Opinion by
Hurt, J.§ 424. Limitation; institution of suit does not stop the running of, unless, etc.; case stated. Appellees instituted this suit against appellant upon a policy of fire insurance, and recovered judgment for the amount of the policy and for costs. The fire occurred February 9, 1885. The petition was filed February 6, 1886. Citation was issued April 11, 1881. There is a stipulation in the policy of insurance to the effect that an action thereon should be barred unless suit should be instituted within twelve months from the date of the policy. Appellant pleaded this stipulation in bar. Held: The action was brought within twelve months after the date of the fire, but the citation was not issued until more than two years after *495the fire and more than one year after the petition was filed. The presumption must obtain that citation was withheld by order of the plaintiffs. The object of said stipulation in the policy is to enable the company to meet the case while the facts are fresh in the memory of the witnesses and are accessible to both parties. After the petition was filed no steps were taken by the plaintiffs to obtain service of citation for a period of fourteen months, during which time the cause was continued from term to term of the court. No excuse is shown for this want of diligence. These facts show gross negligence on the part of the plaintiffs in the prosecution of their suit, and the filing of the petition did not operate to stop the running of the limitation prescribed by the contract. Appellant’s plea in bar should have been sustained. [Hoffman v. Cage, 31 Tex. 598; Maddox v. Humphries, 30 Tex. 494.]
December 12, 1888.Keversed and remanded.