The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-07-01
'RAS. FRENGH'S OTHER SUIT.
Wants $3.50 From an Accident Company
on Account Of Breaking Wrist
in a Fight.
Called George Houghmaster Bad Names
in the Latter's Ofice--Hence the
Fight and Broken Wrist.

Erastus D. French has commenced
an action against The Masons' Fra
ternal Accident Association of America,
with home Offices at Westfield, Massa-
chusetts, seeking to recover $3.50, by
reason of injuries received in a row
with his former partner, George
Houghmaster, a long time ago.
The document on which the present
Senator from the Ninth district is
seeking redress was filed with E. n.
Dearth, commissioner of insurance of
Minnesota, on June 10th, in view of
the fact that the company has no rep
resentative at this place. A copy of
the same was Immediately forwarded
to the home Office at Westfeld, Mass.
In the complaint it is set up that
the company is an accident association
insuring and indemnifying its men,
bers for loss of time in their occupa-
tions caused by reason of bodily in
juries sustained by such members
through external, violent and acci-
dental means. It is further set up
that on. June 18th, 1896, and for long
time prior thereto French was a'mem-
Der of said defendant association and
is the holder and owner OF defendants
certificate of membership No, "a, ,223.
French took out this policy on April
18th, 1894, and by virtue of his pay
ing the company SIG per year as
premiums money, payable quarterly in
advance in instsllments of 81 each,
that said defendant would insure the
plaintiff against loss of time from his
occupation, or by reason of any per-
sonal bodily injury sustained by
plaintiff through external, violent and
accidental means, and for such loss
the company agreed to pay French
$25 per weok for actual loss of time
not exceeding So weeks. It is claimed
that this policy was in full force and
effect on June 18th, 1896, when
French had bis wrist broke in an en-
counter with Mr.. Houghmaster.
The complaint continues: "That on
the 18th day of June, 1895, at the City
of Redwood Falls, in said county and
State, the plaintiff received and sus-
tanned severe personal injuries through
external, violent and accidental means
as follows, to-wit: that at said time
and place one George Houghmaster
made an assault on the plaintiff and
was then and there striking and beat
ing the plaintiff, and would have
further beaten and greatly bruised
and injured him if he had not immedi-
ately defended himself; that plaintiff
then and there and in self-defense
struck said Houghmaster with his
clenched right hand; that at the time
of plaintiffs striking said Houghmas-
ter as aforesaid, and by reason thereof,
and by reason of the plaintiffs right
hand coming into contact with the
person of said Houghmaster as afore-
said, one of the bones in the wrist of
plaintiffs right arm became broken
and badly fractured, and said wrist
and arm was otherwise injured, and
this plaintiff was thereby made sick
and i'll, and for long time thereafter
was confined to his bed; that during
the rs weeks Immediately following
said June 18th, 1895, by reason of the
injuries to the plaintiff as aforesaid
he was Immediately, wholly and con-
tinuously kept from transacting any
and every kind of business pertaining
to his occupation and business x x
that plaintiff has not yet fully re-
covered the use of his said hand, wrist
and arm.'
By reason of the above French
wants $3.50, which the company re-
fuses to pay.
Mr.. Houghmaster was seen regard
ing the trouble of June 18th last Tues
day afternoon. He stated that French
came into his Office, and after some
talk over business matters called Mr..