40 riznizizar. ruzroicrnn.
to discover the disparity spoken of by the expert Fisher. The signa-
tures are both written in small letters, the one to the will in full length,
"Charles Morgan." If it was the uniform custom of Mr. Morgan to
write his name in full, (about which there is, however, no evidence,)
a person who undertook to counterfeit would hardly have abbreviated
the first name. The similarity to my mind, however, is such that I
feel confident that it is really genuine, or that the person imitating
had knowledge of the real, true signature of Mr. Morgan.
The rule is that he who aihrms a fact has the burden upon himself
of proving that fact. The plaintiffs aliirmed the forgery, and at-
tempted to establish it. In this the jury have said they have failed,
and the plaintiffs now affirm that the defendants should have been
charged with the burden of showing its genuineness before they could
avail themselves of the benefit of the transfer. I cannot subscribe
to the doctrine. It appears to me that the plaintiffs, in order to
avoid the effect of the statute of limitations of five years, erected a
target. Upon their ability to demolish the same they trusted their
case; and, having failed in that, their right to recover was demol-
ished, rather than the target. e
For the reasons above stated I decline to disturb the verdict. My
views being correct, I deem it unnecessary and unimportant to dis-
cuss whether any errors were committed in the introduction of other
evidence, as the view taken shows that the plaintiffs never had any
right of action at all.
Casnmr. v. Accinmnr Ins. Co. or- N. A.
(Circuit Oourt, M D. Illinois. March, 1886.)
1. ACCIDENT INsonANcn-Ponror-DEATH Nixon HANGING.
Death from hanging, when the insured is insane, is a death effected through
external, accidental, and violent means, within the meaning of a policy of
accident insurance.  
2. SAME-—DEA'1‘H Nor Caosan nr Bomm Lnrmnrrr on Drsmssa.
The policy in this case provided that the insurance should not extend to
death or disability " which may have been caused wholly or in part by bodily
infirmities or disease. " Held, that within the intent of the contract, and the
meaning of the law, the death was caused, not by bodily intlrmity or disease.
but by the act of selfdestruction.
At Law.
House, Fry cc Babb, for plaintiff.
Thomas Bates, for defendant.
Dyna, J`. On the twenty-third day of May, 1884, the defendant
company issued to Edward M. Crandal, since deceased, an accident