New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-06
THE WEST CASE PARALLELED.

TRIAL or A LIFE INSURANCE CASE IN BALTINORE-
THE COMPANIES REFUSE TO PAY TIE INSURANCE
A CHARGE THAT THE INSURED hUTIATED A
BODY 80 THAT II SHOULD BE MISTAKEN FOR
Ills OWN
,YRoH AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE rRrBUSE.I
BALTIMORE, June Am Interesting lie IN
surauos case involving nice questions az 20 den
,,tv ctr ha. been before Judge Bond m the United
States Circuit Court for the past week The facts
OF the case may be substantially stated as follows;
Early In the Winter OF 1872 Winfield Scott Goss,
formerly OF Nashville Tenn, but then residing here
effected insurance his life 70 the amount Of $4,000
10 four de companies; in the Travellers Of Hart
ford Conn., for t0OO for ia each OF the Con-
tnental, Knickerbocker, aud Mutual Life Insurance
Companies OF NewYOrk. G0ss was glider OF frames,
and occupied workshop the Cold Spring Hotel on
the Yard road about three miles from this city he also
used HIS workshop for the purpose OF experimenting In
substitute inda-rubber for which he intended to
obtain patent On the evening Of Feb. 2, 1871 his
workshop was discovered be in flames, and the body
OF man. so shockngly mutilated 70 defy identity,
was found D the Several months elapsed before
the present. plaintiff Eliza NJ Goss, widow OF the insured
applied for the payment OF the insurance on her hus
bauds life The companies refused to pay, upon the
ground that the death Of GOss had not been proved and
that the body found among the ruins OF his workshop
WAS not the body OF Oss but the body OF another man
which had been placed there by tho insured who then
fred the shop and escaped-he whole being an attempt
on the part Of the hiss to deraud the INSURANCE
companies out OF $4,000 Many witnesses have been
examined on both sides II has been proved that GOs
WAS man OF incorporate habits, having no
income except that derived from his daily labor; that
he was willing aud glad work Journeyman glider
&C SIS week; that the assurances on his HE we're 100
large too hasty and unusual TO be honest that the
prtuums on would amount TO $3.50 per annUD, an
amount out OF all proportion to the insureds income IL
was shown that the day before the nre GOss drew
out ali the money had in bank and tna on the even
ing of the re his brother failed 10 keep all engagement
be mad with young Lady, aud that person answering
10 his description hired hOrse aud buggy at livery
stable aud upon returning them, III about two hours
Jeff pair of riding gloves with the sta0eman, the
suppOsItion being that these gloves were worn IN manu-
ling tue dead body which said To have been placed n
the shop by 9uss previous to firing the building Inc
uI.intIf contended that the burnt body was easily
OF by the extraordinary SIS OF
the neck and chest. The has excited an unusual
interest owing the mysterious circumstances sur
rounding II. The courtroom has been crowded each
day by business men, insurance agents, ana others IN
terested in the matter who have watched the proceed
ings with interest. The case Will 20 TO Tue Gu
preme Court Of the United States In any event seyer
of the most eminent members OF the Baltimore BAR are
engaged the suit, which viii not be Concluded Tor
several dLys.