INSURANCE APPEAL

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 153, 25 March 1937, Page 11

INSURANCE APPEAL

Major Who Committed

Suicide

London, March 23. Stating that it was clear that Major Charles Rowlandson deliberately committed suicide in order to allow his estate to collect insurance, the Appeal Court allowed the appeal of the Royal Insurance Company against the judgment for £42,469 in favour of Mrs. Beresford.

Lord Wright, iu giving judgment, said that however absolute in terms an insurance policy might be, “while it remains the law that self-murder is a felony, the court must apply the general principles of not allowing a criminal or his representative to reap the fruits of the crime.”

Major Beresford made a cross appeal against the jury’s former decision that Rowlandson was sane when be committed suicide, but the hearing was deferred.

The question of appeal to the House of Lords on the main issue was adjourned pending decision on the cross appeal.

Major Rowlandson, who was invalided after the World War and later lost a_ fortune in business, was insured in 1925 for £Bl,OOO. He surrendered £30,000, and loans reduced the remainder. He was unable to pay a premium of £454 due on June 16, 1934, and obtained extensions until 3 o’clock on August 3. On that day, just before the period of grace expired, he shot himself. The question of liability of the Royal Insurance Company to pav the insurance has been the subject of litigation, and last July Rowlandson was found sane in a jury case argued before Mr. Justice Swift. The action was brought by Mrs. de la I‘oer Beresford on behalf of creditors.