Horace Gray

“ This case is governed by a uniform series of decisions of this court, establishing that if one whose life is insured intentionally kills himself when his reasoning faculties are so far impaired by insanity that he is unable to understand the moral character of his act, even if he does understand its physical nature, consequence, and effect, it is not a 'suicide,' or 'self-destruction,' or 'dying by his own hand,' within the meaning of those words in a clause excepting such risks out of the policy, and containing no further words expressly extending the exemption to such a case. ”

“ The act, whether described by words of Saxon or of Latin origin, or partly of the one and partly of the other,-'dying by his own hand,' 'self-killing,' 'self-slaughter,' 'suicide,' 'self-destruction,' without more, cannot be imputed to a man who, by reason of insanity, (as is commonly said,) 'is not himself.'
The added words, 'in any form,' clearly relate only to the manner of killing; the word 'disease,' unrestricted by anything in the context, includes disease of the mind as well as disease of the body ”

“ In Crandal's Case, it was accordingly held that a policy of insurance against 'bodily injuries, effected through external, accidental, and violent means,' and occasioning death or complete desability to do business, but excepting 'death or disability, caused wholly or in part by bodily infirmities or disease, or by suicide or self-inflicted injuries,' covered death by hanging one's self while insane ”