THE WRONG JOHN SMITH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1758, 11 September 1917, Page 3

THE WRONG JOHN SMITH.

To be told in effect that ho was dead, and that the insurance policy on his life had been paid over, was the experience that a well-known resident of Hokitika had a few weeks ago (says tho Groymouth Star). It seems that this gentlemen, who can be designated as John Smith, had a policy of insurance on his life for the sum of £2OO. In the same street as John Smith resided there was also an ,old man of the same name. It had been the custom of the wife of the first John Smith to send the half-yearly premiums on the policy by post to the head office. Frequently tbe receipts for the premiums so forwarded did not come to hand, but this did not cause any concern to the party insured. Later developments showed that the missing receipts had been delivered by tho post office to the second John Smith, who tiled them away, without making any enquiry as to why or how they came to he delivered to him. Some few weeks ago this .second John Smith dies, and the local agent of the Public Trustee took possession of his but and effects. Ho found in the hut the receipts for a number of insurance premiums, and on enquiry at the head office of the insurance company a reply was received that tho company had a policy on the life of John Smith for £2OO, and that on production of the policy and probate (ho amount, with bonuses, would bo paid over. As the policy could not be found, a new one was issued, and tho money was paid over to tho Public Trustee, By this time another half-yearly premium on the policy had fallen duo, and, following his usual custom, the first-named John Smith forwarded tbe amount to the office. Judge of liis surprise to receive a letter which, in effect, told him ho was dead, and that the amount of his policy had been paid over to the Public Trustee. Enquiries were speedily made, with the result: that the I rue state of affairs was revealed. Fortunately, the Public Trustee bad not distributed (lie estate to beneficiaries in England, amt the amount of insurance received was refunded.