but hear
quietly what he has 10 say"
Some Few DAYS after ,hi. conversation Mr..
- camr up 10 Boston and presented him
,,lr to Cen. Arnold Wells, At the insumucc
o.rcr. Nr. - was man very careful of
hi,pcr.onal appearance, andol punctilious
drmc,nor. IIc powdered hi' hair, wore
clean ruHir. and we'll brushed clothes, aud
bad a gravity or spcech becoming a person
OF respectable position. All thi, demanded
civil treatment; and whatever YOU might
tluk Of him, you woulI naturally US, no
harsh language towards him. lie had a
defect in his leIt eve, 80 that when be spoke
Dc turned hi. right and sound eve to tho
person hc addressed, with somewhat Oh.
liquc angle Of the head, giving il something
such turn a. hen who discovers a hawk
in the air. Gen. Arnold Wells had q cor.
responding defect IN the right eye.
was not present at the interview, but I
have heard it often described by those who
were. Geu. Wells came out from an inner
Office, on the announcement Of Mr.. .--'4
arrival, and frsd him 60 use a French cx-
prcssion,) with his sound eye-iookinc a,
him seriously but calmly. SIR. - looked
at Gen. Wells with he's sound eye, hut not
'tcadily-nthcr as If be thought to turn
the Generals right flank.
They stood thus, ,ri& hir CPS coeled a.
each other for moro than a minute before
either spoke; when Mr.. - though, beet
to take tho initiative.
"It isa pleasant day Gen. Wells, though
rather cold"
"lt has you say, Mr.. --,a pleasant
though rather cold day." replied the gen.
sTal without taking his eve down from it.
range.
81 should not be surprised, General, !"
continued Mr.. -, 4" ii we should have a
fall Of snow soon"
There might bo more surprising circum-
stances, Mr.. -, than fall OF snow in
February"
I Mr.. - hcrcupon shifted his foo, and
topic ITc did not fool quite a, ease, and
the less so from bis desperate attempts to
conceal his embarrassment.
When do you think General, " ho in.
quircd after pause, " that Congress will
adjourn?"
1T is doubtful, I should think, Mr..
-, when Congress will adjourn; perhaps
not for some time yet, as great bodies, you
know, move slowly"
"Do you hear anything important from
that quarter, Gcneral?"
=" Nothing. Mr. ~
Mr.. - by this time had become very
dry in the throat--a sensation, | have been
told, one is very apt to feel who finds him.
self in an embarrassing position. from which
he sees no possibility of escape. He feared
to advance. and did not know how to make
a successful retreat. AZ last, after one or
two desperate and Intellectual struggles 10