The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-01-26
The Story of How He Lost Both Hands,
THE VICTIM OF REPEATED AC-
CIDENTS.

CIDENTS.
of the Most Remarkable Cases
i'm Insurance Annals-The Insur-
ance Agent Gives the Grounds of
His Company's Defense in the Case.
Atlanta Constitution
The case of A. II. Fowler, the theo.
logical student who lost his hands in
separate accidents, is n of the most
remarkable in insurance annals.
In August, 1894, Fowler came to At
lanta ana took out a ten-thousand-dol-
lar combination life and accident policy
with the Preferred Accident Insurance
Company, and just seven days after he
had made his application the company
was notified that while out hunting he
had suffered the loss Of q hand from the
explosion of a gun.
After recovery Fowler went to Ten
nessee, and while in Memphis took out
q policy with the 1Itna Life Insurance
Company, and in a few days the report
came into their headquarters that the
other hand was gone. Shortly after
the second policy was taken out Fow-
Ter was out hunting e Union City,
Tenn, and by a most mysterious fatal
ity shot the only hand he had left en-
tirely off.
These arc the bald facts, entirely
devoid of any colOring Of motive, or
ever the suggestion of the case, either
providential or otherwise. 1t is all
mysterious, and the friends OF the UNI
fortunate man claim that the reports
which have been circulated on him are
unjust and cruel.
Fowler, at the time he took his first
insurance here in Atlanta, was u stu
dent at the Presbyterian College, at
Clinton, S.. c., and was prominently
connected with one OF the college pub
locations. The Rev. William p. Jacobs,
who is known all over the country as
the head OF the famous Thornwcll Or
%phanage, is the president Of this col
lege, and the fact that Fowler was
connected with the leading publication
of hat institution is strong evidence OF
the good moral character of the young
theological student.
1T seems hat Fowler was taking a
general theological course, and in or
der to defray his expenses, would 60
out on occasional trips soliciting insur-
ance and the like with a view to earn
ing his living. He came t o Atlanta,
and while here went to the Office Of the
Preferred Accident Insurance Com.
pany to see the agent in regard to tax
ing some insurance. at that time the
business OF the company was conducted
by Messrs. Thornton & Scott, and in
his first application Fowler dealt en-
tircly with Mr.. Scott. He decided to
take what is called a Combination
accident policy, and made out the ap
plication himself, but on handing it in
he stated to Mr.. Scott that he would
call back and pay the premium the
next day.
son his second visit" said Mr.. Thorn
ton, Fowler came in the office, and nc
q happened to be in but myself. |
asked him what he wanted, and he said
he had called to pay his premium on a
policy he bad taken out the day before.
eve have regular blank receipts
continued Mr.. Thornton, "for our quar-
terly premium money, and when | went
to fill this out he informed me that he
could not pay the full amount, which
was SIS, SO | turned the blank slip owe
and simply wrote a receipt for - on
the back OF it. This was satisfactory
to him, and he stated that as bon as
he reached his home in South Carolina
he would send the balance Of SD, which
he did.
"These receipts expressly say that
the amour * received in case the pol
icy shall be issued by the company, but
that if the company refuses to take the
risk it reserves the right to refund the
money and thereby carcei all that has
been done. Our company never ac-
ccpts, under any conditions, a risk unit
The policy is signed at the homo office,
and this fact was clearly impressed on
his mind, for in the blank application
that Fowler read and signed himself
the following sentence occurs This
application shall not be binding upon
the company until accepted by the sec.
rotary and the policy shall not be in
force until actually issued from the