The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-12


TIE riEhf "a man to commit suicide
Is question which belongs to the do
main Of morals. but since such an act
involves the rights ard responsibilities
OF others. IL has also status In juris-
prudence. which has never. however.
been absolutely determined. From time
immemorial Ii has been regarded by
most authorities as crime. but in later
days there Is disposition to consider
1t an accident. The supreme court Of
Missouri has recently rendered a de-
cision which is OK very great interest
TO the families of suicides who have
life Insurance
The Missouri statutes provide that
even where there Is clause exempting
the insurance company from liability
In case Of suicide. 1t is imperative. The
accident within the meaning OF the
Missouri statute which provides against
the invaiida;ing Of obligations under
the ordinary life policy when death is
seif-imposed. Counsel for the beneficiary
under a policy issued TO a man who
killed himself argued that suicide Is ac-
cident not only de jure, but de facto. and
that it is inferentially declared 10 be
80 by the statute referred TO. The SD
prene court. adopting this view, af-
armed the decision OF the lower court
ordering payment in full of the policy.
No court, II Is TO be presumed, would
take such a view Of the matter unless
the state laws were similar 10 those OF
Missouri. Life insurance Is predicated
upon actuarial calculations, and the
premium is based upon the average Of
chances. II a court could declare that
a provision as To suicide should be in
operative although that were part of the
contract. II could take the same course
with reference 20 other hazards which
are eliminated from an ordinary life
policy. Sometimes courts and legisla-
lures interfere with the right Of CON
tract on the ground Of public policy.
bat no such justification would seem 10
be found In such case as this. Sui
eide is certainly against public policy.
and 1t is not easy ts discern any reason
for allowing a man ~ enter into an
agreement not 10 claim insurance If he
commit suicide. and then permit him
10 evads not only the law OF man. but
what We are accustomed 10 call the law
Of God. and afford the same benefit as
| n he had kept faith with one and re-
spected the ether.
A suicide under ancient laws was not
only regarded rs having committed a
crime. but the punishment was extended
even 10 his inanimatc remains. He was
buried at the cross roads and stake
driven through his body By the act OF
a felo IL Sc. the offender not only de-
priyed himsel: of the right Of Christian
burial. hat all his possession were for
tesged - the crown.
The United States courts have never
before taken the view now expressed
~ the Missouri court. and even In TIA:
state il has only hitherto been held that
suicide n case oI - Insurance shall
be 10 defense Oh the part II tina corn
pary. unless the insured contemplated
suicide when be took out thu policy.
The weight = authority is thar tha sui
eide % the insured VIII 10, aYee-t the
validity ~ TIE policy IN the absence <
the exemption provision. In New York
IS has been he'll ;hat where t,,e insured
taxes eat policy with the intention,
~ committing suicide. aud thus provide
s1r his family ana creditors. ana while
sane carries cat thas intention. the pol
icy Is void. although there be $50 pro-
vision - ,hat effect in the policy.
Whether tho policy should * void in
case II suicide while the Insured is La