Docket No. 245.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
on behalf of
Bessie Ellms Bloomfield,
Claimant,
v.
GERMANY.
PARKER, Umpire, rendered the decision of the Commission.
This case is before the Umpire for decision on a certificate of the two National Commissioners[a] certifying their disagreement. A brief statement of facts as disclosed by the record as follows:
Thomas Bloomfield, born in England of English parents, became by naturalization a citizen of the United States May 11, 1892. On January 19, 1901, he married Bessie Ellms, who was born and has ever remained an American citizen. There was no issue of this marriage. Thomas Bloomfield while a passenger was lost when the Lusitania was destroyed May 7, 1915. He was then 50 years of age and his surviving widow, this claimant, was then 48 years of age and wholly dependent on him for support. He left surviving him a mother, two brothers, and a married sister, all citizens of and residing in England, who were not dependent upon him and to whom he made no contributions.
The decedent had attended the University of Oxford, was graduated from the Law Department of Columbia University, New York, and was admitted to the bar of the States of New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Illinois. Since 1900 he had devoted himself almost entirely casualty underwriting and reinsurance brokerage business in New York at a salary of $6,000 per annum and was en route to London to arrange for carrying into effect a reinsurance program, in which he was interested with the president of the company employing him and which subsequent to his death has proven quite remunerative. The record justifies the conclusion that had he lived his income would have increased. He was in excellent health, physically strong, mentally alert, of pleasing address, and had the confidence, respect, and esteem of his associates.
No claim is made for personal property lost with the decedent on the Lusitania.
Applying the rules announced in the Lusitania Opinion to the facts as disclosed by the record, the Commission decrees that under the Treaty of Berlin of August 25, 1921, and in accordance with the terms of the Government of Germany is obligated to pay to the Government of the United States on behalf of Bessie Ellms Bloomfield the sum of forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000.00) (with interest thereon at the rate of five per cent per annum from November 1, 1923.
Done at Washington February 21, 1924.
EDWIN B. PARKER
Umpire.
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[a] Dated February 14, 1924.
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