A CURIOUS CASE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 407, 2 October 1889, Page 5

A CURIOUS CASE.

Thk chances that a man may die through accidentally getting poisoned are incalculably remote ; bub that they oughfc not to be ignored when effecting a policy of hiBura-.ee on a life has just been shown in a remarkable manner. It appears that a man in business as a jobmaster insured his life ten years ago against accidents, and in doing so he no doubt wished chiefly to guard against the risks of riding, driving, and going among horses in the stable. It was, indeed, through going to the latter that he mot his death, for having a bottle of medicine there, which he used for some ailment of his own he went thither one night and in the dark got hold of a bottle containing a horse-lotion which had in it a corrosive poison. There wae nob so much want of caution as this bare statement would suggest,/for it seems that he set out with a light in his hand ; but at a critical moment a gust of wind extinguished it, and he had to grope on a shelf for the bobble he reauired. His imprudence, however, was very great in taking a dose from the botblo before procuring another light. The question of negligence, though, did not arise in thefcase which has given rise to. so much litigation. There was a clause in the . policy on his life, the sum insured being a thousand -pounds, which exonerated the company from all liability if the assured died from the effects of poison. Clearly his death was the result of a lamentable mishap ; but, all the same, the appeal by bhe holder of bhe policy failed yesberday, for bhe trason we have indicated.— 'J), Chronicle.'