The Cotton Factory Times. — 1909-09-10 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

SUICIDE AND COMPENSATION.  A PRESTON CLAIM.  JUDGMENT RESERVED.  The hearing wee resumed at Preston County Court, on Tueeday, before Judge Hans Hamilton, of the application by Sarah Johnson, widow, 205, Brockholos View, Preston, for compensation from Messrs. Hormel-see, Crowdson, and Co., Ltd-, cotton manufacturers, Fish-wick Mill, in respect of the death of her hueband, John Johnson, an oiler. The Gees was opened on August 24th. The evidence in support of the application, given at the first hearing, WEIS that Johnson had been employed by the respondents for a number of yearn as an oiler. On October 22.1, 1500, he net with an accident while oiling the shafting in the gearing alloy, and was afterwards paid compensation at the rate of 9s. per week. After the accident he suffered from pains in the head and sleepleeenees, and wee medically attended. On April 23rd laet the compensation wee ~topped, and on the 30th he committed suicide by hanging. The point which the Judge was asked to decide was whether the man had committed euicide as the result of pain and depression which the accident had forood him into.  Dr. Walter Sykes, eye and ear specialist, Preston, depcsed to examining Johnson on April 23rd. He found nothing in his eyes or ears to account for the headache from which he suffered. He appeared to be very depreßwed. - . . .  , Mr. Taylor: It is imposs' ibis, I suppoee, to say why Johnson committed suicide?  'skittle.: Ono may give an opinion. Btu it is impoesible to .ay definitely why ho did it?—Yen.  Mr. Fazaokerley: Wag the accident the dominating cause of the depremion?—,Nitness: Yee, in my opinion  IE9 Honour: And did you come to the conclusion that theTheadachee wore caused by the accident?— Witnere: Yee.  And you think he did away with himself as the reeult of depression caused by the aocident?—Yes. Dr. Jam. A. Rigby, Preston, deposed to deceased consulting him on April 24th last From what Johneon mid to him he made an examination, an& came to the conclusion that his condition might have teen caused by a fracture of the Anil at the time of the accident. In witne.'s opinion Johnson committed suicide from 'melancholic de possion( due to the loss of sloep and headache caused by the: accident. He did not think the stoppage of pay was the cause. This ele,d the case for the applicant, and Mr. Tayler submitted that there was no Cane to answer. It wan neccatary for the applicant to prove three thinp—first, an accident; second, injury; and third, that death resulted horn the injury. It was not enough to prove that death might have been the remit of the injury. The role onus of proving that death was the actual result of the injury wan upon the applicant. He contended that there was no evidence to satisfy the onus of proof. his Honour said there was ample evidence in his mind that the series of facts as they stood showed that the man Johnson took away his life in consequence of many reasons, coupk•d with the fact of the accident. It would be necessary to cat upon the respondents. Mr. Taylor then proceeded to call evidence, his first witnees being Samuel Laraway, bookkeeper in the employ of the respondents, who mid that six mantle prior to the accident Johnson had complained to him of pains in his stomach and head, and he had several times given him recommends to the Infirmary. He was off work frequently with pairs in the stomach, and was dwpressed when the attacks were upon him. About 11 30 on the morning of April 30th witness had a conversation with him, and he then complained of stomach pains, though he appeared rational. Later the same day Johnson committed suicide. William Thompson, watchman at the mill, also spoke to Johnson having complained of his stornach being like "a lump of lead" before the accident. He was deproned on those oce..ions. William Adams, who had been sent to Johnson's house in June, 1908, to see how Johnson wan, said Johnson remarked on that oocasion that he felt . if he was going to "peg out." Dr. Ramsay stated that he treated Johnson for dyspepsia in March, 1906, and added that he was called to Johnean'e house after he had committed suicide.—ln cross-examination, he said pains in  the head would C. 1., depremiOn, and might cause a man to commit suicide. It was the same with pains in the stomach_ Dr. W. H. Irvin Sellers said he examined Johnson on April 17th, and came to the conclusion that he was, suffering from a tmnour, probably malignant, in the stomach. There were no signs of injury to the head. At the time Johnson had apparently recovered from the effects of the accident. His Honour said he would reserve judgment.