COMMITTED SUICIDE FOR INSURANCE

Northern Advocate, 24 March 1937, Page 7

COMMITTED SUICIDE FOR INSURANCE

Appeal Court Finding in

Rowlandson Case

(Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, March 23. Stating that it was clear that Major Rowlandson had deliberately committed suicide 'to allow his estate to collect the insurance, Lord Wright, in the Appeal Court, allowed the Royal Insurance Company’s appeal against the decision of Mr. Justice Swift last July in favour of Mrs. Delapoer Beresford, 'who claimed payment of £42,469 as realisation of insurance policies held by her uncle, who shot himself in a taxi in a London street in August, 1934, three minutes before the policy became void.

Lord Wright, giving his judgment, said that, however absolute in terms the insurance policy might be, “while it remains in law' that selfmurder is a felony, the court must apply the general principle of not allowing a criminal, or his representatives to reap the fruits of the

crime.”

Mrs. Beresford cross‘appealed against the jury’s formal decision that Rowlandson was sane when he committed suicide, but the hearing was deferred.

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