Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1881-11-15
AN IMPoRTANT DECISION.

a very interesting insurance case was de>
cided in the Supreme Court of Appeals at
Wheeling on Saturday week. Il appears that
before the war Capt. Jos. +. Abel, of this
county. took out a policy of insurance upon
his life, in the Penn Mutual of Philadelphia,
through alocal agent, and paid eleven an
nual installments upon the policy. In 1861
the war broke out, and the local agent and
the assured were lost sight of in the four
years of civilwar that followed. Capt. Abel,
however, came out of the war all right and
soon after began negotiations for the renewal
of his policy based upon an offer to pay up
his delinquencies. and in future to keep mp
the annual payments. This concession be
asked as something due him, as the policy
had lapsed through no fault of his, but ON
account of the "unforeseen circumstances" of
the war. The insurance company in a short
time returned him their ultimatum. declin.
ing to renew his policy, or to make ~rcs.itu,
ton of any monies they had received, where,
upon he instituted suit in the Circuit Court
of this county to recover whatever he might
from the company or the net value of the
policy. In due course of time a verdict for
s924.1o was given, and from this the com.
pany appealed to the Supreme Court of An.
peals. Judge Green in delivering the opinion
OF the Court affirmed the decision of the
Court below, and held that the company was
bound to pay back to the no lder tho amoun,
paid to it by him, less only the actual cost of
insurance. during the time the policy was in
force, and also held that the policy had
lapsed through no fault of his, and gave judg-
ment for Capt. Abel in the sum of s925.OS,
or ninety eight cents more than that of the
original verdict. This amount was obtained
by. Judge Green after a recourse to the tables
OF computation used by actuaries of insu.
rance companies.
MAsoNIo.-The Grand Chapter of West
Virginia, Royal Arch Masons, met in Wheel
ing on Monday of last week, and elected the
following officers:
Wm. d.: Freeman, Clarksburg, CIR. 81. P;
James q. Baker, Wheeling, G. King: Gus
tav Brown, Charlestown, G.. Scribe SamL.
P. Hiidretb, G. Treas.
The following officers were appointed F.
Hugh Sterling, Wheeling, CIR. Lecturer j.
w. Grantham, Middleway, Chaplain Jere
A. Miller, Wheeling, G. of H.; A. J. Stone.
Fairmont, Pr. Sol. G. w. Feidt, Martins
burg, r. A: c.; Jos. Hall, Wheeling, NJ.
Sd Veil; VIM. Il. Riggs, Martinsburg, NJ.
I'd Veil Wm. Burkhart, Piedmont, N. LIST
Veil; T. w. Bliss, Wheeling, Tyler; G. F.
Irvine, Wheeling, Marshal.
The Grand Lodge bsgan its session in the
same city on Tuesday evening. Grand Mas
ter, G. j. Faulkner, Jr, delivered a lengthy
and eloquent address, reciting his official
acts during the year and expatiating on the
state of the Order The following officers
were elected for the ensuing year:
John Fl. Riley. jackson G. FL G. NJ.
w. Ii. a. Flick, Msrtinsburg, D. G. NJ:
VIM. G. Bennett, Weston, s.. w. George
-: Thornburg, Barboursyille, ]. W; |. Il.
Williams. Wheeling, CIR, Secretary.
Appointed Officers G. FL. Collier, Wheel.
ing, Grand Lecturer /; Rev. A. E.. Rogers.
Martinsburg, Grand Chaplain Fl. r. How,
ard, PIT. Pleasant, Senior Grand Deacon E,
r. Riefsnydes, Parkcrsburg. Junior Grand
Desoon Jere A. Miller, Wheeling, Grand
Marshal; Arthur G. Bailey, Spencer, Grand
Pursuivank