{ "id": 8656653, "name": "SARAH F. SPRUILL v. NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY", "name_abbreviation": "Spruill v. Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance", "decision_date": "1897-02", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "141", "last_page": "151", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "120 N.C. 141" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "95 U. S., 380", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 3385225 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/95/0380-01" ] }, { "cite": "22 Wall., 32", "category": "reporters:scotus_early", "reporter": "Wall.,", "case_ids": [ 3409202 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/89/0032-01" ] }, { "cite": "118 N. C., 215", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8652907 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/118/0215-01" ] }, { "cite": "110 N. C., 507", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11274091 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/110/0507-01" ] }, { "cite": "108 N. C., 522", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8651207 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/108/0522-01" ] }, { "cite": "97 N. C., 393", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8650537 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/97/0393-01" ] }, { "cite": "47 N. Y., 54", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "13 C. B., 916", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "C.B.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "63 N. C., 335", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11277347 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/63/0335-01" ] }, { "cite": "71 N. C., 451", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11278636 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/71/0451-01" ] }, { "cite": "108 N. C., 100", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8649951 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/108/0100-01" ] }, { "cite": "94 N. C., 965", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8652670 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/94/0965-01" ] }, { "cite": "89 N. C., 462", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8683375 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/89/0462-01" ] }, { "cite": "84 N. C., 176", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8688696 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/84/0176-01" ] }, { "cite": "81 N. C., 245", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8688248 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/81/0245-01" ] }, { "cite": "99 N. C., 523", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8650836 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/99/0523-01" ] }, { "cite": "32 S. W. Rep., 1066", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "34 Wis., 389", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Wis.", "case_ids": [ 8707463 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/wis/34/0389-01" ] }, { "cite": "70 Mo., 27", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mo.", "case_ids": [ 8851171 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mo/70/0027-01" ] }, { "cite": "85 N. Y., 318", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "6 Bissell, 238", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "Biss.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "64 Vt., 78", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Vt.", "case_ids": [ 2357843 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/vt/64/0078-01" ] }, { "cite": "25 Fed. Rep., 315", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 5713166 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f/25/0315-01" ] }, { "cite": "150 U. S., 468", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 3571650 ], "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/150/0468-01" ] }, { "cite": "127 U. S., 661", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 3532431 ], "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/127/0661-01" ] }, { "cite": "76 Iowa, 346", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Iowa", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "55 N. Y., 169", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 517441 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ny/55/0169-01" ] }, { "cite": "65 N. Y., 235", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "93 U. S., 284", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 5646196 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/93/0284-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 911, "char_count": 19496, "ocr_confidence": 0.447, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.6533256904573524e-06, "percentile": 0.9930519115207103 }, "sha256": "c885123cfc18239f12f5331a24df46468ff0685ee6f47d833fb35b88cf2cc03f", "simhash": "1:372aa56a5800d482", "word_count": 3470 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:07:11.774475+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "SARAH F. SPRUILL v. NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Douglas, J.:\nThis is an action by Mrs. Sarah F Spruill against the Northwestern Life Insurance Co. to recover the amount of a policy of insurance issued to her as beneficiary upon the life of her husband, William T. Spruill. The policy issued on the 2nd day of October, 1894, provided that if, within two years from the date thereof, \u201cthe said assured shall, whether sane or insane, die by his own hand, then this policy shall be null and void.