Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1883 — POISON AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE. [ARTICLE]

POISON AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE.

P., who had an accident policy, took up and drank from a can of birch oil, thinking it it to be milk-of-birch, from which, in color, smell and general appearance, it can scarcely be distinguished, and which is harmless. He was taken ill and died next day from the effects of the poison. In an action to recover on the policy as for an accidental death (Pollock vs. United States Mutual Accident Association) it was admitted that his death was caused without his intention. The trial court decided in favor of the company and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania affirmed the judgment. The Chief Justice, Mercur, in the opinion, said: “This insurance is against death or personal injuiy ‘when caused by external violence and accidental means,’ and it is especially provided that there shall be no liability if death or disability is caused ‘by the taking of poison.’ Death from poison taken innocently is accidental so far as the deceased is concerned, but that is an accidental means excepted from the risk. To hold the association liable for a death caused by taking poison would not only be in conflict witk the latter of acre ament, but contrary to the whole purpose for which the association appears to have been formed.”— New York Herald. A servant girl fell on a bracket, Her skull, she did nearly crack it, St. Jacobs Oil applying, Saved her from dying— It proved to be “just the racket. " A steamboat Captain from Goshen. Was hurt by a boiler explosion; On the pains in his hip, St. Jacobs Oil got the grip, He calls it the tdl-healing lotion.