AN INSURANCE LAWSUIT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 16, 13 July 1911, Page 6

AN INSURANCE LAWSUIT

REFUSAL TO PAY £BOOO CLAIM. One (>f the most extraordinary law suit* ever known is at present the topic of most conversations ia Paris. The cage is comparatively simple. Two young men, a Belgian named Eyben, and a German named Baumeister, became bosom friends a dozen years ago at the University 01 Duisburg, where both of them were studying. Both were young men of good family, both were comfortably off, and when, after losing sight of one another for some years, they met in Paris about two years ago, they decided to go into business as partners. The new firm dealt in crystal ware and in china, and opened an establishment in the Rue da Paradis, the headquarters of the trade in Paris. There are curious laws in France regulating inheritance. As the two partners were not related to one another they wished to avoid any large withdrawal of capital from the firm ill the •vent of the premature death of eithei partner. They, therefore, insured their lives in one another's favor for £BOOO. This was last summer. The policy was taken out, the first premium was paid, and in October came the tragedy. Eyben and Baumeister were very fond of the river sport. They had a boat together, and spent much of their time in the river near Paris and on it. One bright day in October the two young men went down to Neuiily for a row, and after the row they thought they would like a bathe. Eyben, a better swimmer than Baumeister, warned his friend not to remain long in the water. He himself swam briskly put and back, and ran up the bank and dressed. While he was dressing he heard tiis friend shouting for help, ran down, and Saw him drowning. He plunged into the water in his clothes but all his efforts were in vain. He dived four times for his friend, but could not rescue him, and was himself brought ashore unconscious by some boatmen. Baumeister's body was not found until ten days later. The insurance company from which Eyben claims payment of £BOOO, has net only refused to pay, but has brought a formal charge against Eyben of murdering Baumeister, or rather, of allowing him to drown so as to claim the insurance money. The criminal action has' been met with a "non lieu." In other words, the magistrate, whose duty it is to make preliminary inquiry when such am action has been brought, declares that there is no cause for a trial, and that Eyben is guiltless. The civil action in which Eybcn is the plaintiff is still to be heard. It will most probably be followed by an action for damages, which' Eyben says that he will bring against the company which accused him of murdering his friend. The case is interesting because people in England know very little about French insurance companies, and have no notion the difficulties which are made by these companies in the payment of every claim. It is a recognised fact in France that a French insurance company will fight every claim to the last, Cases are known of English residents in France who, although protected by insurance against fire, in a 1 French company, have sacrificed their claim, just though it was, rather than I risk tlie heavy expenses of an action. | It is quite time that people should be made aware of the peculiar business views and methods of the French ini surance companies which are quite prepared to insure English residents in France as well as Englishmen at home.