\u201d The assured died on the 24 th day of July, 1895, from the effects of a \u201cpistol shot in his own hands,\u201d as stated in the proof of loss furnished to the defendant by the plaintiff, as required by the terms of the policy. The complaint, among other material allegations, alleged: \u201cThat on the 24th day of July, 1895, at and in the county of Nash, the said William T. Spruill died,\u201d without stating in any manner the cause of his death. The answer of defendant company set up, as a complete defence against any recovery, the date and terms of the policy, and the date and manner of death of the assured, as above set forth. The court held that the burden of proof rested upon the defendant.\nDuring the progress of the trial the plaintiff proposed to ask one W. T. Clark, her own witness, as to the mental condition of the assured at the time of the killing. The defendant objected, the objection was sustained and the plaintiff excepted. There is no error in the exclusion of such testimony, as in our view of the law, as applicable to policies like the one in suit, the mental condition of the assured at the time of the killing is entirely immaterial. It is well settled that under the old forms of life insurance policies, in which it was provided that the insurer should not he liable if the assured \u201c committed suicide\u201d or \u201cdied by his own hand,\u201d the policy was not vitiated when the assured was insane at the time of. suicide. Borradaile v. Hunter, 5 Mann. & Gr., 668; Life Insurance Co. v. Terry, 15 Vall., 580; Bigelow v. Berkshire Ins. Co., 93 U. S., 284, and a long line of decisions identical therewith in the large majority of the States.\nIn view of these decisions the insurance companies began to insert the words used in this policy, or words equivalent thereto. As the expressions \u2018 \u2018committed suicide\u2019 \u2019 and \u2018 \u2018died by his own hands\u201d were held synonymous, the words added thereto, \u201csane or insane,\u201d or \u201cfeloniously or otherwise,\u201d are regarded as equally synonymous and intended to protect the insurer from all liability where the assured committed suicide, whether sane or insane, and regardless of the degree of insanity.\nAfter careful consideration, we are of opinion that such is the legal effect of the provisions of this policy. A policy of insurance is a contract and should be construed like all other contracts in such a way as to carry out the manifest intention of the parties, unless some of its provisions, conditions or limitations are contrary to law or to public policy. It was clearly the intention of the policy of insurance in this case to protect the insurer from all liability for any form of suicide, and we do not see how such protective conditions are in any way in violation of law or of any settled rule of public policy. Nor is the liability\u2019- of the insurer affected bythe degree of insanity, the word \u201cinsane\u201d implying every degree of unsoundness of mind.\nThe distinction drawn by some eminent authorities in cases of self-killing by-an insane person, \u201cwhether his unsoundness of mind is such as to prevent him from understanding the physical nature and consequences of his act or only such as to prevent him, while foreseeing and premeditating its physical. consequences, from understanding its moral nature and aspect,\u201d does not commend itself to our better judgment. It seems to belong rather to the domain of speculative pyschology than to the practical administration of the law. \u25a0\nThe determination of that shadowy line between mental twilight and night, where the last faint rays of reason, resting for a moment on the horizon of the mind, fade away into utter darkness, is practically beyond the power of finite understanding, and, to the jury, would necessarily be a matter of mere speculation, depending more upon their sympathy than their judgment. Of course the above rule does not include death by accident or mistake, such as the accidental discharge of a pistol in the hands of the assured, or poison, or an overdose of medicine taken by .mistake. There must be at least physically some suicidal intent, no matter how far removed from a responsible mental operation. We believe this rule to be in accordance with the better line of decisions prevailing in the majority of courts. In the leading and well considered case of De Gogorza v. Knickerbocker Life Insurance Co., 65 N. Y., 235, the court says: \u201cWe have therefore only to consider the interpretation to be given to