20 Wis. 335 | Wis. | 1866
Tbe only ground on wbicb tbe nonsuit granted in tbe court below can be sustained, is tbat tbe plaintiff failed to prove an unconditional renewal of tbe policy. October 6tb, 1862, tbe company received tbe note of tbe assured, and John S. Rockwell’s draft payable at tbe Summit Bank, on wbicb tbe Insurance Company received tbe money. Tbe money and note, if received unconditionally, it is admitted, would bave renewed tbe policy and continued it in force until after tbe death of Rockwell. It is contended tbat tbe plaintiffs proved tbat they were received only upon condition tbat Rockwell was tben in good bealtb. All the evidence of sucb condition is in tbe letter of tbe secretary of tbe company to Mr. Rockwell, in wbicb, after acknowledging the receipt of tbe note and draft to pay tbe annual premium on tbe policy, be says: “ As this is past due, it will accord witb our rules for you to send us a certificate of good bealtb, and in your case we will be satisfied witb your own. You did not instruct me where to send tbe renewal receipt, and so I bave not enclosed it.” The closing sentence, about sending tbe renewal receipt, must be regarded as equivalent to saying tbat it would bave been sent if tbe secretary bad known where to send it; and tbat, too, notwithstanding there was no proof tbat Mr. Rockwell was then.in good bealtb.
It may be said tbat such renewal receipt, if it bad tben been sent without tbe certificate of bealtb, would bave been a certificate renewing tbe policy only on tbe condition tbat Mr. Rockwell was tben in good bealtb. Tbe rule of tbe company, if rule there be, is not before us, and we are not informed of
By the Court. — The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and a venire denovo awarded.