Wodell v. John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance

This action is brought by the widow of St. Clair A. Wodell upon five paid up policies insuring his life issued by the defendant in 1917, in all of which the plaintiff was originally named as beneficiary. A report upon a case stated brings the case here.

On May 13, 1944, the insured changed the beneficiary in accordance with a right reserved in each policy and substituted his own estate for the plaintiff as beneficiary. On May 15, 1944, he surrendered the policies in accordance with the provisions thereof and received the full cash surrender value, amounting to $2,845. On May 13, 1944, and May…