Bacon v. United States Mutual Accident Ass'n — 20 N.Y. St. Rep. 204

Majority

p. 204

Samuel N. Bacon, Resp’t, v. The United States Mutual Accident Association of the City of New York, App’lt.

(Supreme Court, General Term, Third Department.

Filed November 20, 1888)

Headnote

1. Insurance—Action on policy—Determination of jury upon conflict-in® EVIDENCE IS CONCLUSIVE.

This action was brought to recover upon a policy of insurance against accidental injuries or death. The evidence on the part of the plaintiff, tended to show that the death of the insured was caused by a malignant pustule, while that of the defendant was to the effect that the cause of death was a facial carbuncle. Held,, that there being a conflict of evidence npon the question, the determination of it by the jury was conclusive.

3. Same—Terms of policy—What agents of injury and death are excluded by.

The .conditions of the policy were, in effect, that the bodily injury must have"an external and visible sign; that death caused by disease or by poison in any manner or form, was excluded. Held, that the exclusion of cases where posion was the agent of death applied only to poisons taken internally.

3. Same—Recovery upon policy—What warrants.

The testimony was such as to justify the conclusion that the death of f he insured was due to malignant pustule, and that malignant pustule was caused by contact with certain noxious matter and developed at the point of contact. Held, that the jury were warranted in finding a verdict for the plaintiff.

Appeal from a judgment entered upon the verdict of a jury, also from the order denying a motion for a new trial upon the minutes.

The plaintiff sought to recover upon a policy of insurance against accidental injuries or death, issued to Frederick J. Oaks. ■ Upon a former trial the plaintiff was non-suited. Upon appeal to this court, it was held that the evidence required a submission of the case to the jury. 8 H. Y. State Rep., 523. The main contention upon the new trial was whether the insured died from the effects of a facial carbuncleor of a malignant pustule.

Wm. Bro. Smith, for app’lt; G. L. Stedman, for resp’t.

When this case was before us on the former appeal, we held that the evidence was sufficient to require the submission of the caseto the jury. 8 N. Y. State Rep., 523. The question then was as it now is, whether the deceased “sustained bodily injuries, effected through external, violent and accidental means, within the intent and meaning of the by-laws of said association, and the conditions hereunto annexed, and such injuries alone shall have occasioned death within ninety days from the happening thereof.”

The conditions annexed are, in effect, that the bodily injury must have an “ external and visible sign,” death caused by disease or by “poision in any manner or form,” is excluded.

The plaintiff rested his case upon- testimony tending to show that death was caused by a malignant pustule upon the lip ; that such pustule is not strictly a disease, but a pathological condition of the system, caused by the accidental infliction of diseased or putrid animal matter infested with bacilli anthrax upon the thin skin of the lip, whence the bacilli multiply and are diffused through the system.

The defendant urges that if the facts were as alleged by the plaintiff, then the insured died from poison, liability for which is expressly excluded by the contract. We adhere to the view expressed upon the former appeal that this means poison taken internally, and not externally inflicted.

The defendant also urges that the evidence given on the part of the plaintiff did not exclude the possibility that malignant pustules are sometimes caused by an inhalation of the germs or bacilli and, therefore, are infectious diseases, and as such are excluded from the liabilities assumed by the defendant.

We think the jury could understand the testimony otherwise. It seems to be to the effect that the bacilli anthrax will produce the pustule by coming in contact with the skin ; if swallowed, the pustule may be produced in the stomach or bowels ; it is produced at the point of contact with the virus wherever that may be applied ; a local sore is produced. The bacilli need not necessarily be introduced by a puncture or lance, but may take effect if applied upon abraded or thin skin ; they may, however, be injected in as by the bite of a fly. “ If they get in at the skin,” says Dr. Prudden in behalf of the defendant, “they cause that thing which is known as malignant pustule; if they get into the lungs they cause a sort of pneumonia, and if they get_ into the stomach and bow-els they cause an infection which resembles cholera a good deal.” There seems to be different kinds of bacterie ; one kind known as the bacillus tuberculosis, producing. consumption or pneumonia; the

p. 206

kind in question is known as the bacillus anthrax. Clearly, the jury were at liberty to decide that if this was a malignant pustule, it was caused by accidental contact or infliction upon the lip of something containing the bacilli anthrax.

The testimony justified the conclusion that, as far as known, the malignant pustule is the result of contact with the flesh, hides or skins of animals, or with wool, feathers, birds or flies which contain or carry the bacilli anthrax.

The insured went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, February 1, 1884, and died there March 21st following. He was first engaged as bookkeeper ■ in a meat market and later as a •check clerk in the transfer' department of the Union Pacific railroad. It was shown that car loads of hides pass that station, but whether he had anything to do with them was not shown.

This testimony suggests instead of proving any exposure ; it is not at all satisfactory, still it is competent; it is a sort of evidential dust sufficient sometimes to preponderate one side of the poising balance.

. But the defendant introduced evidence tending to show' that the death of the insured was caused hy a facial carbuncle, which is nothing more than an enlarged boil or a large cluster of small boils, and is not within any of the risks the defendant assumed.

The defendant assailed the theory of a malignant pustule by evidence tending to show that the testimony of Dr. Harris, the expert who examined the body of the insured twenty-seven days after death, disclosed such an absence of the requisite tests, as rendered his opinion that the death was caused by malignant pustule, wholly unreliable.

The theory of a facial carbuncle was also assailed by experts on the part of the plaintiff. The defendant urges that the evidence renders it just as probable that death resulted from a carbuncle as from a pustule. If so the plaintiff made out no case. Searles v. Manhattan Ry. Co., 101 N. Y., 661 .

In the case cited the court could see that the one agency was just as well supported as the other. But the case here presents a very difficult question. Inferences are to be drawn from the testimony, and fair men might well disagree. In such a case the jury are the final arbiters. Our system of justice in such a case finds relief and repose by accepting the verdict evolved from the inscrutable wisdom of the jury.

We have examined the opinions expressed upon the former appeal, and see no reason to change them.

The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.

Learned, P. J;, and Ingalls, J., concur.