UNUSUAL CLAIM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3921, 21 March 1929, Page 2

UNUSUAL CLAIM.

Hamilton, March. 20. An unusual compensation claim was heard in the Arbitration Court to-day Iby Judge Frazer and assessors when the widow of John Hill claimed £930 from the Wiaipa Collieries, Limited. Deceased with a mate was running a trolley over a. viaduct on the company's railway line in November, 1927, when he collided with another trolley. ©oth were injured, Hill’s ankle |being broken and his head severely hurt. Later he committed suicide by cutting his throat. The widow claimed that the suicide was due to Ms (becoming insane as the result of an accident. Theodore Ediward Herbert, who was Working with Hill at the time of the accident, described Hall hitherto as of a (cheerful disposition. After the accident he became despondent. His mental condition grew worse and lie began to imagine that some criminal charge was being hutched against hilm. He included his own solicitor in the list of persons conspiring against him. One day when he accompanied witness to Hamilton to see a doctor, Hill remarked: “They will get me to-day.” Witness asked “Who?” He replied: “The police.” Witness said Hill Made the journey to Hamilton in terror. Sarah Blanche Hill, widow of deceased, s'aid before the accident her husband had always been cheerful. After the accident he was a changed man and was always complaining of “his poor head.”- He slept very little and in Ms sleep used to live the accident over again.; He often said he felt he Was going mad. Then he began to get delusions about the police being after 'him. Doctors Gower and Joseph gave evidence for the plaintiff and Doctors E. C. Brewis and Douglas (the latter by affidavit) for the defence. Judge Erazer rem'arked that it was a pity the evidence of a specialist in mental diseases had not been called. Counsel agreed with the (Court to submit notes of the evidence to 'the superintendent of the Aivondale mental hospital for his opinion as to whether the evidence indicates .that Hill, received a mental shock.such as to render him progressively insane. Judgment Was reserved.