the language of the contract of insurance, for no question is made but that it was fully understood and agreed to by both parties. It can scarcely be doubted that an insurer of the life of a person may by apt language guard himself from liability for all disasters if the es em ption does not contravene public policy. He may provide that if the assured shall die of the small pox, or any other specific disease of the body, he would not be liable, and there appears to be no reason why he may not guard himself against liability if death results from a,ny disease of the mind. Indeed, it is said by Rapallo, J., in Van Zandt v. Insurance Co., 55 N. Y., 169, \u2018that no rational doubt can be entertained that a condition exempting the insurers from liability in case of the death of the assured by his own hand, whether sane or insane, would be valid if mutually agreed upon between the insurer and the insured,\u2019 and then in substance adds \u2018that if nothing is said with respect to insanity, the result is that a party does not die by his own hand\u2019 if his death happens from the involuntary act of a madman. This view of the question is but a very concise and accurate statement of the law as announced in cases previously adjudged. * * * The word \u2018insane\u2019 or \u2018insanity\u2019 ordinarily implies every degree of the unsoundness of mind, and in this case we assume that the assured was in the very last degree mad or insane, so that the mere act of self-destruction was wholly involuntary.\u201d\nAfter reviewing some of the leading cases the court concludes: \u201cWe prefer to place our decision upon the ground that the words of the proviso in the policy before us, by plain rules of interpretation, exempt the insurer from liability. That this language, in view of previous decisions, was inserted for such a purpose, cannot be doubted and that it was agreed to by both the insured and the insurer is not questioned,, and that it is a provision allowed by law no one denies. We are to say from these words what the parties must have intended, and we cannot properly say that additional words having no meaning were inserted in the contract, and if they mean anything it is just what the words commonly import, and tbat is, if death ensues from any physical movement of the hand or body of the assured, proceeding from a partial or total eclipse of the mind, the insurer goes free. \u20195\nIn Scarth v. Life Society. 76 Iowa, 346, the court says: \u201cWe think that the better rule, and the logical conclusion of all the above cases, is, that the condition in the policy was intended to include self-destruction, no matter what the mental condition of the insured was at the time of the act which caused the death. Of course, the policy was never intended to include death by accident, as by taking poison by mistake, the accidental discharge of a gun or pistol held in the hands of the insured, or the like. It means all suicidal acts, whether such as are demonstrated as criminal or such as are the offspring of insanity.\u201d This construction appears to have been subsequently followed in the Supreme Court of the United States, as well as New York and the majority of the leading insurance States. Bigelow v. Insurance Co., supra; Insurance Co. v. McConkey, 127 U. S., 661; Insurance Co. v. Akens, 150 U. S., 468; Raley v. Ins. Co., 25 Fed. Rep., 315; Billings v. Ins. Co., 64 Vt., 78; Chapman v. Ins. Co., 6 Bissell, 238; Penfold v. Ins. Co., P. 85 N. Y., 318; Adkins v. Ins. Co., 70 Mo., 27; Pierce v. Ins. Co., 34 Wis., 389; Life Asso. v. Payne, (Texas), 32 S. W. Rep., 1066.\nIn Connecticut Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Akens, supra, tbe court, while affirming the judgment in favor of the plaintiff, distinctly recognized the principle herein adopted by the following distinction (p. 475): \u201cThe clause (then under construction) contains no such significant and decisive words as \u2018die by suicide, sane or insane\u2019 as in Bigelow v. Berkshire, &c., supra, or \u2018by suicide, felonious or otherwise, sane or insane\u2019 as in Insurance Co. v. McConkey, 127 U. S., 661.\u201d\nIn the case before us any possible hardship arising from the exclusion of all liability for death from suicide is met by the termination of this condition after the lapse of two years from the date of the policy, which then becomes in-contestible. The question of the possible waiver of such a condition by the acceptance of premiums after the insured was wholly or partially insane, or threatened with insanity, is not before us.\nThe only exception remaining for us to consider is that of the plaintiff to the action of the trial judge in directing the jury to answer the issue in the affirmative. The only issue was as follows: \u201cDid William T. Spruill die by his own hand within two years from the date of the policy sued on?