The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-11-26

apparently Ny Ibe eCt.Ou vi tHc "a pIOue
ing chemicals. The supposition tina
these remains were all that Was left O
West, and that he had fallen victim
to his enthusiasm for science, was
strengthened by the TACT that he was not
to be found. So it was given out, and
for some days believed, that he was
dead.
Before long it was discovered that
West had lately affected insurance on
his lie TO the amount Of $4,000. A
suspicion was then entertained thatW est
might after all be alive to profit By the
report OF his death. The insurance com
paDics undertook an investigation. One
OF the early discoveries was that the
limbs OF the body iound in the ruins
had not been violently torn off, but cut
with q sharp instrument. Then it was
| ascertaiued that West was not the only
man missing 4 negro who was en-
plovca by MIN could not be found. Then
began q search which resulted in find
ing West rot Ter from home alive. Upon
apprehension he made full confession,
protesting that he had killed the negro
IN sell defence, disfgUred the body to
prevent recognition, and caused the ex-
plosi0u that destroyed the laboratory.
lie was on trial last week for murder.
The defeace made in his behalf was that
OF insanity, and evidence was rot want
ing to show that he WAS an eccentric
being. The trial is not yet ended.
The second case is like the first in
some respects. Late in the year 1871
w. S. Goss, OF Baltimore, glider oil
picture frames, affected an insurance on
his lie to the amount OF So, 900; $l0,.
600 in the Travellers OF Hartford, Conn,
and 5000 each in the Continental,
KniCkerbocker and Mutual Lie OF New
York. In February following, his shop,
which was about three miles from the
city, and in which, besides working at
his trade, he conducted experiments to
discover a substitute for lGdia rubber,
was burned down, and in the ruins was
found the body OF man, SO lar consum~
ed that Identification vas impossible.
Gogs was missing, and no doubt was en-
tertained that the chaIred remains were
his, until several months afterwards,
when his widow applied for the iDsur-
ance. The companies refused to pay
because the death OF Cess had not been
proven, aud they set up the theory that
! the body found in the ruins Was not
| that OF Cess, hnt some other person,
placed there by Goss before firing the
shop in order TO deceive and detraud the
Insurance companies.
The widow brought suit, and tie case
vas tried last week in the Uni;ed States
circuit cour; at Baltimore. The plain
tiff contended OF course that the body
found in the ruins was that OF her hus-
band, recognizable by the extraordinary
size OF the neck and chest. There were
many witnesses on both sides. The de"
| fence showing that Goss was OF lntem .
Icrate habits. having 10 income except
that derived from his daily labor, tor
which he was glad to get fifteen dollars
P week. As the premiums on his insur
ance amounted to $40 per annum, II
| was argued that the amount OF insur-
arce contracted for was quite too large
! 20 be honest, in view o. the clrCumstan-
cts. 1t was also shown that on the day
! before the fire, Goss drew out OF bank
all the money lie bad. The effort was
10 show that he had run away, and 10
strengthen tins theory there was some
evidence to the effect that his brother,
on The evening 0: the fire, had failed to
keep an engagement with g young lady,
and that some one resembling him
hired q horse and buggy at a livery
stable, being absent about two hours.
! The jury returned a verdict against the
compauies 10 the full amount, bat 1t is
said they will appeal the case to the
United States Supreme Court.
With regsrd to the first ofthese cases
there is no doubt OF the justice Of the
decision; and it is a decision which will
serve 70 mitigate in q degree the cen
sures which are sometimes bestowed on
life insurance companies for their cGu-
ton in the payment OF claims, about the
validity OF which there is suspicion
The second case was not go clear. There
was no evidence, as in the first case
that the body found il the ruins was
dead before the fire, nor was 1t shown
that any one besides Goss was missing
The most suspicious circumstance was
that a man in his circumstances should
obtain so much insurance. But II does
rot seem G4ite fair that companies
should be permitted 10 cate the fact tina
q man paid more for insurance than he
could afford, in evidence OF fraud. Nc
COMPANY insures life except for the time
paid for in advance. What is it to th'
COMPANY if the person insured spends
lilies savings for six months insurance
or even incurs debts for it? If smell
considerations are to have weigh
against the insured, the time for a!ten-
ton to them is before the company &C
cepts payment for their risk. Isk!a!
the premium should stop the compan!
from pleading extravaganza IS 2 reason
for not falall!nS its obligations.
Both these cases, 100, judging alto
Ccthcr from the grounds OF the defence
show great carelessness on the part o
the agents who took the risks; an(
) they will give color to the impresslo,
that many OF the sgen;s DO not muct
concern themselves about mans re
sources or his character, when they ar
irving 10 persuade him 10 invest his las
dollar in their fascinating risks. Per
haps it is doing the companies no In
Justice to s&y that through their agent
thew have tempted many q man t
thought Of fraud when he discover
that, after paying all his savings !.
pyemiums, he must forfeit his policy b'
cause he can no longer pay the price
Boston AGgertiSr.