The New York herald., 1877-10-14
THE COURTS.
The Romance Of Enoch Arden EXem-
plifed in Real Life.
BURNING OF THE BROOKLYN THEATRE
Death Claims in InSOvtnt Life Insurance
Companies Assets.
APPEAL IN THE GERNER CASE.

In May, 1s49, George and Mary Houehton were
married IN Brooklyn. few months after their mar
rage the "grecn-eyed monstcrn showed his hdeous
form in their household. IL is said that George
not jealous without cause, he did make much
poiso about the matter. Ho simply left his young
wife without any explanation and reside in Con-
nectcut Mary mournsd his loss Tor a short time, but
was fortunate enough in year md consola-
ton In the company OF man named stephen Dram.
who proposed marriage. Like Mrs. Enocn Arden. she
had misgivngs, and requested Stephen to wait another
year or two. Not hearing from tho lost for five
years she concluded he Dead at least In law, and
In 1885, consented 10 become Mrs. Dram. Tho follow
ing year tho dead man turned up, and obtained
divorce on the ground that his wiie was
living Ia adultery with stephen Dram Mr..
houghton again aisappearea, and married
a we IN Connecticut, with whom, Il appears, he
lived very nappiiy, while his lrst wiie continued TO
reside TRANQUILITY with Mr. Dram, who knew all tho
circumstances anu who took II Tor granted that he
was her legal husband, as Houghton had abandoned
her lor I'VE years. twenty years rolled around, and
Mr. Houghton and hs lrst wue never met After the
Brooklyn Theatre camlty OF 1876 while Mr. Hough-
ton Was reading over The Inst OF the victims lie
served IN 1t tho name Of Stephen Dram. Hc went at
to ne ol the latter inquire about i'm,
and when hc knocked ut tho door Il was opcncd by
his first wife. who aid recognize INN. He
speedily made himself known however, and u sensa-
tional scene was tho result Bat now cones Mrs
0ram's greatest trouble. She and her second nus
band BY hard industry had accumulated little prop
crt!, which she imagined was ncrs at his death; but
opposed by some OF Mr. Grams trends, the
ground OF ncr divorce from Houghlon without tho
privilege oil marrying again, and on the strength
Of this the Surrogate refused her applica-
ton. Thinking tho case very hard inasmuch
cons,aerod her arst husoaaa legally dead, she, he.
tho refusal Of the Surrogate recognize her
the lawful wife OF Gram maze application 10 tho Su-
peri0r Court to have the divorce from Houghlon set
aside on the ground that she mad served with
summons ut tue time, and had no knowledge oil tho
divorce proceedings. hut hero again she was met by
another diculty IN the me- hes Of tho law Hougn.on
has u ch,ld seventeen years oil age by his second
wife, who would, OF course, be made ilegtimate if
Mrs. Dram shouiu succced setting aside the
After careful consideration OF all oncting inter-
In the Judge friedman yesterday denied the
motion, thus leaving the woman, old age, de-
prIved OF many years SAVINGS from her hard and
thrown on tho world because she did not fully under
stand tho law OF divorce in the hrst instance. The
legal proverD that Ignorance IS cxcuse been
carried out IN her case with terrible severity not alto
gether as II would seem from the fault OF the law
the Judges but chiefly by the forco OF circum
stances
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY ASSETS.
The suit brought by Attorney General Fairchild
against tho Security Lille Insurance and Annuity Com
pany has been argued at the Court Of Appeals and
the final adjudication OF this Court will be looked Tor
ward 10 with interest by not only the policy holders
Immediately interested in tho result case but
by other policy holders IN other nsovent lie insur
companies. AS IS well known, the whole
point at issue Is whether, IN tho dstribu-
ton Of assets, priority rs, is to oo gwen
and General Terms OF the Supreme Court held that
holders OF death claims have priority other
policy holders Ia tho pay OF Their claims, and II
was IRON these rulings tnat tho appealed.
Messrs Barnes HavorD, attorneys Tor policy hold
ers, submitted q very elaborate bricl They stronu-
ously insist that tho clam Of the petitioner TO
priority in the payment OF death claims
other debts and liabilities Of the
pany has substantial foundation, ana
hag never been established by any provision IN the
charter OF the corporation, by any Law
by any general principles Of equity OF common law
relating 20 the winding up dissolution lie
ance corporations The other counsel IN addition to
the Attorney General and who likewise put carefully
prepared briefs, arc Hamilton Cote who appears for
tho receiver ex Mayor Wickham and Mcssrs. Sewcl 4
Pierce, attorneys or tho petitioner and appellant.