{ "id": 1551767, "name": "American National Insurance Company v. White", "name_abbreviation": "American National Insurance v. White", "decision_date": "1916-12-18", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "483", "last_page": "494", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "126 Ark. 483" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "13 L. R. A. (N. S.) 258", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L.R.A.N.S.", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "262" } ], "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "45 N. Y. 422", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 2049745 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ny/45/0422-01" ] }, { "cite": "99 Mass. 325", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mass.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "73 S. W. 923", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "5 Mo. App. 236", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mo. App.", "case_ids": [ 549410 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/mo-app/5/0236-01" ] }, { "cite": "99 N. W. 376", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "57 S. W. 614", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "67 Ind. 478", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ind.", "case_ids": [ 1521089 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ind/67/0478-01" ] }, { "cite": "96 N. Y. 614", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 556151 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ny/96/0614-01" ] }, { "cite": "90 Am. Dec. 455", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "Am. Dec.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "18 Mo. 109", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mo.", "case_ids": [ 8853963 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/mo/18/0109-01" ] }, { "cite": "99 Mass. 317", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mass.", "case_ids": [ 2139819 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/mass/99/0317-01" ] }, { "cite": "68 Fed. 825", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 6730832 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/f/68/0825-01" ] }, { "cite": "73 Ark. 274", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1503950 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/73/0274-01" ] }, { "cite": "80 Ark. 817", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "30 Ark. 723", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1881145 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/30/0723-01" ] }, { "cite": "11 Ark. 671", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8727967 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/11/0671-01" ] }, { "cite": "25 Ark. 380", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1864487 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/25/0380-01" ] }, { "cite": "148 S. W. 271", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "2 Ark. 346", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1848198 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/2/0346-01" ] }, { "cite": "61 Ark. 287", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1902323 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/61/0287-01" ] }, { "cite": "41 C. C. A. 307", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "C.C.A.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "101 Fed. 206", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 3829857 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/f/101/0206-01" ] }, { "cite": "65 Cal. 417", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal.", "case_ids": [ 2226560 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/cal/65/0417-01" ] }, { "cite": "10 Ark. 627", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "48 S. C. 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "S.C.", "case_ids": [ 4405850 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/sc/48/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "1 Yeates, 20", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Yeates", "case_ids": [ 6771236 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/yeates/1/0019-02" ] }, { "cite": "80 Ky. 480", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ky.", "case_ids": [ 4396441 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ky/80/0480-01" ] }, { "cite": "8 Iowa 636", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Iowa", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "22 Ark. 164", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8725950 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/22/0164-01" ] }, { "cite": "118 Ark. 22", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1562499 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/118/0022-01" ] }, { "cite": "106 Ark. 91", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1345674 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/106/0091-01" ] }, { "cite": "118 Ky. 716", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ky.", "case_ids": [ 4446100 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ky/118/0716-01" ] }, { "cite": "80 Ark. 190", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1491161 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/80/0190-01" ] }, { "cite": "45 N. Y. 422", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 2049745 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ny/45/0422-01" ] }, { "cite": "99 Mass. 325", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mass.