\u201d The force of this exception depends upon the consideration of several important principles. The action of the judge can be sustained only under the doctrine, firmly established in this State, that where there is no evidence, or a mere scintilla of evidence, or the evidence is not sufficient, in a just and reasonable view of it, to warrant an inference of any fact in issue, the court should not leave the issue to be passed upon by the jury, but should direct a verdict against the pwrt/y upon whom the hurlen of proof rests. Covington v. Newberger, 99 N. C., 523, citing Brown v. Kinsey, 81 N. C., 245; Best v. Frederick, 84 N. C., 176; State v. White, 89 N. C., 462; State v. Powell, 94 N. C., 965. That the verdict should be directed against tbe party on whom rests the burden of proof, is the essence of the rule'. We have examined the large number of citations in the elaborate brief of the learned counsel for the defendant, and cannot find a single case of a direction to the contrary. In Purifoy v. Railroad, 108 N. C., 100, the direction was in favor of tbe defendant upon a counter claim as well as the original cause of action, but they both depended upon tbe same state of facts, and as there was no conflict in the testimony, the case practically resolved itself into mere questions of law'.- The doctrine under dicussion is of English origin and of comparatively recent acceptance in this State.' The case of Wittkowsky v. Wasson, 71 N. C., 451, was apparently the first authoritative exposition of the doctrine as it now stands, although citing the case of State v. Vinson, 63 N. C., 335. The former case, emphasized by the qualified assent of Justice Reade and the unqualified dissent of Justice Bynum, cites with the wmrmest approval the following quotation from the opinion of Welles, J., delivered in the English Court of Exchequer Chamber, to wit: \u201cThere is'in every case a preliminary question which is one of law, viz., whether there is any evidence on which the jury could properly find the question for the party on whom the onus of proof lies. If there is not, the judge ought to withdraw the question from the jury and direct a non-suit if the onus is on the plaintiff, or direct a verdict for the plaintiff if the onus is on the defendant. It was formerly considered necessary in all cases to leave the question to the jury if there was any evidence, even a scintilla, in support of the case, but it is now settled that the question for the judge (subject, of course, to review is as stated by Maul\u00e9, J., in Jewell v. Parr, 13 C. B., 916: 76 E. C. L. R., not whether there is literally no evidence, bub whether there is none that ought reasonably to satisfy the jury that the fact sought to be proved is estalished.\u201d Reade, J., assenting, says: \u201cI assented to the decision as delivered in the opinion of Brother Rodman, upon the explanation therein, that it was not to be interpreted as an innovation , upon the established rule that the jury are the sole judges of the weight of evidence without any intimation of opinion on the part of the judge.\u201d The rule laid down in that opinion is now too firmly established to be' questioned, but it can be carried no further without dangerously infringing upon constitutional provisions.\nHis Honor had already ruled that the burden of proof rested upon the delendant, and we think properly so. The presumption is always against suicide, as it is contrary to the general conduct of mankind. Mallory v. Ins. Co., 47 N. Y., 54, cited and approved in Insurance Co. v. McConkey, supra ; Insurance Co. v. Akens, supra.\nIt is further held that where the words of a policy do not clearly indicate the intention of the parties, the courts should lean to that interpretation which is most favorable to the assured. McConkey\u2019s case, supra, citing a large number of cases.\nIf the verdict of a jury is in the opinion of the court against the weight of evidence, it can be set aside, and to the proper exercise of this discretion there can be no objection. But to permit the judge to pass upon the sufficiency of the evidence necessary to rebut a legal presumption without submission to the jury would infringe upon the exclusive powers of the jury. Hardison v. Railroad, at this terra. The determination of the necessary character and legal effect of that evidence belongs to the court as a question of law, but its weight must be left with the jury as a matter of fact. Wittkowsky v. Wasson, supra; Best v. Frederick, 84 N. C., 176; State v. Powell, 94 N. C., 965; State v. McBryde, 97 N. C., 393; Powers v. Erwin, 108 N. C., 522; State v. Chancy, 110 N. C., 507; Young v. Alford, 118 N. C., 215, and numerous other oases. The rule laid down in some authorities that wherever the judge \u25a0would be justified in setting aside the verdict as against the weight of evidence, he would be equally justified in taking the case from the jury and directing a verdict, cannot receive our sanction. It is not the law in North Carolina, and never can be under our present Constitution. \u201cThe ancient mode of trial by jury'-, \u2019 \u2019 guaranteed by the Constitution, is that at common law, and is none the less the right of the citizen than it was of the subject. Direction of a verdict and granting a new trial are essentially different in nature and effect. The one regulates the trial by jury, the other denies it; the one recommits the case to the jury, the other takes it away completely; the one merely reopens 'the case for a fairer trial, while the other ends it without redress, save the precarious method of appeal, where findings of fact can be reviewed only from the meager notes of the judge and the uncertain recollection of counsel. The mere fact that the judge can never, save by waiver or consent, render a verdict, but can direct it only in the name of the jury, shows the intent aDd spirit of the law.