Morning journal and courier., 1883-12-15
THE DWIGHT INSURANCE CASE.

After trial lasting over thirty days and 8 deliberation on the evidence of ffty-two hours, the jury in the Walton Dwight case brought in . verdict for the plaintiff decid- ing all the questions of fact in her favor. This case is one of the most important and interesting insurance cases ever tried Walton Dwight was very prosperous man until the great depression lasting from 1873 to 1879 came. In the summer of 1878 he went through bankruptcy. It is claimed that after his bankruptcy he made large sums in grain speculation. In August he applied for life insurance for $31O, 900 in twenty three companies, including all the leading companies of the country. Twenty of these companies issued policies to him for $285, OOO. Two or three companies issued poll! cies to him, but recalled them before any, thing was paid on them. The premium pay ments called for $4 200 before the end of November. On the 11th of November Dwight died very suddenly after 0 sickness of few days. The only person with him at the time of his death was Charles A. Hull, who is said to have ''nerve." Soon after his death Mrs Dwight set about collecting the insurance on his life. One company, the Equitable, paid $50, 900, and the Home company paid S5,- OOO This left $23O, ,OOO due, and the com psnies refused to pay the ground of fraudulent intent and suicide on the part of the policy holder. The theory was that Hull, at Dwight's request, strangled him with 8 cord, and burned the cord in the fireplace. The only evidence of this is the fact that there was crease or fold in the flesh around the neck of the remains. The plain head dropping back after death, at a sharp angle, doubling in tho skin. There was the usual conflict of testimony between the phy- siciaps who were called at the coroners in- quest and gave the cause of death as gastric fever, and that of fifteen experts summoned by the insurance companies who all agreed that the death was unaccouatable except upon the theory of violence. Hull stoutly denied that there was any violence in his ending. The case just tried, which was against the Germania Life Insurance com pany, has been very thoroughly and careful Iy tried. The jury found against all the claims of the defendants and declared that Dwight did not obtain his insurance with the precOnC61YeQ intention or Oe1rauQ1ng the Oe- fendants, and that he did not commit sui eide. This verdict by no means ends the matter. The Hartford Courant says ''The case now decided was one of the weakest that could be brought, the verdict hinging upon the question whether the deceased answered all the questions of his application correctly, and whether his death was due to suicide The belief prevails in insurance circles that there was a greater fraud than has thus far been proven or attempted to be proven, and it is possible that future trial of the case may result in startling developments. Pos sibly it will but the insurance companies have certainly not made out a strong case yet. On the other hand it has not been made quite clear why MT. Dwight did some things that he did. He took out moro insurance than he was likely to be able to carry, and his conduct after he got insured was not of a character entirely free from suspicion. Per haps the affair will never be cleared up, but the insurance companies will fight long be- fore they will pay.