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "73 Ark. 274", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1503950 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/73/0274-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1008, "char_count": 23592, "ocr_confidence": 0.462, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.373162934548921e-07, "percentile": 0.6386781623175715 }, "sha256": "933e31610c2749d244de6395628ac395d5fe699650a00f3399683eda92f0564b", "simhash": "1:be6e54ee4d767923", "word_count": 4293 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T14:43:49.050580+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "American National Insurance Company v. White." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Hart, J.\nIn October, 1915, Maris White instituted this action against the American National Life Insurance Company to recover upon a policy of life insurance. The undisputed facts are as follows:\nOn. February 6, 1914, the insurance company issued an insurance policy in the sum of $500 on the life of Leana Wells, and Marie White, her sister, was named as the beneficiary in the policy. Between seven and eight o\u2019clock on the night of November 10, 1914, Tillie Clark shot and killed Leana Wells in the city of Little Rock, Arkansas.\nOne of the provisions of the policy was,that no recovery be had thereunder should the insured \u201cdie as the result of a violation of the law, during the first year of the continuance of the policy, and that in such event the liability of the company should be limited to the amount of the'premium actually paid thereon.\u201d The policy was in force at th.e time Leana Wells was killed by Tillie Clark and the company defended this action on the ground that the provision of the policy just quoted was violated. To sustain its defense, the insurance company introduced evidence substantially as follows: It was shown that Tillie Clark worked at a boarding house in the city of Little Rock and was a small active woman; that Leana Wells was a large woman and that both of them were negroes; that Leana Wells had complained to the proprietress of the boarding house that Tillie Clark was interfering between her and her husband, and that she was going to kill her.\nThe proprietress of the boarding house testified that she did not think from the way Leana Wells acted that she intended to kill Tillie Clark, but that it was all bluff, like negroes usually engaged in; that Leana Wells was killed a few minutes after she left the boarding house.\nE. M. Harrington was the only eye-witness to the killing who testified in the case. His testimony is substantially as follows: I stepped out on the front porch of the boarding house in Little Rock, Arkansas, about 7:30 or 8 o\u2019clock on the night of November 10, 1914. As I looked over towards an electric light diagonally across the street, I saw under a large tree possibly twenty-five feet from the corner, two women scuffling, possibly not in anger. A moment afterward they broke away rather hurriedly, and one of them started to run. Just after I noticed them break away, I saw the flash of a gun and at the same time heard a report. \u25a0 It afterward turned out that the smaller of the two women had the gun. The little woman was Tillie Clark and the larger one Leana Wells. The little woman ran across the street and the larger one pursued her and every ten or twelve feet, it seemed that the large woman was getting closer and the smaller woman would turn and fire at her with her pistol. I think the large woman had a stick or something of that kind in her hand. The little woman stopped and turned around and shot the first time or two over her shoulder, but when she shot the other times, she turned and deliberately waited for the larger woman to approach her. She seemed to turn around more deliberately and take a better aim. She fired the first shot when she was about five or six feet away.: When she fired the next shot, she was probably 15 feet away from the larger woman. When the smaller woman would run, she would get farther ahead of the larger woman, but when she stopped to shoot, the larger woman would gain on her. Whenever the larger woman was nearer to the smaller one, she would strike at her, but I don\u2019t remember that she ever hit her. She was so far away.\nThe jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, and the defendant has appealed.