Connecticut western news., 1879-02-05
An Insurance Case.


 Hunter to plan and execute the assas- slnatlon Of John M. Armstrong, was the oeslre to realize the insurance for $26,- ooo which he held on that unfortunate mans life. Armstrong owed Hunter about $7, ,0OO, and the insurance policies were taken out by Hunter, avowedly as security for this debt. Armstrongs un- derstanding was that $7,OoO was to be the aggregate amount of the insurance policies which his creditor was to ob- tain, but he was deaf, and did not un- derstand the conversations and negotia- tons which Hunter held with the off, clals ot the insurance companies. He was also careless in signing the papers, so that Hunter deceived him and ob- tained policies on his life for nearly four times the sum agreed upon.
 The matter was arranged so easily with the insurance companies that after the murder Hunter blamed himself for not having secured $1OO, ,OOO instead of $26, ,OOO.
 Armstrong's body was not cold before Hunter turned the policies over to his lawyer to collect the money. At that time this unseemly haste aroused no sus- picion. Even after Hunter's arrest, and when the evidence against him was gathering strength, the New York com panies, it is said, were anxious to settle with him on a compromise basis. One of his lawyers stated positively that Q check for $9, 1000 was placed before kim from the Mutual and Manhattan c,m- panies. The Prevalent company, of New York, however, never entered into any such negotiations. One of their officers is said to have declared shortly after Hunters arrest that he believed him to be the murderer and that their company would spend $30, ,O0O sooner than pay any money on the policy.
 For some time past negotiations have been pending between John O. Hunter, the brother of the murderer, and the Armstrong family relative to the iusur- ance money. The legal advisers of the two parties came to an understanding last week. Philip P. Armstrong, brother of the murdered man, then visited the offices of the three insurance companies to obtain copies of their blank forms used in making claims. At each of the offices those in charge refused to give him copies or to acknowledge any claim. Blanks were obtained, however, and ap. pllcations for the full amount of the insurance money were duly made out in the usual manner. The papers were then taken to each of the companies offices in turn; but all refused to re, ceive them or to entertain any claim The Mutual and Manhattan companies referred the applicant to their New York offices, and the papers have been for. warded to New York to be presented there. The President, it is said, an nounced an intention to contest the mat ter to the end before paying cent.
 There is every indication that thii case will come before the courts, raising some new legal points of great interest and attracting in it's way as much atten ! S1OA uS bL4S AuNoCI U11n1 AbSOAks
 MT. Armstrong's brother is of opinion that the insurance companies can b. sued for damages, for issuing policy on his brothers life for sum so mucf larger than the indebtedness. H, claimed that by their culpable neglec they gave Hunter motive to commi the crime, and may therefore be consid cred as in @ manner accessories to tn, murder. MT. Armstrong was formerl. I in the insurance business. He says tha in the New England States no credito can have his debtors life insured excep as collateral security, and not then in al amount disproportionate to the debt He intends to petition the legislatures of New York and Pennsylvania to pass law for these States.