Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-22
THOUGHT BIC AUTO
WOULD KILL HIM
MILLIONAIRE HAD FREMONT
Tl0N OF HIS END
EXPRESSED HIS FoREBoDINGs
Premonitory Feelings Held by Million
aIre That His Automobile Would
Be Cause Of Terminating
His Llfe's Career

Milton T. Hancock, the millionaire
inventor and plow manufactures, met
his death as he himself predicted,
Boys. that automobile will be the
death of me-" he remarked Tuesday af-
ternoon to the men who were at work
repairing the machine. II am not
much on forebodings, but that is the
way it looks to me-"
The accident on South Main street
Thursday night, in which the big red
bore out his prediction, made half in
jest, half in earnest, two days before.
Battered and partially demolished,
but with its machinery still in fair
condition, the machine was towed to
the residence of its late owner yester-
day afternoon by Fred Winnett, Han
cocks former chauffeur, who at the
command of the wealthy plow maker
has often sent the auto over the coun-
try roads at express train speed.
In company with two other machines
partly dismantled, with a tarpaulin
thrown over it, the machine now
stands in the barn at 4o93 Woodlawn
avenue.
Mrs. Hancock and her two sons and
Miss Hildreth, formerly secretary to
Mr.. Hancock, came from the house
to see the destroyer of their loved one.
They looked silently for several min
utes, then left the barn.
Mrs. Hancock Frustrated
Mrs Hancock, Frustrated by the ter
rible ordeal through which she has
passed, refused to see any but intimate
friends. The injuries which she re-
ceived have proved to be of no great
importance. The 12-year-old daughter,
Eugenia, was the only one yesterday
to suffer pain from her injuries. With
her left wrist broken and confusion
of the forehead, she was confined to
her bed.
What the verdict of the coroner's
jury will be, following the. inquest at
9 o'clock this morning. can only be
SuTIllSeu. IOulS IldiiCOCh idu utiNCh
the machine' but three times. He is
familiar with it's workings, as he has
been constantly in the company of
Fred Winnett, the chauffeur, but he
had little practical experience as an
automobilist.
The speed of the machine at the time
of the accident was far in excess of
that permitted by the city ordinance.
Chief of Police Hammel visited the
Hancock home yesterday afternoon,
but after looking over the wrecked
machine left without meeting any of
the victims of the accident.
Hancock had been in the police
courts several times and his reputa-
tion for speeding had ceased to be
even matter of comment.
Leaves Large Estate
Hancock carried large amount of
insurance in favor of his wife and a
$4,000 policy payable to his private
secretary, Miss Hildreth, who has been
with him for the past eleven years
and is a cousin of his wife. His patents
are valued at $1,5O0.000.
Generous to the point of extrava-
gance, Hancock spent the larger part
of his income Of $4,000 year on his
family, friends and those to whom he
took a liking.
His prosperity of the early eighties,
when he sold his first invention on "a
turn plow to the Columbus Iron works
for $1,000 and the agency rights, did
not turn his head, but the money did
not last long.
AS man understanding the art OF
advertising he far outshone Walter
Scott. the Croesus of Death valley, N
his meteoric flight in publicity during
the past four weeks.
Invested Wisely
On being paid the first $1,000 Hancock
Immediately invested 5000 of the amount
in costly buggy and a dashing team
of horses.
The sober minded Louisiana farmer
became in a night, to all appearances,
the wealthy inventor and manufacturer.
With his fine turnout he went to a
little town of northern Georgia, where,
with his liherality and his appearance.
he gave the impression of possessing
enormous wealth. He wished to meet
the farmers of the locality. He paid
the principal banker of the city $25 a
day to accompany him into the country
and introduce him. Hancock there sold
territorial rights for the sale of his
plow and cleared 100000
Following this, he went to Little
Rock. Ark, and settled down as a hard
ware merchant. But the inventive
faculty was strong within him and in a
year he had made further improve
ments on his patents, which netted him
his fortune.
Inspiration Of Patent
In watching a farmer blowing he
noticed that the mules pulled away
from each other to tighten their woi k.
The mules showed him an easier
method Of making money than by sell