The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-06

and the next morning Wltu0sS= Will AeOO
ert Brown, John Fl. Browns father, went
to Lawrence, as the latter wanted his
father and witness to GO and see the
representatives of the lnSur-
ance companies there and make
arrangements to prevent John II. Browns
prosecution; that the next time witness
saw John II. Brown was on August l,
1879, at Parkville, No, and that he there
found Levi Baldwin and John II. Brown;
that he next saw John H. Brown on sep
TENDER f. 1879, at a saw mill about three
miles from Reuben Browns house near
Parkville; that witness went there with
D. NJ Ward; that Ward, John b. Brown
and witness went to Reuben Browns
house; that Ward was not introduced to
either of the Browns as he had known
them well for years previous; that wit
ness told John Il. Brown that he had
come to ascertain why he, Brown, had
signed proofs of loss after confessing the
truth of the cons piracy to him, and that
Brown told him that Levi Baldwin had
over persuaded him to do so, and
told him if he did SO that they would i'm
mediately get the money out of the in
surance. and that that would end the
whole matter, and that witness told
Brown that it would just be the reverse,
that it would simply open the doors for
investig alton, and that Brown stated then
that he had been mislead in signing the
proofs of loss, and was willing to put his
confession in writing. After dinner this
confession was put in writing. 1t took
about an. hour to write it. Afterwards
John II. Brown, D. d. w ard and witness
went to ParkviIle, where John II. Brown
signed the confession and swore to 1t be-
fore a notary public named Mcdonald
The confession was then handed the wit
ness for the purpose of Identification, as
was also the following order for the pol
icies, which was put in evidence:
sLEAvENwoRTH, Kansas, Sept. Is, 1879.
To Messrs. Clough & Wheat, Samuel
Riggs and Borgaithaus.
GENTLEMEN:-Please deliver to W. j.
Buchau the following insurance policies
on the life of my husband. John w. Hill
mon. Policies Nos. 134418 and 1858,
issued by the New York Life Insurance
company of New York for Five Thous-
and Dollars each; Policy No. 195132, is
sued by the Mutual Life ms company of
n. Y. for Ten Thousand Dollars and
Policy No. 1854, issued by the Con-
necticut Mutual Life ms Co. of Con-
necticut And oblige,
(Signed) S. E. HILLMoN."
Witness then stated that he had fur
nished copy of the same confession to
plaintiffs attorneys shortly after it was
made.
Witness then stated that the next time
he saw John II. Brown was on Thursday,
September ~, 1879, ut witness office in
| Wyandotte; that he had a conversation
with him there; that the next time he
saw him was the following Saturday,
also at witness office at Wyandotte, and
/ there had another conversation with him;
| that on both occasions, or both trips to
witness office, Brown had come and gone
on horse back; that he next saw John II.
Brown the following Monday, September
! 10, 1879 at Leavenwortn, pursuant
to an arrangement made by
John H Brown with Mrs. Hill
| mon for the latter to meet witness at
| Leavenworth with Brown; tina: the three
went to the Planters house at Leaven-
worth, and that Mrs. Hillnon stated that
Levi Baldwin was to come with her and
get the policies, but had backed out.
Mrs. Hillmon then asked Brown to go up
to Mr.. Wheafs office and get the poll
cies, and Brown refused to 60 An order
was drawn by witness, and signed by Mrs.
HillmOn for the policies to be given to
witness, and Mr. Wheat refused to give
them up; that subsequently Mrs. Hillmon
went with witness, and she demanded
| the policies of Mr.. Wheat, and that blr.
| Wheat went to his safe to get them,
! changed his mind and then said: ~ his
looks like fraud on me, and l won't
give them up until my $4,000 lien upon
them is paid;" that Mrs. Hillmon and
himself did not get the policies, and that
they both returned to the hotel; that
Mrs. Hillmon then asked witness what
she would have to sign to satisfy the
companies, and that witness suggested
| that she sign releases; that the three re-
leases were signed by Mrs. Hillmon at
the Planters House, the following being
a copy of one of them:
Release.
HLAwRENCE, Kas, Sept. Is, 1879
In consideration of one dollar TO me in
hand paid. the receipt whereof is hereby
acknowledged. 1 hereby release, surrend-
er and acknowledge satisfaction in full
of all claims against the Mutual Life In
surance company of New York, by rea-
son of policy No. 1882, issued by said
company, dated December 10, 1878, aud
for the sum of ten thousand dollars on
the life of my husband, John w. Hill
mon; and hereby enter satisfaction in
full, and order the dismissal of any and
all suits or proceedings commenced II
that hereafter may be commenced by
any person or persons in my behalf, for
the collection of the same.
Attest: w. j. BUCHAN,
JOHN II. BROWN
[Signed) S. E. HILLMoN"
After signing said releases witness
went to WyandoJte, and Mrs Hillmor
called at witness office there, where an
other release was signed, AS there had
! bpon on omission in ono of fb-oo ~,