\nIt is first insisted by counsel for defendant that the court erred in not granting it a continuance on the ground of the absence of witnesses -whose testimony was material to the defense. The application for continuance was addressed to the sound judicial discretion of the trial court, and the court\u2019s ruling will not be .a ground for a reversal of the judgment unless there has been a manifest abuse of its discretion. The continuance was asked on account of the absence of Tillie Clark and a man named Bruck, who, it is claimed, witnessed the killing. It was stated that Tillie Clark would testify to a state of facts tending to show that she acted in self-defense in killing Leana Wells and the particular facts she would testify to were set out in the motion for a continuance. The motion also set out the facts which would be testified to by Bruck and the purport of his testimony was to corroborate that of Tillie Clark. The record shows that Tillie Clark killed Leana Wells on November 10, 1914; that the coroner\u2019s inquest was held the next day and that Tillie Clark and Bruck were witnesses. The plaintiff, through her attorney, demanded payment of the policy,' and upon being refused, instituted this action on October 9, 1915. The case was duly'set down for trial on the 3d day of February, 1916.\nThe defendant admits that it did not have a subpoena issued for these witnesses until the morning of the trial, but it shows that a law clerk in the office of its attorney had occasion to go about the city of Little Rock collecting, and that on his run he would make inquiries as to the whereabouts of these witnesses, and could not find them. It is also shown that defendant had its agents in the city of Little Rock soliciting insurance, and that these agents made.inquiries for the witnesses and failed to find them. It was ascertained about eighteen days after the trial that Tillie Clark was living in the city of Little Rock and had been living there ever since the killing. On the morning of the .trial, the defendant\u2019s attorneys learned that the witness, Bruck, had gone first to the Isthmus of Panama and later to some place in South America and the attorneys\u2019 informant told him that he believed that by writing to the witness\u2019s former address in Panama that he would be able to find his present address in South America. Under this state of facts we do not think the court abused its discretion in refusing to grant a continuance. In regard to the witness, Tillie Clark, it may be said she had during the whole time been living in the city of Little Rock. It is true the defendant states that its agents made a search for her and were not able to find her. This is not sufficient. A subpoena should have been issued and placed in the hands of the sheriff for service. A party to an action can not usually claim that he has used due diligence in procuring the attendance of a witness by his own efforts merely to\u2019locate the witness. It is true it is his duty to notify the officer where the witness is if he knows the witness\u2019 residence and the officer does not. In the present case due diligence required that a subpoena be issued and placed in the hands of the officer at an earlier date than the morning of the trial. It is the duty of the sheriff to ascertain if the witness is in his county, and to serve the process on him. He has facilities for finding people not possessed by the ordinary citizen, and that is one of the reasons why it is made his duty to serve the process issued by the court. As we have already stated, the case was duly noted for trial, and it can not be said that the sheriff could not have found a withess whom the proof showed to have resided all this time in the city of Little Rock.\nIn regard to the witness, Bruck, it may be said that there is no reasonable assurance that, if the continuance had been granted, his testimony could have been procured by deposition or otherwise at the next term of the court. The defendant had merely been informed that he was somewhere in South America, and that his address might be found out from persons who knew him at his former addres.s in Panama. This showing was too indefinite and we do not think the court abused its discretion in refusing to grant the continuance. After Tillie Clark was found, a motion for new trial was filed on the ground of newly discovered evidence. What we have said- above, disposes of this point, and we do not think the court abused its discretion in refusing a continuance on that account.\nThe next assignment of error presents the question of whether the verdict of the coroner\u2019s jury was admissible as original evidence of the cause of the insured\u2019s death. This question has never been decided by this court. In the case-of Grand Lodge A. O. U. W. v. Banister, 80 Ark. 190, the court said that it had no hesitancy in holding that the verdict of the coroner\u2019s jury does not make out a prima facie case of death from the cause stated in the verdict, but at most could only be considered by the trial jury along with the other testimony in the case. The court held, however, that inasmuch as the verdict of the coroner\u2019s jury was introduced at the request of appellant, it was unnecessary to decide whether or not it was competent evidence. The court said that the weight of authority seemed to be against the admissibility of such evidence in civil' cases of this kind, and a number of' authorities on both sides of the question are cited in the opinion. There are authorities sustaining the admissibility of such records at the common law. \u201cThe law gives such high credit to an inquisition of death, found before a coroner, that anciently the judges would not receive a verdict acquitting a person of the death of a man found against the accused by the coroner\u2019s inquest, unless the jury finding such acquittal had also found what other person did the act, or by what other means the party came to his death, because it appeared by the coroner\u2019s view, on record, that a person was killed.