Hamilton Sensation.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1921, Page 4

Hamilton Sensation.

When, a man not excessively wealthy insures himself for £15,000 for no par- ( ticidav reason,'and undertakes to pay the considerable sum of £416 a year in . premiums, insurance companies are jus- ■ tided in taking precautions, says the “Dominion.” The proceedings in the Smallfield case suggest that the proper time for caution is before accepting proposals for such large amounts, and not after the insured person is dead. The financial circumstances of the late Mr Smallfield at the time of bis death were apparently regarded, in view of the heavy life insurance, as suggesting a possible motive for suicide, and K seems to have been mainly on tins ground that the order was made by tbe Attorney-General for the first exhumation of the body. At the same time the evidence made it plain that if the death was not due to heart seizuie while bathing—the Coroner’s finding at both inquests —it could only have been a suiside long premeditated, planned with tbe utmost ingenuity, and exe- ( uted with an unflinching determination that was almost incredible. At the second’ inquest counsel challenged its legality until the first was quashed, and also expressed the opinion that tbe exhumation of the body was illegal. The Coroner admitted doubts as to his powers in the matter. The body of this unfortunate man lias twice been taken from its grave, a deliberate intention to defraud has been imputed to him, and after what has been mainly an exploring investigation the whole affair ends as it began. Opinions will differ as to how far tbe insurance companies and tiie Government were justified in acting on mere suspicion. Most people will incline to the view that such proceedings as at Hamilton should not have been begun unless the evidence in hand was so overwhelming as to make the result a foregone conclusion. A feature of the case —which may, however, have been due to the zeal only of an agent—was that just before bis death Mr Smallfield was being canvassed to take up another policy foi £SOOO.