The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-31
TIGHTENING OUT.
Major Theodore Wiseman Still on the
Stand in the HilImon Case.

stand in the Hl11Da0n Case
If the examination of the first witness
for the defense in the Hillmon case is an
index to the length of time which will be
required for the others the sweet breath
of spring will be felt before the case Ia
finished.
All day yesterday the examination of
Major Wiseman was continued There
was hard legal fight among the attor-
neys about allowing the witness to tell
what Hilimon had said to him at the time
he took out the insurance policy. The
court finally decided to admit the testi-
mony.
Hillmon had told him he was a stock
raiser, and asked how his widow should
proceed in case of death by violence or
disease in order to collect the insurance
money. He had told him that in case OF
a natural death the certificates of the at
tending physicians would be required,
but if the death was violent coroner's
verdict would be necessary. Upon an
other occasion Hillmon had asked the
same questions. He said he was going
into a sparcely settled country where in
quests were seldom held and where there
were few physicians. The witness re-
piled that with his experience he would
have no difficulty in taking care of him
self. Hillmon had replied that no one
could tell what might happen.
Major Wiseman then described the
body found at Medicine Lodge. He
thought it was that of a young man %
or "a years of age with long, dark wavy
hair. The mustache was long and dark
and the teeth were good.
The witness had gone to Wichita to
look for man named Joe Burgess, sup
posed to be missing, but did not hear of
the disappearance of friedrich A. Walt
ers until in December, 1879. He was APP
praised OF Walters disappearance by two
letters which have been recently burned
up in his house at Omaha One Of the
letters, he said was from a man named
Walker, who was teller and cashier of q
bank at Wichita
Major Wiseman said that after the re-
ceipt of these letters he opened CORES
pondence with parties at Fl. Madison and
sent two photographs of the dead man
there.
The cross examination was then COM
menced. Major Wiseman said that it
was not the custom of insurance agents
to take the measurement of applicants
and that he had placed the height in
Hillmon's application as it was given to
him. He was again asked to describe
Hillmon and also the body found at
Medicine Lodge, which he did.
He said that the shoes, which were
thrown away by John 81. Brown on the
trip to Hutchinson, were low shoes about
No. 10 and he thought they would fit the
feet of the body found He was not pos
tive whether he had testified about the
shoes at former trials or not He did not
remember whether upon arriving at
Lawrence with the body he had gone to
see George J. Barker before or after
breakfast.
Mr.. Riggs, who was conducting the
cross examination, asked Major Wise
man whether he had before testified that
Hillmon had one tooth missing. The
witness said be had testified either that
one tooth was gone or shorter than the
rest.
"You have known me a long time"
said Mr.. Riggs Scan you tell whether
have q tooth out or motif"
81 have known you ten or fifteen
years." replied the witness, shut I do
not know whether you have tooth out
or not Your lip comes down too fart"
He had asked Mr.. Barker to assist in
showing that the body brought to Law
renee was not Hiltmon because he was
satisfied it was not Maj Wiseman
said he had made a claim upon the COM
pany for his services in the case and had
sued them in the United States court but
the claim was settled three years afte&
ward.
Mr. Riggs asked for the transcript of
the evidence of the trial before Judge
Brewer which is in possession of the de-
PENDANTS. The defendants denied that
the plaintiff had any right to use their
record and the court directed Mr.. Riggs
to make a formal demand for it, and if it
is not produced he would decide whether
the defendants might use it or not.