\u201d 2 Bac. Abr. 431. Under our statute, the coroner\u2019s jury makes an ex parte investigation of the supposed crime resulting in homicide for the purpose of aiding in the administration of the criminal laws of the State. Other persons having property interests depending upon the cause of the death are not allowed to participate in the hearing before the coroner\u2019s jury with a view to establish rights by the verdict. While the coroner\u2019s inquest is made on behalf of the State, and a record of it is required to be made and kept, it can not on any well grounded principle of Amer-can Common Law become evidence in another suit as to the cause of the death investigated. There is no good reason why a stranger to the proceedings should be in any wise bound by the verdict or that it should be evidence against him. of the cause of the death. If such verdict be admissible as evidence, it follows from its very nature that it might also constitute proof of the \u2022main fact and of every essential fact in issue. It might not only show the fact of death by violent and external means within a day covered by the policy, but might also find that the person slaying the insured was justified or was not justified in killing him. In either event a property right of one or the other litigants would be determined by a Verdict of which no notice was given to him and without an opportunity to cross-examine the witness whose oaths established it. He would be deprived of his property without, due process of law; for the first verdict might be sufficient to maintain the action or sustain the defense, as the case might be, if it was the only evidence offered or obtainable, and thus the verdict of the trial jury would be merely a formal ratification of the coroner\u2019s verdict. We can not see any well grounded reason why such a verdict should be evidence against a stranger to the proceedings. In addition to the authorities cited in the Banister case, see Aetna Life Insurance Co. v. Milward, 118 Ky. 716, 4 A. & E. Ann. Cas. 1092; Cluff v. Mutual Benefit Life Ins. Co., 99 Mass. 325.\nAgain, it is insisted that the verdict of the, coroner\u2019s jury and the testimony of witnesses taken a,t the coroner\u2019s inquest should have been introduced in evidence because a copy of the same was furnished defendant as a part of. the proof of death made out by the plaintiff and authorities are cited in support of their contention. We think, however, this proposition is decided against the defendant by the principle announced in the case of Fidelity & Casualty Co. v. Meyer, 106 Ark. 91. In that case it was held that where a life insurance policy contained no provision for a waiver of privilege, and no physician\u2019s certificate was necessary as part of the proof of death, there was no waiver by the furnishing as part of the proof of death to the insurer a certificate of the attending physician in a voluntary attempt to secure a settlement. There was no provision in the policy requiring the verdict of a coroner\u2019s jury, and the testimony taken at the inquest to be furnished to the insurance company as a part of the proof of death. The question of the death of the insured is not an issue .in this case. The undisputed evidence shows that she was killed by Tillie Clark. The only issue of' fact in the case was whether or not Tillie Clark was justifiable in killing her.\nThe rule is that where by the terms of the policy, the record of a coroner\u2019s inquest is required to be attached to proofs of death made by the beneficiary or his agent, such record is admissible upon the trial of a case upon the ground that it contains admissions of the beneficiary against his interest as to the cause of death. No such rule of evidence obtains, however, where the terms of the policy or the by-laws of the company do not require the verdict or record of the coroner\u2019s inquest to be furnished to the company as part of the proof of death. In cases like this the proof of death is made in an effort to settle the loss without a suit, and it has no connection whatever with the trial where the company refused to make payment.\nThe rule contended for can have no application where the'record of the coroner\u2019s inquest is not furnished pursuant to the requirements of the policy, but merely as a voluntary act in an effort to secure a settlement. Any other rule could hardly fail to be conducive of abuse or injustice.