Case Name: Sarah E. Armstrong v. The Travelers Insurance Co.
Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1914-12
Citations: 22 Ohio C.C. (n.s.) 129
Docket Number: 
Parties: Sarah E. Armstrong v. The Travelers Insurance Co.
Judges: 
Reporter: Ohio Circuit Court Reports (new series)
Volume: 22
Pages: 129–139

Head Matter:
DETERMINATION AS TO CAUSE OF DEATH.
Court of Appeals for Brown County.
Sarah E. Armstrong v. The Travelers Insurance Co.
Decided, December, 1914.
Accident Insurance — Ascertainment. of Cause of Death of Insured— Autopsy Incompetent as Substantive Evidence — Rule as to Bur-of Proof in Accident Insurance Different from that in Other Classes of Insurance — Application of the Three-fourths Jury Law — Charge of Court.
1. The, right to sue in the instant case did not accrue until three months after submission of proofs of death, which was subsequent to the going into effect of the act providing for the return of a verdict by three-fourths of the members of- the jury, and the provisions of that act were therefore applicable to the case.
2. An autopsy paper, signed by the physicians making the post mortem examination, is not admissible as substantive evidence, where the signatories had not been placed under oath and the privilege oí cross-examination was not accorded; but such a paper may be used for the purpose of refreshing the memory of witnesses.
3. In an action involving the cause of death of one who fell into the Ohio river in February, it is error to refuse to give special charges because of the assumption incorporated into them that the water was cold, if there was some evidence tending to prove that fact.
4. Under the policy in suit, where the only issue is as to whether the death of the insured resulted from external, violent or accidental means, the burden is upon the plaintiff to show affirmatively that it was from one of the causes specified; and the fact that the defense alleges that death resulted from disease does not affect the rule as to the burden of proof.
5. A judgment will not be reversed for technical errors, where it clearly appears from the evidence that the jury could have reached no other conclusion than the one incorporated in their verdict.
E. R. Roetting&r, Chambers Baird and E. R.' Young, for plaintiff in error.
G. D. Robertson and J. W. Bagby, contra.
Error to tbe Oo'urt of Common Pleas of Brown County.-
Suit was brought in the Court of Common Pleas' of Brown County upon a policy of insurance issued to one William II. Armstrong and payable, in the event of his death, to his wife, Sarah E. Armstrong, the plaintiff in the action.

Opinion:
The petition alleges that, for the consideration of $7.50 as a premium, the Travelers Insurance Company issued to said Armstrong its policy of insurance for the period of six months, and promised to pay the principal sum of said policy to his surviving wife in case the said William H. Armstrong should come to his death by external, violent and accidental means.
The petition alleges that, during the life of the policy, on the 27th day of February, 1913, the insured "came to his death" by external, violent and accidental means, to-wit: by drowning; that prior to the time of his death he had fully performed all of the conditions of said policy on his part to be performed; that on the 27th day of February, 1913, she notified the company of his death, and later, to-wit, on the 18th day of March, 1913, she filed with the company formal proofs of death.
The policy of insurance is attached to the petition, and judgment is asked against the defendant company for the principal sum claimed to be due, with interest from the date of filing the proofs of death.
The defendant answered, denying that William II. Armstrong came to his death by external, violent and accidental means, to-wit, by drowning, and specifically alleges that the cause of death was not within the scope of the insurance contract; that said contract provided for indemnity only from injuries resulting from external, violent and accidental means'; and further pleading the provision of the policy which provides:
"This insurance shall not cover death resulting wholly or partly, directly or indirectly, from disease in any form, either as cause or effect."
That, in fact, the death of William H. Armstrong was caused by a disease, or diseases, either wholly or partly, .directly-or indirectly, and speeificálly naming the diseases _ which were alleged-to.be. the. eause, or causes, of his'death,
The reply denied that the death of Armstrong was caused by the disease, or diseases, named in .the answer or that such diseases contributed to the death of the deceased.