The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-12-16
A STRANGE STORY.

In December, 1873, John W. HiIlman
made application for insurance on his life at
Lawrence, Kansas, in the Offices Of the Mu-
tual Life Insurance companies. The appH-
cations were forwarded to the home Offices
and in the same month he was insured for
S25, 0OO-S1O 600 in each Of the New York
companies and $1,000 in the Connecticut
Mutual. He paid the first quarterly premi-
um to the three companies and then started
for the far West, ostensibly for the purpose
of establishing cattle ranch. A companion
started with him named John II. Brown
While crossing the prairies they met a
young man named Frederick a. Walters
whom Hillman hired to accompany them and
tend the cattle on the ranch. On the even
ing Of March l6, 1869, the party camped a
few miles outside of Medicine Lodge, Bar
bOur county, Kansas. The following morn
ing Brown came into the village and an
nounced that his friend HiIlmaE had been
accidentally shot while removing some goods
from th cir wagon. A corOuer's jury was i'm
paneled and went out to the camping ground.
where Brown narrated the story of the
shooting. He said that IIiIlman and himself
had been travelling together, without any
companion, in search of a cattle ranch. A
verdict Of accidental death was rendered and
the body was buried in the cemetery at
Medicine Lodges. Walters had disappeared
ana nothing was heard of him.
When the news of HHlman's death was
brought to his friends in Lawrence. they re-
fused to believe the story of accidental
shooting, and had the body exhumed and
brought home Another inquest was held.
and an examination of the body revealed the
fact that it was not that Of Hulmau The
insurance companies agreed to act together
and sift the matter to the bottom. They be
liCved that Hillmau was still alive. and that
he and Brown had procured corpse for the
purpose Of securing the insurance. The
dead man was not like Hillman: his hair
was curly and came down around bis face,
while Eiilman's was quite straight and
brushed back from his forehead The dead
man had the usual number Of teeth, while
Hillman was known to have one missing
The dead man had recently been vaceirated.
and the scar on his arm was quite fresh and
sore, Hillman had also been vaccinuated
Just before starting on the trip. but the doc
tors certified that the scar on EiHman's
body must have become cicatrfzed by that
time. The dead body was taller than HUI
mans, and it was remembered that HfIlmau
had tried TO get his heightfalsffed while uu-
dergoing the medical examination in the in
surance companies Offices. The fatal
wound also was one which could hardly
have been inflicted In the manner described
by Brown and the latter had become very
much confused at the inquest in uarrating
the details of the occurrence. Altogether it
was evident that the dead man was not Hill
man. but who he was remained a mystery.
A photograph Of the corpse was taken
and sent to various places. 1t was first
recognized at Fort Madison, Ia, as that Of
Frederick a. Walters. the man who had
Joined Brown and Uiiimln ON their supposed
search for a cattle rancho. When tile pho
toCraph was shown to Walters father. he at
once recognized the features as those of lis
son. He took it home with him. and. acei-
dentally dropping it from his pocket it was
seen by his wife and daughter. who at once
burst into tears. Several letters of Walters
were found. One to his sweetheart in Fort
Madison, whom he addressed as dearest
Alvira, p" stated that be was going West with
man named Hi.mau, who owned a large
cattle rancho. ana who had agreed TO give
him very liberal wages for his services. He
told her to remain constant TO him. and he
would return in q few months with enough
moneyfor their marriage. Walters brother
G. r. Walters. described the body before
seeing it, and said there was a mole about
the size Of pea on the Ielt leg. The BODY
fully answered the descripti0npcva to tile
small mole. This left no dou5t tIat che
body was that of Walters, aud that ne had
been killed by IHlman and Brown as a sub
stitute for tire formers body in order TO Sc
cure the Insurance money.
Brown was arrested and mad. fuu con
fession in September, 1879, in Platte county.
No, saying that the proceeding was part OF
a scheme 90 defraud the insurance compa-
nies. He said that he was acquainted with
all Che parties to the scheme. They were
Hihman, Levi Baivin, HWma. father-in-
law, Mrs Baldwin and himself Baldwin
furnished the money for the operations
Hillman was to insure his life for fifteen
thousand dollars, and Brown and DE were to
find a body to palm of on the insurance COM
panies It was afteIward decided to have
Hillman insured for S25, 900. 1--WE had no
definite plans for the finding Of body. but
supposed we could easily get one. We
made trip in the latter part of December,
1873, from Wichita to the West during n
heavy snow-storn, hoping 70 find some per
sons frozen to death on the road bus did
not succeed. HiIman and were alone on
that trip. on the 9th OF March we fell iu
with Walters, whom Hillmau hired Co work
on a rancho. Hnlman said that Walters
would make q good body for the insurance
companies 7 told hm the body was mot
like his, and tlat it would not do. and also
protested against the taking of Walters life.
as murder was not part of our agreement
Hiilman liked the idea, however, and pains
were taken that not more than two of us
should be seen around the wagon one of
Us was always inside. "IIillman had been
vaccinated before v@e left on this tIip. and
one day ne advised Walters to get vaccina-
ted as there would be danger OF smallpox
in the region where we were going Wal
. ters consented and HiIlman vaecfuated bin
with pen-knife. taking the matter from
his own arm. This was relied upon 30 help
establish the identity Of Walters, as Hill
man. HiIiman also traded off his clothes
with Walters. He gave Walters a lot Of u--
derclothing and then traded bis outside gar
ments. Walters was an easy-eoing stapfd
sort Of a fellow. lie said that his name was
Berkeley or BUrcbeH We always called him
Joe. Ineyer made free with him after Hin
man lad made up his mind TO kin him I
did not want 20 become intimate with him
On the evening we got 10 camp. on the 10th