Case ID: ny-st-rep_30/html/0874-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Parker, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Carrie L. Meacham (formerly Hay), Resp’t, v. The New York State Mutual Benefit Association, App’lt.
    
    
      (Court of Appeals, Second Division,
    
    
      Filed April 15, 1890.)
    
    1. Benefit societies—Construction of application—“temperate.”
    The word “ temperate,” as used in an application for insurance, suggests moderation, not abstinence; and the warranty is to the effect that the applicant’s habit is to refrain from excessive indulgence in the use of intoxicants and not that he abstains from all use.
    3. Same—Suicide.
    The taking of his own life by insured is not in “violation of the laws of the land,” although the attempt to commit suicide is.
    3. Same.
    Defendant’s by-laws provide that it shall not be liable when a member has died from suicide, if committed within two years from date of certificate of membership. Insured died by his own hand within eleven days. Held, that whether it was voluntary or the result of an insane impulse was a question for the jury to decide in the light of the whole evidence.
    Atpeal from a judgment of the general term, fourth department, entered on an order affirming a judgment of the circuit in favor of the plaintiff.
    The action was brought to recover the sum of $2,000 claimed to be due upon a certificate or policy of insurance issued upon the life of Charles E. Hay, then the husband of'the plaintiff.
    The application was made August 12, 1884; the certificate bears the date of two days later; and on the 23rd of that month Hay died by his own hand. Other facts appear in the opinion.
    
      T. K. Fuller, for app’lt; A. P. Smith, for resp’t.
    
      
       Affirming 12 N. Y. State Rep., 325.
    
   Parker, J.

The exception taken to the refusal of the court to nonsuit the plaintiff at the close of the testimony presents-the only question reviewable here. Several grounds are assigned for error because óf such refusal. By -the terms of the contract of insurance the representations and answers of the insured embraced within the application for membership or physician’s certificate are made warranties. And unless substantially true the policy is invalid. The application contained the following questions and answers:

“ Q. Is applicant temperate and correct in his habits ? A. Yes.
Q. Does applicant' promise to remain temperate. A. Yes.”

The appellant contends that the representations made were ■untrue, ana that the promise was not fulfilled, and as a result the policy became of no effect.

With reference to the first answer, the defendant’s evidence tended to show that Hay drank frequently for a few days prior and subsequent to the date of the, policy of insurance; that during that time he had been in the company of bad women in Owego, and had been drunk.

With the exception of proof of intoxication on one occasion, the evidence introduced for the purpose of establishing that his habits were intemperate, or otherwise incorrect, was confined to a period of about fifteen days preceding his death. On the part of the plaintiff, witnesses who had known him all his life, or for a long time, testified that he was temperate and not accustomed to drinking, and that his habits were good. Evidence was also presented tending to show that he was not in Owego at the time fixed by defendants as the occasion when he, it is claimed, was intoxicated and in company with a lewd woman. We do not think the evidence authorized the court to hold, as a matter of law, that Hay was not temperate within the meaning of the policy. This court said in Van Valkenburgh v. American Popular Life Insurance Co., 70 N. Y., 605, that the question do you “use any intoxicating liquors or substances ” does “ not direct the mind to a single or incidental use, but to a customary, or habitual use.” Much less, therefore, does an inquiry as to whether an applicant be temperate call his attention to occasional use. The word u temperate ” suggests moderation, not abstinence; and the warranty is to the effect that his habit is to refrain from excessive indulgence in the use of intoxicants and not that he abstains from all use. The evidence, therefore, presented a question of fact for the determination of the jury as to whether at the time of the application he was temperate. Whether he substantially kept his promise to continue temperate was in view of the evidence also a question of fact. Eor he had not engaged to entirely forbear the use of intoxicants, but rather that he would not habitually and excessively indulge in such use.

In his application the insured agreed to be bound by and subject to the by-laws and regulations of the defendant’s association. Therein it is provided that, “ this association does not hold itself liable for the payment of any claim when the member has died in violation of the laws of the land.” * * * The insured having taken Ms own life, it is urged that it was done in violation of the laws of the land. If we could assume that Hay was sane at the moment he fired the revolver, nevertheless appellant’s contention would be denied on the authority of Darrow v. Family Fund Society, 116 N. Y., 537; 27 N. Y. State Rep., 474. It is there held that suicide is not a crime within this state, although the attempt to commit suicide is. The by-laws further provide that the association shall not be liable when a member has died, “from suicide, if committed within two years from date of certificate of membership.”

Hay died by his own hand within eleven days ,after the issuance of the certificate. Unless, therefore, such self-destruction was the result of accident, mistake or insanity, or was involuntary because driven to it by an insane impulse, which disabled him from controlling Ms own action, Hay committed suicide within the meaning of the policy and it became void. Van Zandt v. Insurance Company, 55 N. Y., 169; Newton v. Insurance Company, 76 id., 426.

The letter written to his wife, evidently but a few minutes before the occurrence, considered with the other circumstances surrounding the event, does not permit the inference that it was occasioned by accident or mistake. Indeed no room is left for doubt, but that he fired the shot intending that death should result. But upon the trial the plaintiff sought to prove that the act was involuntary. That he was driven to it by an insane impulse which he could not control. To that end the plaintiff proved: that there was a strain of insanity in the family; that his great grandfather hung himself while-insane, and his grandmother’s sister had been confined in an asylum.

A letter to his wife was put in evidence, of which the following is an extract: “But this voice says, ‘die now.’ Darling, don’t give this revolver away until Clare is big enough to take care of it; then give it to him and tell him its history. * * * Oh, that voice is calling me. I think it is mother’s. How, darling, I bid you and all my friends, and the little darlings, an affectionate farewell forever, hoping we shall all meet in a fairer world than this, where everybody is our friends. How, wishing you all farewell, I am no more your unworthy husband, but almost a corpse. Good-bye, darling.”

Two physicians, who w.ere called as experts, after stating that insanity is looked for more readily in the descendants of an insane ancestor, expressed the opinion that Hay was insane when he terminated his existence. The fact that he was young, in good health, and had a wife and two young children, may also be said to have been entitled to consideration, in connection with all the other circumstances, in determining whether the act was voluntary or involuntary.

The evidence on the part of the defendant tended strongly to show that family difficulties, together with Hay’s misconduct, resulted in a determination on his part to relieve himself of the troubles that were burdening him, and at the same time provide for his family at the expense of the members of defendant’s association, and that the act was deliberate and wholly voluntary. That his death was the result of his own act was conceded. But whether it was voluntary, or the result of an insane impulse which he could not resist, was not in the light of the evidence adduced determinable as a matter of law. For an inference of fact was-permissible from the whole testimony that the act was involuntary. Whether it was or not, therefore, presented ‘a question for the jury. The views expressed lead to the conclusion that the denial of the motion for a non-suit was required. Ho exceptions were taken to the charge of the court.

The general term having affirmed the judgment of the circuit, we cannot consider whether the verdict was against the weight i of evidence. Smith v. Ætna Life Ins. Co., 49 N. Y., 211, cited by appellant, is not applicable. In that case the general term reversed the judgment on questions of .fact, and hence they were ppen to review in this court. Code Pro., § 268.

The judgment should be affirmed.

All concur, except Follett, Oh. J., not sitting, and Vann, J., not voting.