51 Iowa 553 | Iowa | 1879
The case, we think, comes within the rule of McCluer v. The Girard Fire & Marine Insurance Company, 43 Iowa, 349. The words “contained in the two-story frame dwelling,” etc., are words of description of the property insured, indicating the place of deposit when not in ordinary use. The character of the property insured must be considered in determining the true construction of the policy. The household furniture is used only in the dwelling. It is proper to infer that the parties to the contract intended the risk should attach to it only when iii the building specified. But wearing apparel, when used, must of necessity be worn sometimes away from the dwelling. We must infer that the parties to the contract intended the apparel to be used, and hence intended it to be used sometimes away from the dwelling. Of course the use of the apparel away from the dwelling must be an ordinary use, and the dwelling must be the place of deposit for the apparel when not in use. The policy, therefore, does not contemplate that the insured may take a journey or sleep away from his dwelling; thus, when the apparel is not worn, keeping it in a place of deposit other than his own dwelling.
It will be observed that the language of the policy does not convey the idea that the apparel is to be kept in the dwelling. There can be no inference of a prohibition of ordinary use elsewhere.
Counsel for defendant advance the thought that the words household furniture, used in the policy, are intended to cover the other articles of property, family wearing apparel and provisions; that is, family wearing apparel is included in the general term, “household furniture.” They argue that, as the household furniture was covered by the policy only while in the dwelling, its component, wearing apparel, is subj ect to the same rule. The fault with the argument is that
In our opinion the court below correctly overruled the demurrer.
Affirmed.