\nIt is next earnestly insisted by counsel for defendant that the court erred in refusing to direct a verdict for the defendant. In the case of the Supreme Lodge of Knights of Pythias v. Bradley, 73 Ark. 274, the court held: \u201cA death received'while retreating from a personal difficulty in good faith, and not for the purpose of gaining a vantage ground to renew it, although deceased began the assault with a weapon capable of inflicting great bodily harm, was not a death received while in violation of any criminal law, within a policy of insurance providing that if the assured\u2019s death should be received in a violation or attempted violation of any criminal law, then the amount to be paid on the policy should be in proportion to the whole amount as the matured life expectancy is to the entire expectancy at date of admission of such member.\u201d\nIn the opinion the court quoted from the ease of Bradley v. Insurance Co., 45 N. Y. 422, as follows: \u201cSo long as the evidence falls short of establishing that the homicide was legally justifiable, I can see no safe rule by which the court could be guided in deciding that the provocation proved was the cause of the killing, and in withdrawing that question from the consideration of the jury.\u201d\nThe effect of the holding is that where the evidence is conflicting as to whether the homicide was legally justifiable or was the result of malice or excessive violence on the part of the stranger the question of proximate cause and the adequacy of the provocation is for the jury. In a case note to 13 L. R. A. (N. S.), at page 262, the rule is stated as follows:\n\u201cA personal encounter between the assured and his slayer has been the cause of the greater number of cases in which has arisen the question whether the assured\u2019s death was within the exception of a policy relieving the insurer if the death was caused by a violation of law. In such cases it may be laid down as a generally accepted rule that, if the assured\u2019s adversary is guilty of unjustifiable homicide in killing the assured, the latter\u2019s death is not within the exception; while, on the other hand, if the assured is slain under such circumstances as render the killing justifiable homicide, there is a violation of law on the part of the assured within the exception.\u201d\nTested by this rule of law it can not be said that the court should have directed a verdict for the defendant. We do not deem it necessary to review the evidence, but consider that a mere reading of it is sufficient. W\u00e9 need therefore only refer to it as set out in the abstract.\nFinally it is insisted that the court erred in allowing an attorneys\u2019 fee and penalty as provided in the statute.\nWhen the insured was killed, she was in arrears in the sum of $3.90 on her premiums, and this amount, according to the terms of the policy, should have been deducted from the amount of the policy. The jury found for the plaintiff for the face of the policy less $3.90. This was an insignificant sum, and doubtless, if the plaintiff\u2019s attention had been called to it, she would have amended her complaint so as not to ask for that sum. It is obvious that plaintiff only contended for the amount due her under the policy, and that by the terms of the policy the company had a right to deduct the $3.90 from the face of the policy. The $3.90 is such an insignificant sum compared with the face of the policy that it is evident the plaintiff, by mistake, did not deduct it from the face of the policy in her complaint. It was conceded throughout the trial that the $3.90 was not in issue. If the insurance company desired to avoid the penalty and attorney\u2019s fees, it should have offered to confess judgment for the amount of the policy, less the $3.90; and not having done so, the court properly allowed the attorney\u2019s fees and penalty provided for in the statute. Great Southern Fire Ins. Co. v. Burns & Billington, 118 Ark. 22.\nWe have not overlooked the assignments of error in regard to the giving of instructions relied upon for a reversal of the judgment; but we do not deem it necessary to set them out or to review them here. It is sufficient to say that the instructions given by the court were according to the principles of law laid down in this opinion and fully and fairly presented the respective theories of the parties to the jury.\nThe judgment will be affirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "Hart, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Troy W. Lewis, for appellant.", "W. H. Pemberton, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "American National Insurance Company v. White.\nOpinion delivered December 18, 1916.\n1. Trial \u2014 continuance\u2014discretion.\u2014An application for a continuance is'addressed to the sound judicial discretion of the trial court, and the court\u2019s ruling will not be a ground for a reversal of the judgment unless there has been a manifest abuse of its discretion.\n2. Trial \u2014 continuance\u2014absent witness \u2014 diligence.