Fidelity & Cas. Co. v. McClure

VICKERY, P. J.

Epitomized Opinion

Published Only in Ohio Law Abstract

Ethel McClure brought an action against the Fidelity & Casualty Co. to recover a certain amount for jewels she had lost as she claimed, by theft, against the Insurance Co.., which had insured her on a surety bond against larceny, theft and burglary of jewels in her house. Mrs. McClure lived at the corner of Detroit and Edwards avenues in the City of Lakewood. She had returned home from a visit, having motored all the way back. When she reached home the bagg'age was taken from the automobile and put upon the porch. She testified that she had the handbag in her hand, or at least thought she had, when she got out of the automobile and went to the rear of her house to look at the construction of a certain building. Some time lated she missed the bag, which contained the jewels.

There was no evidence to the effect that any one had broken into the house. There was some evidence that workmen had come into the house to use the telephone, but aside from that there was no evidence of any character tending to show that the jewels had been stolen. The plaintiff testified that the stones were valued at $6,000. An officer in connection with the firm of Cowell & Hubbards testified 9-s to the value of the ring, but he had not seen the brooch. As the jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff for $5,000, defendant prosecuted error. In sustaining the judgment of the lower court, the Court of Appeals held:

1. The evidence fairly warranted, or at least there was evidence from which the .jury could draw an inference, that the handbag containing the diamonds was placed in the house and that it disappeared from the place w;here it was put, and that it had never been found or returned.

2. As the officer of the Cowell & Hubbard Company had seen the diamonds, he was qualified to testify as to the value of the ring at least.

3. As the court charged the jury that proof of the disappearance of the jewelry did not constitute larceny or theft, the court committed no error in refusing to give the charges requested by the defendant on that subject.

4. Under 1146® and 11462 GC.' either party is entitled to ask for a special verdict, but in order to make use of this instrument counsel m-ust clearly state Upon what issues he desires such a finding. Consequently, where the counsel is so general in his language in making such request that the Court is unable to know just what to do, no error is committed in refusing to request a special verdict.