Larkin v. Sullivan

This action was brought to recover the sum of $75, which plaintiff claimed as a funeral benefit by Reason of the death of his wife, due to him by the defendant association because he was a financial me.aber of the district lodge. The case was tried by the justice, with a jury. The defense vyas two-fold—First, that the plaintiff was over forty years of age when he joined the lodge; and, second, that he was not a member in good standing at the time, because he was in arrears for dues for a period of three months prior to the death of his wife. The plaintiff’s testimony in the case was somewhat contradictory, but, on the other hand, the defendant’s testimony was vague and indefinite. There was enough evidence offered by the plaintiff to sustain his contention if believed by the jury, and their verdict shows they did believe him. Neither of the questions litigated before them was of a nature to induce sympathy on one side, or passion, prejudice, or hasty action on the other. We therefore do not think the verdict should be disturbed. As far as the record shows, no exceptions were taken during the course of the trial, and none were argued before us. The judgment should therefore be affirmed, with costs.