\u2014It is the duty of a party wishing to have a certain witness at a trial,-to have a subpoena issued and placed in the hands of the sheriff before the day of the trial, and the party will not be justified in relying solely upon his own efforts to locate and procure the attendance of the witness.\n3. Trial \u2014 continuance\u2014absent witness \u2014 necessary showing.\u2014 A cause should not be continued on account of the absence of a witness, where there is no assurance that if the continuance was granted that the attendance of the witness in person, or his deposition, could be procured.\n4. Evidence \u2014 cause of death \u2014 verdict of coroner\u2019s jury. \u2014 In an action ,to recover on a policy of life insurance, the verdict of a coroner\u2019s jury is not admissible as original evidence of the cause of the insured\u2019s death.\n5. Life insurance \u2014 proof of death \u2014 verdict of coroner\u2019s jury.\u2014 The insured was killed by being shot; neither the policy nor the by-laws of the insurance company required that the verdict or record of the coroner\u2019s inquest be furnished as part of the proof of death; held, although such verdict and record were furnished by the beneficiary to the company in an effort to settle the claim, such evidence was not admissible in an action by the beneficiary to recover on the policy.\n6. Life insurance \u2014 cause of death \u2014 violation of law. \u2014 A policy of life insurance provided that the company was relieved from liability if the insured\u2019s death was caused by a violation of the law. The insured was killed by being shot. Held, it was for the j ury to determine whether the insured was shot in cold blood or justifiably, and that the trial court properly refused, under the evidence, to direct a verdict for the defendant company.\n7. Life insurance \u2014 penalty and attorney\u2019s fees. \u2014 Insured was in arrears a small amount on her policy, which amount was not disputed; held, in an action to collect the amount of the policy, after deceased\u2019s death, that the inclusion of this amount in the prayer for damages would not bar a recovery for penalty and attorney\u2019s fees.\nAppeal from Pulaski Circuit Court, Third Division; G. W. Hendricks, Judge;\naffirmed.\nTroy W. Lewis, for appellant.\n1. The court erred in refusing a continuance. 22 Ark. 164; 21 Id. 460; 99 Id. 399; 71 Id. 182; 60 Id. 664; 8 Iowa 636; 80 Ky. 480; 1 Yeates, 20; 48 S. C. 1. Due diligence was shown and the court clearly abused its discretion. 10 Ark. 627; 42 Id. 273; 85 Id. 334; 61 Id. 142.\n2. The court erred in refusing to permit defendant to introduce the- record of the coroner\u2019s inquest. 129 111. 557; Kirby\u2019s-Digest, \u00a7 818; 65 Cal. 417; 129 111. 557; 168 Id. 408.; 158 Id. 289; 1 Greenleaf on Ev., \u00a7 556; Starkie on Ev. 404; 25 Beav. 605; 19 Ohio Ct. Ct. 502; 101 Fed. 206; 41 C. C. A. 307.\n3. The court erred in refusing a new trial for newly discovered evidence. Kirby\u2019s Dig., \u00a7\u00a7 6215-6219; 61 Ark. 287; 2 Id. 133. The evidence was not cumulative. 2 Ark. 346; 11 Id. 671; 26 Id. 496, etc. Defendant has alleged and shown facts from which it appeared that it could not have ascertained such evidence by due diligence. 148 S. W. 271; 25 Ark. 380, etc. The newly discovered evidence was material. 11 Ark. 671. It was not cumulative and the motion was supported by proper affidavit. ' 30 Ark. 723; Kirby\u2019s Digest, \u00a7 6219. See, also, 11 Ark. 671; 74 Id. 377. This court will reverse for refusal to grant a continuance. 80 Ark. 817; 93 Id. 346; Cyc. Dig. Ark. Rep. 1, p. 363, \u00a7 966; 22 Ark. 164.\n4. The court erred in giving the peremptory instructions asked by defendant. The death was the result of violating the law and the policy was void. 73 Ark. 274; 18 Dig. Ins. Cas. 186; 68 Fed. 825; 99 Mass. 317; 18 Mo. 109; 19 Id. 506; 39 Id. 122; 90 Am. Dec. 455; 96 N. Y. 614; 67 Ind. 478; 57 S. W. 614; 99 N. W. 376; 5 Mo. App. 236; 88 Id. 633; 98 Id. 733; 73 S. W. 923; 96 N. Y. 614; 13 Allen (Mass.) 308.\n5. The court erred in giving plaintiff\u2019s instructions and in reading Kirby\u2019s Digest, \u00a7 1798. Also in refusing to give defendant\u2019s instructions 2 and 3, and in assessing penalty and attorney\u2019s fees.- Ill Ark. 554; 92 Id. 387.\nW. H. Pemberton, for appellee.\n1. The only question which the jury had to pass upon was: Did the assured die as a result of the violation of law? The premiums were paid and if the court\u2019s instructions are correct and the finding of the jury supported by the testimony the judgment should be affirmed.\n2. The continuance was properly refused. No diligence was shown.\n3. The record of the coroner\u2019s inquest was properly refused as evidence. 99 Mass. 325.\n4. There was no error in refusing a new trial on account of newly discovered evidence.\n5. The law of this case, is settled in 73 Ark. 274; 45 N. Y. 422; 13 L. R. A. (N. S.) 258, 262.\n6. The instructions are correct and the penalty and attorneys\u2019 fee properly allowed." }, "file_name": "0483-01", "first_page_order": 507, "last_page_order": 518 }