The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-23

fall of 1875 and asked him about life in
surance; about how they could get it.
and if he could recommend some good
companies; and that in the event of
death, how one went about il to collect
the money, and what time it took
to get it; that week before this, Bald
win had asked him similar questions;
that the witness was attorney for Bald
win in business matters. and knew every
thing regarding his financial condition.
The court ruled that witness should
answer the question put, as to whether
Baldwin was financially embarrassed or
not, and the witness replied that he was.
Alexander Carr, living near Tonga
noxie, Leavenworth county, was next
sworn. Mr.. Carr testified to knowing
both John w. Hillmon and Levi Bald
win; that he had at one time had some
conversation with Baldwin, when Bald
win stated to him that he, Baldwin and
Hillmon had a scheme on foot, which, if
1t worked out all right, would place him
on his feet; that he had lent Baldwin
money.
Mrs Eleanor Faxon then testified for
the defendants that she lived in Law
renee and had lived there since 1868;
that in 1878 sallie E. Quinn, now Mrs.
Hilirnon, was doing house work for the
FaXons, and that while there Mr.. Hill
mon visited her; that witness had noticed
Hillmon's teeth; Noticed that he had a
missing tooth and that she had joked
Miss Quinn about it; that she had no.
ticed this missing tooth the first
time she saw Hillmon and
that when he talked and laughed
he showed his teeth; that she was
present when Miss Quinn and Mr.. Hill
mon were married.
The deposition of James S. Crew, now
of California, but formerly a banker of
Lawrence, was read. This witness testi-
fed that in 1888 he resided in Law
renee; that he was receiver of Simpsons
bank at that time, and that he knew Levi
Baldwin and John W. Hillmon: had
known them for years before that time;
that he (witness) held two notes of Levi
Baldwin's which were past due, and
that he also had some mortgages
against Baldwin which he had talked
about foreclosing; that in conversa-
ton regarding his Indebtedness,
Baldwin told him that part of the money
borrowed was used to pay the premiums
on Hillmon's life insurance.; that after
the reported shooting of Hillmon, in
March, 1879, he was pressing Baldwin
for payment of a part of his indebted
ness, and that Baldwin told him to let
the matter rest little while, as Hillmon
had been killed, and that he had arranged
to receive ten thousand dollars of Hill
mons life insurance; that Levi Baldwin
was in very bad financial circumstances.
Mrs. Corkadel, vino lives near Valley
Falls, testified as follows: That her
family and the Hillmon family lived
close together, and that she had
known John W. Hillmon for
years; that she and John w. Hillmon
that Mr.. Hillmon had an upper tooth al
most completely decayed, and that the
remainder of the front teeth were IN
even
Jefferson Schleppy (Hillmon's cousin)
was the next witness. Mr.. Schleppy
stated that he had known Hillmon init
mately for years, having first become &C
quainted with him in 1856; that Hillmou
and he were first cousins; that both at
tended the same school; that in 1851
Hillmon had a decayed front tooth; that
in 1871 the same tooth was almost, if not
entirely gone; that he had a scar on the
top of his head; that the defendants
Photographic exhibit of Hillmon, was a
very good likeness
Mr.. W. J. Buchan, one of the most i'm
portant witnesses for the defense testified
as follows: That he resides at Kansas
City Kansas; that he became acquainted
with the Brown family, consisting of
Robert Brown, the father, of
John a. Brown, Reuben Brown, John H.
and his sisters; that in the spring of 1879
he was retained by MIR. Robert Brown, to
protect the interests of his son, John H.
Brown, in the trouble into which he had
gotten; that witness went to Lawrence in
regard to this matter, and stated to DR..
Mum in the presence of Mr.. Green
that he was authorized to
produce a written statement of John II.
Browns. provided the insurance COM
panies would agree not to prosecute
Brown; that out of this proposition grew
the "Munn paper" which was a guaran-
hn nf nj
prosecute Brown or Mrs. HilImon if the
policies were delivered up. The court
would not allow the witness to testify to
any conversation between himself and
John II. Brown regarding this matter on
the ground that such was not admissible
testimony. Witness also stated that he
saw john Fl. Brown at witness office a
few days later, and that Brown told him
that Mrs. Hillmon requested to
see witness at Leavenworth; that
subsequently he saw Brown and Mrs,
Hillmon at Leavenworth in response
to said request and that on that occasion
three of the releases releasing the com
pany from all liability under the policies
were signed by Mrs. Hillmon; that wit
ness did not make any threats, or try to
force or overpersuade Mrs. Hillmon
in any way whatever to sign said releas-
es; that she did so of her own free will;
that he did not hold Mrs. Hillmon's hand
while signing the releases or even touch
it and that he never told her that she
must not, or requested her not to men,
ton the matter or say anything about it;
that he never told her that she must not
return to Lawrence, or anything of the
kind; that Mrs. Hillmon stated
that she did not want to go back TO
Lawrence. All of which statements were
made to contradict the testimony of Mrs
Hillmon given last week. Witness
further stated that Mrs. Hillmon did
stay at his house for a short time, but
made no complaint whatever about hav-
ing signed the releases while there; that
some time after the execution of the first