Omaha daily bee., 1893-05-26
LIFE POLICY OF A SUICIDE.
Suit Brought by Dr. Robbins' Children for
Payment of Insurance.

Suit Brought by Dr. Robbins Children for
Payment of Insurance.
An interesting case was called yesterday
in the United States court involving the
question whether an insurance company is
obliged to pay the policy held by man who
takes his own life. The title of the case is
S. NJ Melick, administrator, against the
Travellers Insurance company, but the his
tory in connection with the case involves the
life and remarkable death Of DIR. Leonard II.
Robbins of Lincoln
The suit has been brought by the admin
istrator in the interest of the two children of
deceased, bright boy of Is and girl of 13,
who are witnesses in court DR. Robbins
had been resident of Lincoln for many
years. and there had been considerable gos-
sip and neghborhood criticism of his atri-
monial career a short time prior to his pain
ful demise. On the night of June 10, 1890,
Dr. Robbins, then a thrice widowed man
with two interesting children, imagined that
he heard a burglar In his cellar Selling
revolver from his bureau drawer, he started
down into the basement story of his dwell
ing. On going down the steps he acciden-
tally discharged the weapon, shooting him
self through the foot. The wound soon be-
gan to give the doctor serious difficulty, and
lockjaw set II. He suffered terribly and
soon became very weak.
One morning he was found dead in his
bed with horrible cash In his throat. He
left letter addressed to his two children in
which were many very touching things. He
described the very fearful pain he was suf-
fering and expressed deep and disJracting
sorrow in the contemplation of being taken
away by death from his children. Among
other things, Dr. Robbins said:
Oh, this fearful pain2 l cannot endure 1t.
would call little Leonard and his sweet sister
katie but they are so tired. This pain strikes
me from the foot clear to the heart. How lit
tie Leonard would like to come to me and stop
this pain II he could, I'm his manly way, and
Katie would come, too, in her sweet way If
eacn other, children. Keep together. III papa
should die do not get estrangcd from each
other. Papa hopes SO much to get well and do
fearful in Its quick thrusts of pain God viii
keep you, dear ones. Oh, this sharp pain-God
save me from this pain-Death Is near-I am
conscious but cannot speak-God will
keep me.
Following this legibly written letter there
are several pages of scribbling, the mean
ing of which can only be conjectured, but
the son claims to be able to decipher most of
IL, and it is in the same tone as that which
can be so easily read. There seemed to be
but little doubt as TO the immediate cause of
death. and the coroner's jury brought in
verdict of death by suicide, superintended
by suffering from an accidental wound In
the foot.
The deceased carried $1,000 life insur-
ance policy in the Travellers Life, and this
the company refuses to pay on the ground
that the holder committed suicide, and
there is n clause in the policy which states
that it will be void in case of the self-de-
struction of the holder
The case will be stubbornly fought. Mr..
Charles Offutt of this city appears for the
defense, and ex-Judge Allen Field of Lin
coin and Mr. Holmes of Omaha are attor-
neys for the plaintiff,