McClure v. Mutual Life Insurance

Headnote

This was an action upon a policy of life insurance, containing the usual clause forfeiting it in case the assured died by his own hand. The assured committed suicide. It appeared upon the trial that he was, up to a short time prior to his. death, a genial, social, apparently happy man; that there was an entire change in these respects; that he became taciturn, absent-minded, moody and unhappy, complaining of severe neuralgiac pain in his head, and was restless and hag

gard in appearance; that, to those calling to see him upon business, he replied that they must call another time, as he could not sufficiently collect his thoughts. But -the proof showed, also, that he was greatly embarrassed, financially, and had appropriated moneys intrusted to him for investment, ” and received by him as treasurer of a plank-road company; and had committed forgeries, in one of which he had been detected, and that he could no longer prevent the discovery of others. Held, that plaintiff was properly nonsuited, as the evidence tended rather to show the knowledge of the deceased of his deplorable condition, the result of his dishonesty, than to prove insanity.