The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-16
INSURANCE WAS NOT PAID,
Strange story OF Man who once
Lived in Texas.

Lived In TeNhh.
New York Sun.
An order has been issued by the post
master general directing that Seth w
Tuley OF New Albany. Ind, be placed on
the salary list at $500 year, in place
OF Philip Nolan OF Texas. In spite OF the
wording OF this order. the same man win
continue TO draw salary which he has
received for nearly twenty wears. The
simple order covers very interesting
story
twenty-five years ago Seth w. Tuley
young business man of New Albany, Ind.
disappeared He had insurance policies
for large amounts In several companies,
whose agents were spuired to diligence
in search for him by the knowledge OF a
statute in Indiana to the effect that in
case OF the disappearance or man from
his usual haunts he would be presumed TO
be dead In the eyes OF the law when the
disappearance had continued for period
OF five years. In q modified form the
statute is still In force In most States
the limit is placed at seven years,
Several years went by and the time was
rapidly approaching when the insurance
payment would be due. Colonel w. w.
Tuley. Seth's brother. was member OF
the house of representatives in 1883. and
in February OF that year. just before the
time when his brother would be legally
presumed dead. Colonel Tuley introduced
in the house bill amending the legal
presumption statute so as 10 make thu
! legal presumption in such cases date back
to the day of the original disappearance,
! Colonel Tuley' idea was to prepare
against a possible defense by the insur-
ance companies against payment Of poll
cies on the ground that they had lapsed
/ through non payment Of premiums. The
! bill passed within week after 1t had
\ been introduced. every member OF the leg
4 slature being acquainted with the spe-
cifc case 1t applied TO.
! OF course the Insurance companies de-
clined to pay, demanding proof OF death
and OF course Colonel Tuley brought suit
for the amount The day for the trlai
came. Colonel Tuley and Charles L. jew
EFT. afterward Judge advocate general 10
the United States volunteers In the phil
ippines. were attorneys for the prosecu-
ton OF the case. 1t was well known that
the insurance companies had been search
ing everywhere for Tuley. and Ii was ru-
mored that they had some high cards up
their sleeves. 1t was also known That the
detectives who had been set on the case
several years before In anticipation OF a
legal fight, had found Tuley's clothes on
the Indiana side of the Ohio river. near
New Albany.
The case was finally opened and the In
surance companies allowed Colonel Tuiey
and Colonel Jewett to Introduce every
scrap OF evidence they had. Apparently
a perfectly clear case was made ou'
against the companies. When the PLAIN
tits rested the sheriff proceeded to call
WITNESSES for theeefense The iirst name
was Seth w. Tuley." and sure enough
there he was
On the witness stand Tuley told a
strange tale. He had not succeeded u
business. and besides had domestic DIM
culties Becoming discouraged he made
up his mind one morning thar he woull
break away from his surroundings and
begin life over again somewhere else
Accordingly he left some Of his clothes
on the river bank ia arouse suspicion
that ne was drowned, and set out fol
Texas. whore he prospered. In time ne
got into politics. and political influence
gave him an appointment IN the treasury
department at Washington. Just before
Cleveland took Office Tuley reached th'
capital and was sworn In. Then the de-
tectlyes from Indiana found him, thongI
IL was always a mystery how, since NJ
had changed his name TO Philip Nolai
as soon - relcsed Texas and wa
appointed TO the government service IN
der that name. Philip Nolan Is the her'
Of Edward Everett Hale's novel tn
-t"A h4NhDAh y NOhhA HAN AZ NSNN
Tuley had read the sock aud had beel
deeply impressed by IT,. Probably some o
bis old Indiana friends recognized HIN
while he was in the treasury department
and notified the insurance companies
or course the suit to recover on Tuley'
insurance. policies WIS dismissed at once
Colonel Tuiey and Colonel Jewett were
81 course perfectly honest In everythn
/, they did. They were Gumfonndcd whe
the missing man made his dramatic ap
pesrance,
Tuley returned TO Washington under nj
name Of Philip Nolan and resumed his pa
sition in the treasury department with
I out question. He discussed the prophet
I OF having his real name placed on Il
rolls. but the excitement consequent |
change In the administration WI
|, the hrsi democratic administration sine
: the civil war and no one knew what
! expedited Tuley to defer action. He va
Z young clerk. too. and like all your