AFTER THE INSURANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 7, 30 March 1927, Page 5

AFTER THE INSURANCE

LEG CHOPPED OFF AN ASTOUNDING CASE By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. LONDON, Tuesday. The Vienna correspondent of the “Daily Mail” reports a remarkable case. Emil Marek, an engineer and inventor, who was carried into court on a stretcher, was charged with fraud and slander. His wife and her sister were similarly charged, and a hospital attendant named Marz and his wife were charged with slander. It was alleged that Marek insured himself against disablement for £BO,OOO with the Anglo-Danubian Lloyd Company and that he deliberately cut off one of his legs with an axe. The other accused are alleged to have assisted in carrying through the fraud. The evidence disclosed that Marek screamed while he was working at a model on the terrace at his handsome villa near Vienna. He was found with his leg almost severed at the knee. The company’s contention is either that Marek hacked off his leg himself or that someone assisted him to do so. Consequently the company refused to pay the insurance. Marek produced Marz and his wife, who said two surgeons wilfully slashed the amputated leg to give it the appearance that it had been struck off with an axe. Marz subsequently confessed that Marek had promised him £3OO if he would give false evidence about the manipulation of the amputated leg.— Sun.