Sturgis National Bank v. Maryland Casualty Co.

This case was presented to the lower court on an agreed statement of facts. The main question is what does the word “tools” mean in a burglary insurance policy.

On December 17, 1928, at 12:45 p. m., four thugs entered the Sturgis National Bank, plaintiff. All of the customers, together with the employees, with the exception of the teller, were forced at the point of guns to lie down on the floor of a back room. The teller refused to open the combination of the vault. After being struck on the head with a gun butt and then having the gun pointed at him, he yielded and unlocked the safe. The…