Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-10-21
A VERDICT.
Young Frank Beck Is Awarded $1,000,
The Insurance on his Fathers

The Insurance on his Fathers
Life.
A case OF no unusual interest to
members of the various life insurance
companies "f n benevolent character.
especially TO members of the United
Masonic Association of this State,
was decided at the late term of our
Circuit Court In August, 1885,
James Il. Beck, who held a benefit
certificate in Division b of tue Ma
sonic Insurance Society of this State,
died and left an only child-Frank-
a youth about IA years of age. The
suit in question was brought by the
boys next friend to the sum
of $4,000, the amount of the certif-
cate. This document contained a
clause that the person whose life was
insured must pay his assessments
within twenty days after the secretary
Of the Society notified the holder of
the certificate that an assessment
was due. The Society sent out
notices of assessments every month
regularly 1t was claimed by the In-
surance Company that Beck had for
feited all claim to any benefits in the
order by not paying his dues for four
months prior to his death, and had
failed to meet his assessments since
April, 1885. Considerable surprise
was created when the boys attorney,
in the trial of the case, produced the
receipts o the secretary of the Society
for the assessments of May and June,
1885, and the proof, which was over
w%helming, showed that no notice of
any assessments vas ever given Beck
after his last payment before he died.
The secretary of the society gave his
deposition and swore that Beck had
not paid his assessments siace the
April before his death and, inasmuch
as his receipts were producedi in open
court at the trial, the impression was
created that the Society vas not ex-
actly doing the fail-and-square thing.
The court decided that if the Society
failed to give Beck notice of assess
ments due, that fact did not cause
the certificate to lapse, and the jury
found a verdict for the boy for the
full amount claimed. The judgment
is looked upon as a righteous n and
members of the Masonic order feel
like Frank ought to have been award
ed the insurance money. The trial
Of the case created considerable inter
est to court spectators who heard it.
While the families of Uncle Billy
Bourne, J. c. Asbury and Charlie
Powell, living north of town, were
attending church yesterday afternoon
Some one entered their residences and
stole several articles of value. At
Powell's they got a new pair of ladies
shoes. belonging to Mrs. Powell j; at
Bourne's a new saddle, four brides
and a hand saw were taken. Asbury
lost four halters and two brides and
| some minor articles. The doors of
the houses robbed we're battered
down. Officers were sent in pursuit
this morning.
Word and Honor OF a Democrat.
From the Frankfort Chronicle.
Did you read Senator Vests
speech? Well, if you didn't you
ought to, for it Is good, old-fashion-
ed, Democratic doctrine clear through;
but it makes q Grad madden than
blue blazes to read 1T, cause it tells
SO much truth.-OdL Line Democrat.
Don't ask me if l am going to sup
port the whole ticket. Do you take
me for a sneak or coward? I would
have you to know that I went into
the Democratic primary election
pledging my word to support the
nominees, and while I didn't get all
my men, 1 am going to support the
whole ticket, if it takes the hide off.
As q Democrat, I consider my word
and honor worth something. "A
goter Of his word.