The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-22
MAN ADJUDCED
DEAD REAPPEARS
AFTER II YEARS
Z. Nj. Swegle Disappeared In
1901 and Relatives Sued for
Insurance
THEY OBTAINED VERDICT
FROM SUPERIOR COURT
Missing Man Wrote From Cali
fornia That He Was Alive
and Well

PULLMAN. Wash, Aug 22,-Ar-
ter proving 10 the satisfaction OF the
court that Edwin NJ Swegle is dead
and securing a judgment against the
head camp OF the Woodmen OF the
World for SO 900 Insurance. money and
{ 81 900 interest. d. e. Dow, attorney,
for the plaintiff, has found that
Swegle is alive and has commitment
ed that fact TO John Pattison or Spo-
. Kane. attorney for the Defendants
thereby quieting case which mas
/ been In the courts since 1910.
The title OF the case was Thomas
sB. Matlock VS. the Head Camp, Pa
Acific Jurisdiction, Woodmen OF the
! World" and originated from the
mysterious disappearance OF EDWIN
NJ. Swegle on Aug. 3, 1901.
Swegle was a young married man
who was engaged In farming near
(! Steptoe. He was brother-in-law OF
1T. B. Matlock. formerly OF Pullman
and now located at Colfax' ana nao
been reared as member OF the lat
ter's family.
Swegle had taken out life insur-
, ance policy for $4,000 with the Wood
men of the World. and had named MT.
Matlock as his beneficiary. About the
6rst OF August, 1901, he gave mort
rage on his ranch TO raise money Win
which to build a house and went 10
Spokane TO see about purchasing
lumber.
Left Twelve Years Ago.
On Aug. 3, he appeared al the home
OF a half-sister In Seattle and told
her that he had fallen in with
couple Of strangers in Spokane VINO
had invited him 10 come TO Seattle
with them, and had given him tick-
ct. He stated that he expected 10
go back TO Spokane that afternoon.
Swegle then had about $l,l0O on MS
person
From that moment until recently
Swegle was never heard from and IL
was supposed that he had met with
foul play.
On Dec. II. 1910, Mr.. Matlock start
ed suit against the head camp OF the
Pacific jurisdiction OF the w. y. w.
for the amount of the insurance pol
Icy and accrued interest The case
was tried before Judge KEENAN, OF
Spokane in the superior court AT
Colfax in May, 1912, but Judge Ken
nan held IL under advisement until
March of this year, when he rendered
mis- decision in favor of the plaintiffs.
the principal and interest al that
time amounting TO nearly $4,000.
Court Called Him Dead.
Judge KEENAN, based his opinion
upon the legal presumption that
man is supposed to be dead seven
years after his disappearance.
Attorney Pattison for the defen-
dants Immediately appealed the case
TO the supreme court and the appeal
was pending when news OF the man
whereabouts was communicated 10 ID.
G. Dow, attorney for the plaintin
Acouaintances of Swegle saw him
alive and we'll in California several
weeks ago. and upon returning 10
the Palouse country at once com
muuicated the fact to Matlock and
Dow. A letter was addressed 10
Swegle at the town where he had
been seen and reply, signed by
Swegle himself. was received py
Matlock last Saturday. Swegle gave
no excuse for his disappearance. but
stated that he did not know case
TO collect his life insurance had been
instituted. Attorney Dow at once
wrote to Attorney Pattison. giving the
facts In the case, and the case Will
be called out OF the supreme court.