The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-06
HILLMON INSURANCE TRIAL
A Review of the Testimony of the De-
Tense.

A Review of the Testimony of the De-
Tense.
The defense made good progress yes
terday in putting in their evidence. The
first witness to appear for them was Mr..
Paul R Brooks, cashier of the Watkins
National bank, Lawrence. He stated
that he had lived in Lawrence forty
years and that be had brother by the
name of E. g Brooks, who went to Den
yer thirteen years ago. That previous to
going to Denver this brother had lived
at Lawrence and was deputy county
clerk in 1879 That he, witness. recog-
niZed the endorsement on the back of a
document handed him by one of the at
torneys for the defense, Mr.. Green, and
dated April IA, 1879, as being the hand
writing of his brother. That the county
clerk at that time was Mr.. A. l. Dlggs,
who is now dead. Mr.. G. w. E. Griffith,
a most i'm portant witness for the defense,
was the next called. He stated that he
has lived in Denver since 1890, but pre-
vious to that time, he had lived in Law
renee, having come there in 1868 That
he lived in Lawrence in the years of
1878 and 10. That he was then the man
ager of the Merchants n ational bank Of
that place. and incidentally acted as local
agent at Lawrence for the Mutual Life
of New York city. That in the middle
John w. Hllmon coming into
his office in the bank, and introducing
himself to witness as John W. Hillmon,
and stated that he desired to obtain
some life insurance, and asked, show
ing an insurance circular, if
the Mr.. Wiseman, whose name ap-
peared thereon, was there. That he sub
sequently came back the same day with
! Mr.. Levi Baldwin, and that ne, witness,
/ ha- 70 in
! Producing them to him. That as d result of
such talk between them, an application
was made for $4,000 On the life of Hill
mon. Mr. GrIffi b further testified tina.
| he had met Hill mon several times after
ward, and that at such interviews he had
repeatedly and closely asked in regard
TO the modes of collecting the insurance
money in the event of his being killed,
and whether the company was not likely
to raise some technically. That
he explained to him the different papers
that had to be signed Mr.. Griffith also
testified that he knew Mrs HIlImon, the
plaintiff, in this case; that he met her
first when she called to get the policy at
his Office. That he did not remember
the exact date, and that she subsequently
called upon him in the middle of March,
1879, when she stated that she had re-
ceIved letter from her husband telling
|
| the vaccination was satisfactory, and
asked her to call upon Mr.. Griffith aud
get him to inform the Mutual Life In
surance company; that he, witness, told
her that such was unnecessary, as she
had the policy in her possession. and the
company were quite satisfied even
| without vaccination Mr.. Griffith
then testified that he remembered the
body being brought to Lawrence. in
| April, 1879, and that he RENE bered see
ing Mrs. Hillmon at her residence a day
| or two before the arrival of the BODY
! That he was shown by her three letters
from Medicine Lodge, notifying her of
the shooting That he never advised
Mrs Hlllmon not to bring the body back,
and not to view the body when it was
brought back, but that she of her own
volition stated that she had no intention
of seeing the body when it came back
and that she preferred to remember him
as he was when alive. Witness stated
also that Major Wiseman wired him to get
Mrs. Hillmon to give an exact description
of her husband, and especially as to
whether he had tooth out or not And
that in consequence of this telegram he,
witness, wrote Mrs Hillmon on April 1st,
1879, to call at his office, which she did,
either the same day or the next day.
And that Mr.. Selig, the agent of the
| Connecticut Mutual. happened also to
be present then, but tn t his presence
was not prearranged. That witness then
told Mrs Hillmon that he wanted her to
make an affidavit as 10 the description of
her husband, which would form part OF
her proof of loss. That he asked her all
the questions that he could think OF