APPEAL AGAINST VERDICT

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1934, Page 7

APPEAL AGAINST VERDICT

INSURANCE ON ATLANTIQUE DOCUMENTS IN SWITZERLAND EXCITING DISCOVERY MADE IMPORTANT PROOFS FOUND By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Rec. 5.5 p.m. London, March 29. A party of Englishmen after an. exciting journey to Switzerland obtained documents which will enable the underwriters immediately to appeal against the Paris court’s verdict of £2,000,000 insurance on the liner I’Atlantique. The documents not only prove that important facts of the steamer’s construction were withheld when she was reinsured but also connect the Stavisky gang with the fire. The French luxury liner L’Atlantique was gutted by fire, caused by incendiarism, in the English Channel on January 4, 1933, while proceeding to Le Havre for repairs. No passengers were on board and most of the crew were rescued but 14 lives were lost. The vessel was towed to Cherbourg but after investigation the task of refitting was found to be impossible. The insurances were held in Britain and a French Court decided after a protracted hearing that the sum of £2,000,000 must be paid.