Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-01-30
Intemperance and Life Insurance.

In a case recently tried in Ohio the
question how far habits OF lntoxlcatlon
or habitual intemperance go to the IN
valuation of life insurance policies
came up. The case came up upon
writ Of error from an inferior court on
the claim that the verdict, which was
against the Mutual Benefit Life Insnr-
ance Company for the amount OF the
policy, was against evidence. One OF
the stipulations in the policy was that
"if the insured should die by reason OF
intemperance from the use OF into3i-
eating liquors., the policy should be
void and of no effect" Another stlpu-
lation was that eff any Of the declara-
tions signed by the insured in hs ap,-
plication should be found in any respect
usnue, the policy should be null and
void !" in which case all previous pay
ments paid thereon and all profits
should be forfeited to the company.
The policy was dated in May, 1868, and
the insured died in January, 1869. The
physician's certificate attributed death
to congestion of the brain, the general
symptom of which was great pros,tra-
ton of the nervous system, caused by
cold and arrangement of the e1cretory
organs and oyer-stimulation. The de-
fence was that the insured, at the time
of effecting the insurance and until his
death, was addicted to intemperance,
and died from the excessive use OF IN
toxicating liquors.
In the course of the trial the follow
ing easily recognized definitions and
divisions into classes OF the victims OF
drink were brought out:
"Those who use intoxicating liquors
at all may be divided into three classes.
The first drink sometimes and upon oc-
casions as it were more by accident than
otherwise, but in 30 exceptional man.
ner that no one can say they have any
habit in regard to such use. They can
stop at any time, even taking the glass
from their lips in the midst OF the feast.
Whether such drinking. injuries the
health of those who indulge to this ex-
tent no one can tell with certainty. 1t
is obvious this class would not be en-
braced in the terms of the policy.
"a second class acquire constant
appetite for the uses of intoxicating
LIQUORS, and q regular habit OF using
them, 30 that the whole system IL Kept
under the immediate influence OF alco-
holic stimulants. This class would be
within the prohibition of this policy.
ga third class acquire constitution
ally nervous appetite for alcoholic
liquors that really amounts to disease.
Such persons may remain sober Tor q
month. three Or six months, or even
wear at q time, and refuse to taste any
Intoxicating drink, and then 60 upon
what is called spree OF great IN
tensity, and lasting for a longer or
shorter period, usually until prostratlon
and sickness, and often delirium, COM
pel cessation, and terminate the spree.
When beginning or in the midst OF such
perisdical debauch no earthly consiaera-
ton or persuasion can arrest the course
of the subject, or induce him to stop
drinking. In this he is strikinglly diff
ferent from the first class referred to.
"There are two varieties Of spreers.
The one is boisterous and seen every
where the other, conscious of his sell.
degradation and disgrace, hides himself
| from observation, SO as not to be seen
and have his condition and habit known,
and few, except his family and intimate
acquaintance, may know or suspect
him"
The Court was satisfied from the evil
dence that the insured, though an
honest and efficient business man, was
n "spreer" at the time that he effected
this insurance, and continually up to
the time of his death, which no doubt
was caused by heavy spree. Upon
this finding the Court held that the yer,
dict against the company was against
evidence, and the judgment was re-
versed.