DID ACCIDENT CAUSE INSANITY?

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6864, 20 March 1929, Page 6

DID ACCIDENT CAUSE INSANITY?

Unusual Compensation Claim MINER’S DELUSIONS DRIVE HIM TO SUICIDE Per Press Association. HAMILTON, Last Night. An unusual compensation claim was heard in the Arbitration Court to-day by Judge Frazer and assessors when fho widow of John Hill claimed £930 from tho Waipa Collieries, Limited. Deceased with a mate was running a trolley over a viaduct on the company’s railway lino in November, 1927, when ho collided with another trolley. Both were injured, Hill’s ankle being broken and his head severely hurt. Later he committed suicide by cutting his throat. The widow claimed that the suicide was due to his becoming insane as the result of an accident. Theodore Edward Herbert, who was working with Hill at the time of the accident, described Hill Hitherto as of a cheerful disposition. After the accident he became despondent. His mental condition grew ■worse and he began to imagine tbut some criminal charge was being hatched against him. He 'included his own solicitor in the list of persons conspiring against him. One day when ho accompanied witness to Hamilton to see a doctor, Hill remarked: “They will get me to-day.'* Witness asked “Who 1 ” He replied “The police.” Witness said Hill made the journey to Hamilton in terror. >. Sarah Blanche Hill, widow of deceased, said before the accident her husband had always been cheerfulAfter the accident ho was a changed man and was always complaining of f 1 his poor head.” Ho slept very little and in his sleep used to live the accident over again. He often sard ho felt ho was going mad. /• Then he began to get delusions about the police being after him. Doctors Gower and o.Tseph gave evidence for the plaintiff rtnd Doctors E. C. Brewis and Douglas (tho latter by affidavit) for the defence. Doctors Gower and Joseph gave eyia pity the evidence of a specialist in mental diseases had not. been called. Counsel agreed with tho Court to submit notes of tho evidence to the superintendent of the Avondale mental hospital for his opinion as to whether the evidence indicates that Hill received a mental shock such as to Tender him progressively insane. Judgment was reserved.