The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-07
STILL TESTIFYING.
w. j. Buchan Tells More About the Sur
render of the HilImOn Policies.

w. j. Buchan Tells More About the Sur
render of. the Hillmon Policies.
When court opened yesterday morning
at o'clock, Mr.. w. J. Buchan again took
the stand aud testified that Mrs. Hillmon
signed the releases releasing the insur-
ance companies from all liability, volun-
tarily and willingly, aud that she did 80
without the payment of a dollar, or the
promise of the payment of dollar, but
solely on the understanding that the
companies would not prosecute them.
The following is copy of the agree
ment not to prosecute referred to by MIR.
Buchan:
"The undersigned attorney represent
ing the Mutual Life Insurance company,
of New York, the New York Life In
surance company, of New York, and the
Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance COM
pany, hereby stipulate and agree SO far
as said companies are concerned to de-
sist from any further pursuit or prosecu-
ton of John W. Hillmon, John H Brown
or any other parties in connection with
the Hillmon case, provided the respec-
tive policies are surrendered or order for
their delivery executed and all claims
under the same released to said compan-
les by Sallie E. Hillmon, wife of said
John W. Hillmon and beneficiary under
said policies, and IN SO doing re present
their officers and agents everywhere.
[Signed. H. B. MUM.
Lawrence, Kansas, Sept. 6, 1879"
Mr.. Buchan stated that he was spec
tally retained and authorized by John II.
Brown to go to the insurance companies
with his Browns, confession, explain all
the circumstances, and then to arrange
for immunity from prosecution for all
parties in the conspiracy, and that John
II h
thority in writing, of which the following
is a copy:
"PARKvILLE. Mo-, Sept. 4, 1879.
81 hereby authorize w. J. Buchan to
make arrangements, if he can, with the
insurance companies for settlement of
the Hillmon case, by them stopping all
pursuit and prosecution of myself and
John W. Hillmon, if suit for money is
stopped and policies surrendered to the
companies
"NSigned) JOHN Fl. BROWN"
Witness testified that this written auth
orization was either handed or shown to
the companies at Lawrence on Septem-
Der 6, 1879, when a copy of the confess
sion was left with them. as instructed by
John 81. Brown, when arrangements were
satisfactorily completed with the insur-
ance companies as requested by Brown.
Upon cross examination, Mr.. Buchan
testified that he never saw the body at
Lawrence; that he did not know when it
was brought there, and that he may have
| read an account of the inquest in the
newspapers, but was not certain. The
| first time he saw Robert Brown, the father
of John II. Brown, with relation to
| this matter, was in the latter part
of April, when Robert Brown called at
his Office at Wyandotte to retain him to
l. T. T1l ~. 1
| he had gotten into. He was not in Law
renee in the month of April, nor was he
at the inquest. The first time he went
to Lawrence was about two weeks after
| he saw Robert Brown, and that during
| the interval he had not seen either Mr.
Green or Mr.. Barker, and had not seen
| them until he went to Lawrence in Nay,
when he saw Mr.. Barker only. Mr..
| Buchan testified that he had meetings
with Messrs. Green, Barker and Mum at
Lawrence and Kansas City in pursuance
to his arrangement to protect John II.
Brown from prosecution, and also testi-
fed in regard to meeting Mrs. Hillmon
and John II. Brown at the Planters
House, Leavenworth, when the releases
were signed; and that Mrs. Hillmon ask
| ed no questions whatever, in regard to
| signing the releases; that she appeared
| to have come prepared for such pur.
pose, and that they were signed by her
without any persuasion upon the part OF
the witness. She came solely to deliver
the policies or releases to the companies
and she did deliver them and when the
business was finished she returned with
witness to Wyandotte and spent two OF
three weeks at witness house. He had
no conversation whatever, with Mrs
Hillmon regarding Browns confession Oh
| matters arising out of it; that instead
she appeared anxious and willing to give
up the policies and that no converse
ton therefore became necessary