Press enter after choosing selection

Settled His Claim

Settled His Claim image
Parent Issue
Day
1
Month
April
Year
1898
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The arbitrators in the case of John V. N. Gregory vs. The Washtenaw Mutual Pire Inorance Go., met in Ann Arbor, Wednesday of last week and after dne deliberation awarded Mr. Gregory the arnount he claimed, being $900 on the two barns and 424 on the personal property. So mnoh interest bas been manifested in this case tbat the Argns here gives the faots in the matter so far as they have come to its knowledge. Last fall while the threshers were at work threshing the erop on J. V. N. Gregory's farm in Lima his two barns and a quantity of personal property were destroyed by fire. The property wan insnred in the Washtenaw Mutual and Mr. Greory applied to have the amonnt dne on his policy paid over to him. The baard of directors deolined to order the amonnt to be paid to bim beouse it was shown that by-law No. 32 of the policy carried by Mr. Gregory had been violated, by the nse of wood for fuel in the engine instead of ooal as the by-law calla for. This decisionn was arrived at by the board of directors after a most thorough investigation, in the coarse of whiob several witnesses were sworn and examined. Mr. Lntz, the tenant on the farm, tescified that he bought 1,300 pounds of coal for use in the engine while threshing his part of the erop and with Mr. Gregory's permission got a load of wood for that gentleman' share. Mr. Lntz's share of the threshing was finished on the first day. On the seoond day while threshing Mr. Gregory's share and using the wood ïoi fnel the barne took fire from sparks from the engina, the wind at the time blowing strongly towards them, and, with their oontents, the buildings were destroyed. Prom this sworn tstimony of Mr. Lutz, whioh was oorroborated by Mr. Deible, the engineer, and otbers who were present at tbe time, the board made np its mind that by-law No. 32 of the polioy had been violated at the time of tbe fire with the kuowledge and oonsent of Mr. Gregory and it was nnanimous in its rejection of the claim. The charter of tbe company gives every niember the right to appeal to arbitration, not ouly as to tbe amonnt of an award, bat also questions as to the liability of the company in any claim. Upon this rigbt Mr. Gi9gory appealed to arbitration and ohose as his representativo James L. Gilbert, of Sylvan. The company choose as its arbitrator George S. Rawson, of Bridgewater, and they two choose Fred Hutzel, of Pittsfield as the tbird man. Tba resnlt of the arbitration was Messrs. Gilbert and Hntzel claimed that the company was liable, while Mr. Rawson held to the contrary and filed his reasons for snch decisión with the company. The artioles of arbitration made it binding on both parties to abide by the decisión of tbe arbitrators and the oompany bas settled the claim thns decided against them. It is the intention of the board of directors to so amend by-law Nu. 32 that there will be no question in the future as to the liability of the company if any member uses wood for fnel while thresbing after baving once kindled tbe fire. Dne notice of the action of the board in this matter will besent to eaoh member.

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News