United Order of Golden Cross v. Merrick

Beneficiary Association — Validity of Designation of Beneficiary — Foreign Corporation — Lex Loci Contractus — Statute. Under Sts. 1890, c. 341, § 1, and 1892, c. 40, § 1, amending St. 1888, c. 429, § 11, the designation, in a benefit certificate issued by a corporation organized under the laws of another State and transacting business in this Commonwealth, of a person who could not take under a certificate issued by such a corporation organized here, is valid if permitted by the charter. A letter written by a person, upon being informed by a member of a beneficiary association that he is to be made his beneficiary, thanking the member for his act, and saying that the writer would pay the assessments, is not within St. 1888, c. 429, § 9, as amended by St. 1890, c. 341, § 1.

Bill in equity, in the nature of a bill of interpleader, to ascertain to whom the plaintiff should pay $2,000, which became payable by it on the death of one Clementine N. Towne, on September 30, 1893. Hearing in the Superior Court, before Richardson, J., who reported the case for the determination of this court, in substance as follows. The plaintiff is a beneficiary corporation, incorporated under the laws of Tennessee, and has established a Grand Commandery and subordinate lodges in Massachusetts, called “ commanderies,” through which, in the manner provided in its charter,* constitution, and general laws, it receives members and issues benefit certificates to members, on the assessment plan, and. without paid agents. It was admitted by the insurance department to do business in this Commonwealth prior to January 1, 1888, and has continued to carry on its affairs here in the manner above named, and to do all things incident to the management of its affairs, as set forth in its charter, constitution, and general laws, to the present time. In accordance with its charter, constitution, and general laws, Wachusett Commandery, No. 56, was lawfully instituted at Clinton prior to January 1, 1889, and on January 25, 1889, Clementine N. Towne, of Clinton, became a member of said commandery, naming as her beneficiaries her sisters, Love A. Nye and Abby P. Plummer, and her brothers, Eben W. Gerald and Alexander P. Gerald; and a benefit certificate was issued to her by the plaintiff, payable to the above named beneficiaries. The officers who attested the delivery of this certificate lived in Clinton, and were officers of Wachusett Commandery, as described in the certificate. It is under this certificate of her rights as a member of Wachusett Commandery, and as heirs at law and next of kin of Clementine N. Towne, that her sisters and brothers above named claim this fund. Clementine N. Towne was a widow, and her occupation or business was that of a nurse. She had for fifteen years prior to her death stayed with her sister, Abby P. Plummer, in Clinton, except when engaged in nursing or visiting, but was away nursing most of the time, and with this sister she kept her furniture, bedding, and such of her personal effects as she did not desire to take with her from place to place. During almost all the time for two years prior to her death she had been employed as a nurse in Nashua, New Hampshire, and had been in Nashua all that time except when away for a short period. At the time of her death she had been about one month at the house of her sister, in Clinton, intending to return to Nashua soon. Prior to November 28, 1892, and in that month, and while in Nashua engaged in nursing, she wrote to Emma I. Chase, one of the defendants, offering to make her and her husband, Joseph W. Chase, another defendant, her beneficiaries of the fund in controversy. This letter was lost, but it said nothing about the Chases paying the dues or assessments. In answer to this letter, Joseph W. Chase wrote a letter to her, thanking her for making him a beneficiary, saying that he would pay the assessments, and giving her directions about sending her certificate, and getting a new one in exchange. On November 28, 1892, Clementine N. Towne, then being in Nashua, returned her benefit certificate, and directed that a new one be issued to her, “ Payable to Joseph W. Chase, $1,000, Emma I. Chase, $1,000. Not any relation.” The names of the Chases in the application, and the words, “ Not any relation,” are in the handwriting of Joseph W. Chase, who had formerly been an officer in Wachusett Commandery, but in 1892 he was not an officer. The application and old certificate were sent by Clementine N. Towne by mail, and received at Clinton by Sarah A. Seaward, the Keeper of Records of Wachusett Commandery, and by her forwarded to the Supreme Keeper of Records at Knoxville, Tennessee. A benefit certificate was returned to Seaward, reciting that it was “ issued to Clementine N. Towne,” and naming as beneficiaries Joseph W. Chase and Emma I. Chase. The officers who attested the delivery of this certificate lived in Clinton, and were officers of Wachusett Commandery, as described in the certificate. It is under this certificate that Joseph W. Chase and Emma I. Chase claim this fund. Mrs. Seaward and the other witnesses signed the certificate, and she then sent it by mail to Clementine N. Towne, at Nashua. At the time the witnesses signed the certificate, and prior to its being mailed in Clinton, Clementine N. Towne had not signed it; she signed it in Nashua, and subsequently sent it by mail to Joseph W. Chase, by whom it was received. Clementine N. Towne did not come to Clinton during the transaction, but remained in Nashua. Since the time of the issuing of the certificate in favor of the Chases, they have paid the assessments becoming due, because of the interest of Clementine N. Towne in the benefit fund of the Supreme Commandery. At the time of the issuing of the certificate, Clementine N. Towne was indebted to Joseph W. Chase to the amount of about forty dollars for payments of assessments and dues. Joseph W. Chase had borrowed $300 of Clementine N. Towne before the certificate was issued to him and his wife, and given his promissory note therefor, and still owed Clementine N. Towne about $25 on this note at the time of her death. Clementine N. Towne was not a relative of the Chases, or a member of their family; nor were they, or either of them, dependent upon her. The defendant Merrick was duly appointed administrator of the estate of Clementine N. Towne, and as such claims the fund in question. Such decree was to be entered as this court should order.