\nThese principles are \u201cfundamental.\u201d and \u201ca frequent recurrence\u201d thereto is of constitutional obligation.\nThe issuing of the policy and the death of the assured, alleged in the complaint and admitted in the answer, made a prima facie case for the plaintiff. The onus was thus shifted by the pleadings to the defendant, and was assumed by it. After the conclusion of its oral testimony, the defendant read in evidence the proof of claim sent on to the defendant by the plaintiff, in which it was stated that the cause of death of the assured was \u201cpistol shot from his own hand.\u201d This statement, unexplained, was an admission of suicide, and at once shifted the burden of proof upon tire plaintiff. Insurance Co. v. Newton, 22 Wall., 32; Insurance Co. v. Higginbotham, 95 U. S., 380. The cause of death as given, when unes plained, negatives the accidental discharge of the pistol, for the expression \u201cdied by his own hand,\u201d which, in its broadest sense, might include accidental death, has been uniformly given by the courts a well recognized meaning as being equivalent to \u201csuicide.\u201d The plaintiff, though she went on the stand herself, in no wise contradicted this import of the words; nor did she testify to any facts tending to show she had used them by mistake or inadvertence. Her admission, unexplained and uncontradicted, justified his Honor\u2019s direction to the jury.\nNo error.", "type": "majority", "author": "Douglas, J.:" } ], "attorneys": [ "Messrs. F. 8. Spruill and G. M. Cooke & Son, for plaintiff (appellant).", "Messrs. Battle (& Mordeeai and F. H. Busbee, for defendant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "SARAH F. SPRUILL v. NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.\nAction on Life Insurance Policy \u2014 Life Insurance \u2014 Contract\u2014 Suicide by Insured \u2014 Sane or Insane \u2014 \u25a0 Trial \u2014 Presumption\u2014 Rebuttal \u2014 Directing Verdict \u2014 Sufficiency of Evidence \u2014 Burden of Proof.\n1. A clause in a policy of insurance inserted and intended to protect the insurer from all liability for any form of suicide, whether the assured be sane or insane, is not illegal or contrary to any well settled rule of public-policy or morals.\n2. Where a policy of life insurance provides that it shall become void if the assured shall die by his own hand, whether sane or insane, it is immaterial what the mental condition of the assured who dies . by his own hand is at the time of his death, the liability of the insurer not being affeeted by the degree of insanity; and. in the trial of an action on such a policy testimony as' to the mental condition of the assured, who died by his own hand, was properly excluded.\n3. Where there is no evidence, or a mere scintilla of evidence, or the evidence is not sufficient, in a just and reasonable view of it to warrant an inference of any fact in issue, the Court should direct a verdict against the party upon whom the onus of proof rests.\n4. In the trial of an action on a life insurance policy which provided that it should be void if assured died by his own hand, sane or insane, within two years from date of policy, the only issue was, \u201c Did the assured die by his own hand within two years from the date of the policy sued oh? \u201d A prima facie case being made for the plaintiff by proof of the issuance of the policy and death of the assured, the defendant read in evidence the \u201cproof of loss\u201d furnished it by plaintiff, in which it was stated that the cause of death was \u201c a pistol shot in his own hand,\u201d within two years from date of policy. Such statement was neither contradicted nor explained by plaintiff. Held, that the proof of such statement and admission in the \u201c proofs of loss \u201d shifted the burden of proof upon the plaintiff and, there being no contradiction or explanation of such statement, it was not error to direct a verdict against the plaintiff,\n5. The expression, \u201c died by his own hand,\u201d in a policy of insurance or proof of death thereunder, is equivalent to \u201csuicide.\u201d\nCivil aotioN, tried before Boykvn, J., and a jury, at April Term, 1896, of FRANKLIN Superior Court. The nature of the action and the facts are stated in the opinion of the court!\nMessrs. F. 8. Spruill and G. M. Cooke & Son, for plaintiff (appellant).\nMessrs. Battle (& Mordeeai and F. H. Busbee, for defendant." }, "file_name": "0141-01", "first_page_order": 169, "last_page_order": 179 }