Ida M. Paul, as Administratrix v. the Travelers’ Insurance Company, Appellant

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court's judgment for the plaintiff, holding that the insurer was liable under the accident policy. The court interpreted the exclusion for "inhaling of gas" to apply only to voluntary, intelligent acts, and found the decedent's death was accidental and caused by external, violent means. Accordingly, the policy's coverage applied and the insurer must pay the death benefit.