The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-12
KANSAS LETS OUT A ROAR
III JATHAWKERs DLSTURBED BIZ
FEDERAL NTERFERENCE

rrsm Enfsrcisg Its Crimisai Laws In civil
Cases-Ths Oh Hiiiusou Case u AgaiaS
Kansas has again risen to remark that she 10
superior to the authority Of the United States
Government, and she doesn't care who knows 1t.
Kansas has made q similar statement several
times since the State government passed into
the hands OF men the quality OF whose state
manship was judged by the length and luxuri-
ance OF their whiskera. The particular occasion
for the remark At this time Is that a Judge OF
the United States Court has dared TO enjoin the
superintendent OF Insurance OF Kansas and the
Attorney General OF the State from interfering
With the right OF the Mutual Life Insurance
Company OF this city to do business in that
State.
The real reason for the injunction and the
cause Of the raging OF the people OF the Sun
flower State" 4 found in the refusal OF the
Mutual Life to pay q death claim held by q citi-
zen Of Kansas. 1t seems that on Dec. 10, 1878,
John W. Hillmon, q cattle herder. took out q
policy for $4,000 payable to his widow sixty
days after notice and proof OF his death had
been furnished to the company. On Nov. 80.
1878. and on Dec. 10 OF the same year Hillmon
took out two other policies, both with the New
York Life Insurance Company. FOR $1,000 each.
payable at death to the same beneficiary. Inc
moro policies Hnlmon took out the better he
liked getting his life insured. After taking out
the last policy with the New York Life, he con.
ciuded that II his life was worth $4,000 1t was
surely worth S25. 600, so he took out q fourth
policy for 5000 with the Connecticut Mutual
dated March 1, 1879.
About two weeks after the last policy was
taken out all three companies received notice
that Hillmou had died suddenly at Crooked
Greek. In southern Kansas, on March II. The
fact that the insured had died 50 soon after the
I.-~ -zl,,- h.i hAa1 takAp IN nua fhA ans
I,ca0n os t n. e ~n,,sr r, ans n sso, u Ds1tna tho 10
lSok INTO the mater al nl. e before pas,ns 'pe
a,Ilmon' The ENC more the case was inre.sirst.d
~. mor. ,a ,rp mo,V ~. a ,omn,n,ss hscsms sss,
was only another scheme to detraud insurance
companies. The Mutual Lie refused to pay the
claims and the other companies toiLo"ed SUIT
On July Is, 1850, Mrs: Hillnon brought Stn suit
the same time she brought suit against the New
coan..,tsn, Nn,nai 70 sS 600 Tbsc So. c.ms
M ,r ,-i.i and N. inv f,ii.d to ,0rss- A acc.
ond trial resulted in the same verdict. On July
=, ,sao ~. -. - -. -.,,olis.,
ing all three cases for a third trial, which began
On Feb. %. 1888. At this trial the plaintiff In
troduosd svidsne. tsnding to show that on
or about March 5. 1879. Hillmon and
his friend, John H. Brown, left wich-
isa. Kan. to look through the southern
part Of the State for a cattle raneh' hat on tho
Az nlacs saiIed GrooEsd Geek Hilimoa Vas
iilIea oy the Accidental discharge Of a gun. The
HIiIaint,isS a s.,, int : luce ns ss,%sPe s.,, lending IPsin 70
sident ne ssdy vs. taken e : Peish5ortns
aasssS' s e St o s sSs samp IN iss H the da aea q sFG ssas q
i Hsl pisi "a. 1s7 Ss''' was 'hA' hinm'n ai'a on
s,S MasS1 the i6,I plslas II s sSi5s : ssf 10 sa9 Ssot se' KS Ss,
story: In the year 1875 Levi Baldwin was q
farmer and cattle dealer. living near Lawrence,
esSsfui in bustnsss. IN point Of fact he was
Sanirupt. he found IL NECESSARY to raise some
6roVn- who were tesmsters and eSttis herd.
s %onss s1 S1 Sstr.n aaIo LIE a. ff Ssapancs yeo no Is.ss
They inquired Of fire Insurance agents
Of rs insuranes eompsnies: how long Il took 70
= Eee tbs Mooney after the death OF an insured
Han: boy long j 591k a body to After
Quinn, q servant Girl in Lawrence and a cousin
Sd M ,hs lie insuranee aIsnts In Lasrence and
applied for $40. 600 Of life Insurance on Hillmon.
who was represented as a wealthy cattleman.
amount. but be tHiiimonI finally secured
$40, 600, the policies payable In case OF his death
TO his widow, the cousin OF Baldwin Bald win
borrowed the money and paid the first premium
on Hillmon's policies. In December, 1875, and
immediately after getting the insurance, Hill
mon and Brown left Lawrence for wichita, aud.
as they said, ito locate Q cattle ranch in tho
south veat" They STAYED some time In
Wichita, and made a Journey In q wagon,
irving 10 dnd somebody who, dead, would
resembIe HiIimon. Having failed TO ind
or xiii . man, Hillmon thought that
. little more life Insurance. might a. we'll
be had. Leaving Brown in Wichita, he went
back 10 Lawrence and applied for $4,000 more
-. Il ~ mouth "a E.h-n.rv
1879, he succeeded IN getting half OF that
amount. Now Hillmon had In al S25. 900 of
lie insurance. He returned to Wichita BY rail
Feh. %. Frederick A. Walters OF Fort Madison.
IA, took the came train At Emporia, and Hill
mon made his acquaintance on the journey TO
Wichita. Walters was . iEarmake looking
for place 10 establish a business Walters ac-
companied Hillmon and Brown to Crooked
Creek. and there they murdered him. alleging
thst his BODY was that OF Hillmon.
Proof OF this murder was offered through let.
terra read, but not allowed in evidence One OF
these letters written 10 walters's sister, Eliza.
beth Rietfenach, and dated Wichita. March I,
Wiehita the following day. with a certain Mr..