A public function

The applicant for life insurance was finding it difficult to fill out
the application. The salesman asked what the trouble was,
and the man said that he couldn't answer the question about
the cause of death of his father.

The salesman wanted to know why. After some embarrassment
the client explained that his father had been hanged.

The salesman pondered for a moment. "Just write: 'Father was
taking part in a public function when the platform gave way.'"