The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-22
THROUGH FIVE TRIALS
The Famous Hillmon Insurance
Case Finally Settled.
BASED ON A COMPROMISE
1t Was q Refusal to Pay This Claim
That Started the Insurance War
in Kansas-Both Sides Re-
fuse to Talk.

Topeka Kas Jan. 21.-The famous
Hillmon insurance case, which has
been fought through five trials, was set
tied to-day. so far as the claim against
the New York Life Insurance company
is concerned. Hillmon was insured in
this company for $4,000, but upon what
basis the compromise was made can
not be ascertained. Both sides refuse
to talk.
When Insurance Commissioner Webb
McNall was apprised of the New York
Lies action in settling the Hillmon
claim this afternoon, he promptly
granted it's attorneys a license for the
year almost past and ending Feb. Is,
1888, and also for the next license year
This McNall thought. renders valid
any business the company may have
done the past year without a license.
1t was the refusal 10 settle the Hill
mon claims upon which Insurance
Commissioner McNall based his acton
in revoking the licenses of the interest
ed companies last March.
The Mutual Life was one of these,
and is at present barred from the state
by a judgment of custer from the su-
preme court. The Connecticut Mutual
is abiding by McNalfs action in re-
voking its license. and has made no
fight. The New York Life brought
suit against McNall for damages. Later
the suit was dropped suddenly. The
charge has been made that this COM
pany has been soliciting business In
this state without a license, and quo
warranto proceeding is pending in the
supreme court, brought by the attor-
ney general to compel the company to
show why IL is transacting business
without a license.
Attorney General Boyle refused at
late hour tonight to say whether or
not this case will be dropped; indeed,
the action of the insurance commits
sioner in granting license for the
year past makes ii uncertain whether
or not the case may properly be tried.
John w. Hillmon, who is supposed to
have been shot through the head at
Medicine Lodge, March II, 1872 had life
insurance as follows:
In the New York Life, 10000; Mutual
Life, $4,000 and Connecticut Mutual,
5000. II was claimed that Hilmon
was accidentally shot by his travelling
companion, John III. Brown. The in
surance companies claimed that con-
spiracy was formed. consisting of Levi
Baldwin, John w. Hillmon and j. IL.
Brown, and that Hilmon's life was in
sured, and that Frederick Adolphus
Walters was murdered by Hillmon and
his body attempted to be palmed off on
the company as Hillmon's.
The case has been tried five times.
The first trial was at Leavenworth,
Jdits 1000. lie Jun W aSiNt'
seven being for the plaintiff and five
for the defendant. The second trial
was at Leavenworth, June, 1885. The
jury again failed to agree, the vote
standing six to six. The third trial was
at Topeka, resulting in a verdict for the
plaintiff The case went to the SUI
preme court. where the judgment of the
lower court was reversed. The next
trial was before Judge Thomas of
North Dakota, and IL jurymen stood
out for Mrs. Hillmon. A f:th trial was
held by Judge Williams. the jury
standing five to seven in favor OF Mrs.
Hillmon.
The sixth trial had been set for Feb.
il, 1898, will be tried unless the
Mutual Life and Connecticut Mutual
follow the example set by the New
York Life to-day and compromise the
claims.
The document filed at a late hour
this evening with George #. Sharritt.
clerk of the federal court. by AIRS. Hill
mon. is not dismissal of the case, al
though the lawyers declare that that
is practically what ii amounts to. 1t
simply transfers Mrs. Hillmons right
and title to the claim to one James f.
Lord. who. IL is understood, is di-
rector of the company.
Judge Foster is not in the city, and
the attorneys say that the papers filed
to-day put the case in proper form for
dismissal when he does arrive. One re-
port has II that Mrs. Hillmon receives
the full amount of her claim, SO 600
and interest amounting to $1,000