Trojan Mining Co. v. Firemen's Insurance Co. of Baltimore

The Court. Action on a fire insurance policy. The policy contained the following clause: —

“It is agreed and understood that during such times as the above works are idle a watchman shall be employed by the assured, to be in and upon the premises day and night.”

The allegation in the complaint on that subject is as follows : “That at the time of such fire, and for some time prior thereto, [28]the ‘works of said corporation, so assured, as aforesaid, were idle, but during all said time a watchman was employed by plaintiff in and upon the premises day and .night, and said watchman was upop said premises at the time of said loss and damage, as aforesaid.”

The denial is as follows: “ And defendant denies, apd says it is not true, as alleged in said complaint, or at all, that during all the time the works of said corporation were idle, as alleged in said complaint, a watchman was in and upon the premises day and night.”

In the answer there is also an allegation as follows: “ That at the time said fire occurred, and for more than two hours prior thereto, no watchman was in and upon the premises upon which said works, insured as aforesaid, were situated.”

It is contended- by plaintiff, that the allegation of the complaint as to the watchman is not denied. The complaint states that a watchman was employed by plaintiff in and upon the premises day and night and was upon the premises at the time of the fire. The answer denies that a watchman was in and upon the premises day and night, and avers that at the time of the fire, and for more than two hours prior thereto, no watchman was in and upon the premises. The denial seems to us to be plain and unequivocal. The appellant urges that by the terms of the policy it was to employ a watchman to be in and upon the premises, and if the watchman stayed away, the insurer is not exonerated, under section 2629 of the Civil Code. If there is any difference in the meaning of the words used in the policy aud those used by the pleader, the latter seems to have attached to them the meaning that the watchman, employed by the plaintiff, was in and upon the premises day and night (not that he was employed to be there and neglected his employment), and, moreover, the plaintiff alleged that he was there at the time of the fire; and thus the issue was presented as to the fact whether or not the watchman was there. On this subject the court found as follows: —