The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-19
THE H1LLMoN CASE IN WICHITA.

The Eagle told the tale of Hillmon
many years ago. Hillmon, Brown and
party stopped over in Wichita on their
way southwest. One Of the parties
came to the rear Of the Wichita post
office, after it had closed, one evening
q day or two subsequent to the sup
posed death of Hillmon and enquired
Of the editor of this paper, who was
at the time postmaster, for mail for
Hillrnon and Brown. Mrs. Hillmon,
upon the refusal of the insurance COM
panies TO pay the policies on her hus-
bands life, sued them in the United
States courts. The case has been up
for hearing many times. Five juries
have successfully refused to sustain her
claim. The new Pop state Insurance
commissioner, Mr.. Webb McNall in
face of the failure of Mrs Hillmon to
prove her husbands death, has issued
an order forbidding the New York Life,
the Connecticut Mutual and the Mutual
New York from doing business In Kan
sas until Mrs. Hillmon's claim is liqui-
1ated. OF that attempted high-handed
piece of usurpation of the prerogatives
Of the judiciary by this bumptious COM
missioner, who has no power beyond
that Of an executive clerk, the Eagle
has already expressed its opinion. The
rase is TO come up for another hearing,
b1,i -, -
court in this city. The insurance COM
panies named being convinced twenty
Fears ago that the case was a put I'D
Job" and that Hillmon, for all they
know, is still alive, will never pay until
some court and jury are convinced and
render verdict TO that effect. AS the
Ease is to come I'D and heard in WITCH
tta, recital Of the history of the case
briefly may prove interesting, which is
as follows, as set forth by the New
York Life Insurance company, which
has been doing business in Kansas for
fhirty-three years, which carries now
between three and four thousand poll |
cies in this state. and which company
has never refused payment, except in
this single instance in Kansas.
John W. Hillmon of Lawrence Kan
sas, was insured by the New York Life |
under two policies, on 3Oth November
and 10th December, 1873. each in the |
amount of $1,000, premiums payable |
semi-annually. About the same time he |
took out $4,000 in the Connecticut Mu- |
tual Life and $4,000 in the Mutual |
Life Of New York On 9th March. |
1879, he was reported as having been |
accidentally shot dead, in southern |
kansas, by his partner. one ]. II. |
Brown, while on their way to locate a /
cattle ranch. simultaneously with the |
report of his death came report that |
be was not dead. that another body had |
been substituted for his, and that the |
affair was conspiracy TO defraud the /
insurance companies. An inquest had |
been held at Medicine Lodge, Kansas.
near the place Of reported death. a
Veroice given, upon the evidence of his
partner, OF accidental death by shoot
ing, and tae supposed remains buried:
but they Were diSinterred and brought
10 Lawrence, Kansas. where a second
inquest was held. The coroners iury
rendered verdict that the body which
was brought TO Lawrence as the body
OF John Hillmon was, in fact. not The
booy Of John Hillmon. but that il WAS
the body Of an unknown man who had
come 10 his death feloniously. ar The
hands Of John Brown. A warrant WAS
issued for john Brown. but was not
served, because Brown. fearing the adj.
verse result of the evidence. fed from
Kansas and became a fugitive from
justice. From the evidence presented
at the inquest and the verdict of the
coroner's jury, and a confession made
by Brown subsequently retracteO. the
companies interested were satisfied thar
conspiracy had been formed 10 de
fraud the three companies. and that il
was their duty 10 contest the claim
made by Mrs. HiIlmon to the utmost
1t was subsequently developed that the
man whose remains were claimed 10 be