The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-03-01
Classification Of Drinkers.

In an action TO recover upon a life insurance
policy, recently brought before an Ohio Court, the
question came up as TO how far incorporate habits
go TO the invalidation of life insurance policies.
The case was taken upon q writ Of error from an
inferior court on the claim that the verdict which
was against the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance.
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
intemperancc from the use Of Intoxicating liquors,
the policy should be void and OF no effect" An
other stipulation was that :" IL any OF the declara-
tons signed by the insured in his application should
be found in any respect untrue, the policy should
be null and void - in which case all previous pay
ments made thereon and all profits should be for
feited to the company. The policy was dated ia
May, 1868. and the insured died in January, 1869.
The physicians certificate attributed death to con-
gestion OF the brain. the general symptom OF which
was great prostration OF the nervous system, caused
by cold and arrangement Of the excretory organs
and over stimulation. The defense was that the
insured, at the time Of efecting the insurance and
until his death, was addicted to intemperance, and
died from the excessive use of intoXication liquors.
In the course of the trial the following easily
recognized definitions and divisions into classes of
the victims of drink were brought ont:
"ThOse who use intoxicating liquors at all may
be divided into three classes. The first drink some
times and upon occasions as IL were more by acct
dent than otherwise, but in 10 exceptional a man
ner than no one can say they have any habit ia re-
gard 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 extent no one can tell
with certainty. 1t is obvious this class would not
be embraced in the terms Of the policy.
"A second class acquire a constant appetite for
the use of Intoxicating liquors, and a regular habit
Of using them. SO that the whole system is kept
under the Immediate Influence OF alcoholic stimu-
lants. This class would be within the prohibition
of this policy.
"A third class acquire a constitutionally nervous
appetite for alcoholic liquors that really amounts TO
a disease. Such persons may remain sober for a
month, three or six months, or even a year at Il
time. and refuse to taste any intoxicating drink,
and then go upon what Is called a spree of great
intensity, and lasting for a longer or a shorter
period. usually until prostratiOn and sickness, and
often dclirium, compel cessation, and terminate the
spree. When beginning or in the midst Of such
periodical debauch ne earthly consideration or
persuasion can arrest the course of the subject, or
induce him to stop drinking. In this he Is strik-
ingly different from the first class referred to.
There are two varieties OF spreers. The one is
boisterous and seen everywhere; the other, con-
scious Of his self-degradation and disgrace, hides
himself from observation, so as not to be seen and
have his condition and habit known. and few, ex-
cept his family and intimate acquaintance, may
know or suspect him"
Tie Court was satisfied from the evidence that
the insured. though an honest and efficient business
man, was a :" spreerp at the time that he ELECTED
this insurance, and continually mp to the time OF
his death. which no doubt was caused by a heavy
spree. Upon this finding the Court held that the
verdict against the company was against evidence,
and the Judgment was reversed.
Under the circumstances, IL was right that
the insurance company should not be compelled to
pay the amount of the policy, but an exchange
thinks. and we concur, that the justice or equity OF
retaining the money the insured had paid IN pre-
| miums for which he received no consideration what
eyer, is not So clear.