The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-01
WILL FILE
A CONTEST
Mrs. Stevens VIII Try and
Collect on Sutton'S Policy.
EMPLOYED AN ATTORNEY
There Is a Good Chance Of
Her Getting the Money.

Mrs. Annie Stevens VIII contest the
right of the mother OF George sutton
70 receive the s.. COG insurance which was
left BY him when ne committed suicide.
Mr.. sutton ana Mrs. Stevens we're to
have been married on the Sunday fol-
lowing his death. He left note to her
saving that he had ordered his policy
changed TO read Mrs. Annie Stevens, as
he wished her to have the money instead
Of his mother. It was only a few days
before his death that he went to The &C
countant of the 4 P. A. and had flied
out the proper blank and paid 81 to have
the beneficiary changed TO Mrs Stevens.
The head Office at Topeka on receipt Of
the letter sent a notice back that polcy
MI st state what relation TIE beneficiary
is to The insured and this AIr. Sutton did
not state The laws Of the state of KAN
sas say that an insurance policy must
be made out in favor OF blood relation
. or the afianced wife. Mr.. Sutton IL al
legged to have refused 10 tel the order
what relation Mrs. Stevens was 20 him
and they refused TO make the change
in the policy. Now they have held Up the
payment OF the amount until the rnstter
/ is settled. Mrs. Stevens has engaged Otto
EcKstein TO lock after her side OF the
case and he stated that she had a very
good chance of Winning her case
Mr.. sutton made the request for
change. He possibly did not understand
I what the requirements we're in the mat
ter OF Relationship or there would have
been no trouble about the matter. The
supreme court has held that the money
/ must 90 to the person who holds the
! policy and that il cannot be left by d viii.
! Now the change was requested, but not
made and tho company can pay II 10
anyone they please unless the matter is
| contested The supreme court has handed
down decision that unless the rules OF
/ the order state specifically what relation
| the beneficiary must be 10 the insured.
it must go to the one to whom the In
/ sured wished il TO 60. There is no rule
/ in the order that covers this ground and
/ only the state law stands in the way and
/ If Mrs. Stevens can prove that shs was
/ his afianced wife at the time he re
! quested the change, she has a very good
chance of winning the suit.
D W. Carrothers. the local accountant
of the Knights Of the Protected Ark, said
to 2 reporter for the Eagle yesterday.
! we owe the money to some one, but we
have held up the payment because We
have oeen notified that there would be a
/ contest by Mrs Stevens. Mr.. Sutton did
( not state IN his request what relation she
was to him. so our order refused 20 pay
/ the money to her and we have refused TO
pay the money to the mother until the
matter IS settled BY the courts"
Mr.. EcKstein said: This is a matter
we'll worth contesting, as the policy
I amounts to a considerable sum. A short
/ time ago / had d case almost like this
( one, where a step-scn was named as ben
4 ehciary and it sid not state what relation
/ he was TO the insured. When the case
+ was tried the insurance company stood
/ back and let the people fight IL out among
? themselves. They simply Acknowledged
/ that they owed the money to some one
and were ready to pay II as soon as the
court should decide the matter Wei. the
/ step-son won the case and this matter is
( almost exactly Ike IT, so no reason why
/ Mrs. Stevens should not win it. Il viii
! be but few days until 7 know whether
: a suit VIII he fled or not II the com
/ Rany refuses 10 do anything, I certainly
/ will fle a suit