CLAIM FOR INSURANCE

Evening Star, Issue 22379, 1 July 1936, Page 9

CLAIM FOR INSURANCE

MAJOR'S SUICIDE IK TAXI COMPANY REFUSES TO PAY Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, June 30. The dramatic scenes when Major Charles Rowlandson, aged 58, committed suicide in a taxicab were recalled in the King’s Bench Division when his niece, Mrs de la Poer Beresford, on behalf of the creditors, sued -the Royal Insurance Company for £43,000. Sir William Jowitt, for the plaintiff, said that the company’s refusal to pay owing to suicide was unprecedented, except where the policy contained a clause concerning suicide. The present refusal was due to the company relying on the doctrine of public policy. _ Sir William Jowitt explained that Major Rowlandson was wounded in the South' African War, served in the Great War, and was invalided in 1918, after which he lost a fortune in business. Major Rowlandson insured in 1925 for £BI,OOO, and surrendered £30,000. Loans further reduced the remainder. The policy contained the usual clause regarding nonpayment! in the event of the insured committing suicide within a year, but Major Rowlandson died after the policy had been runping for 10 years. He was unable to pay a premium of £454 due on June 16, 1934, and obtained extensions until 3 o’clock on August 3. He vainly made an effort to raise the premium. When he received a refusal of a further extension the insurance company covered him' for another one and a-half hours, in which he visited a- solicitor and left a letter admitting that he was technically defrauding the company. He added; “ What l am going to do takes courage, blit if I go bankrupt many people who believe m. me may suffer terribly.” Major Rowlandson ‘ chartered a taxicab, and at between three and four minutes to 3 called the driver’s attention to the time and shot himself. Sir William Jowitt contended that, although the coroner returned a verdict that Major Rowlandson feloniously committed suicide the later evidence suggested that Major Rowlandson was insane. He had previously attempted to commit suicide by taking veronal. The hearing was adjourned.