Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-04-12

Suits agsinst policy holders in the de-
funct Melville Insurance Company, are
being tried 10 different parts of South Jer-
sev, and nearly every instance the cases
have been decided in favor of the defend
ants. Three cases were tried last week at
Cape May Court House. The Jury was
Just five minutes in agreeing upon a
verdict of mo cause for action, in the case
of John L Steel.
In the case of Ed. M Hutchinson 1t re-
quired but two minutes to reach similar
verdict, and in the suit against B. Il.
Marshall, administrator, three minutes was
the time required for twelve men to say
that the defendant owed the concern noth-
ing. The balance OF the cases we're adj
journed to April 10Th.
"The Company was fraudulent ia its
representations and advertisements long
before il went into the hands of Receiver
says the Bridgeton Patriot, since which
the fact has developed that of the total
losses about $500 were fire losses, and
about SIS, 900 for marine losses, chiefly on
Lake Michigan, with which the holders OF
fire pc licies were not aware they had any
thing to do.
Thomas Whitaker, of Millyiile, was first
appointed Receiver, and he collected about
Sc. 300 OF this sum be received ab0nt
So. 500 as compensation for his Own services,
and the balance was consumed in clerk
hire, attorneys fees, etc, and not q single
dollar was paid on the claims for losses, OF
which there were less than $4,000 in the
State.
The Court held that the fire notes were
only asstssable for FIRE losses and the
marine notes only assessable for marine
LOSSES Yet, when it came to making an
assessment over $40, 600 was added tor the
prospective expenses of the receiyership
and losses in collection. Though the
holders of fire policies were not aware OF
being in any way connected with the
marine insurance business, they found
themselves called upon to pay an assess
ment of six per cent. to bear the expense
of collecting marine loses, while the marine
notes of persons who held marine policies,
and who reside ont of the State, have not
been, nor will they be called upon to con-
tribute penny
Those who held fire insurance policies do
not object to contributing for the pay
ment Of the fire losses, but they do vigor-
ously protest against being forced to pay
claims which they consider so manifestly
unjust When it came to attempting the
forced payment of these assessments Mr..
Whitaker resigned the position Of Receiver
and Thomas E. French, of Camden, was
appointed in his stead.
Numerous suits have been brought before
Justices of the Peace, in few of which
judgments have been given by the Justices.
In others iuries have discharged or non
suits have been granted. Appeals have
been taken in cases where judgments have
been entered, and there are hundreds Of
cases yet to be tried. Some have paid in
hope of avoiding litigation, and it is
probable that such persons will be called
upon to pay still further assessments after
the amounts thus paid have been appro-
priated for the further payment Of Receiv-
er's fees, services of attorneys, etc.
In addition to the numerous cases before
Justices of the Peace in various sections,
several suits have been instituted in the
Circuit Courts. In this section Attorney
Walter Ell. Bacon has been chiefly employed
in defending the suits and it remains to be
seen what the final outcome will be.
Certainly it ia by no means strange that
under the circumstances these suits have
caused considerable i'll feeling among the
policy holders, who feel that they are thus
dealt with. and their many friends
in the five counties named