Up in Smoke

Well, the tale described here about the man who collected on an insurance policy after his cigars went up in smoke: as suspected, it is likely an urban myth.

The antecedent of the legend?  Possibly a joke about accountants that goes something like this:

"He's the kind of accountant you've got to admire. Last year he deducted eighty cartons of cigarettes from my income tax. Called it loss by fire!"

There is even a song out there about the legend.

[Meredith R. Miller -- h/t Skipp C. Galythly]