Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-07
ANOTHER VICTIM
IS CLAIMED IN
PAINTERCASE
Death of S, Coles, Insurance
Man, Traced to Worry Caused
by MiIIionaire's Fate.
By COLE {. MORGAN.

death Of John Stricken Coles. which
is attributed directly to worry over
the affair.
! Mr.. Coles, a brother Of A p. Coles,
the Atlanta banker; Mrs. Stewart
Phinizy, Of Augusta; Mrs. j. D.
! Twiegs. Of Albany, and Mrs J. J.
Talley. Of Columbia S G., was gen
eral agent Of the Equitable Life As
| surance Society which issued poll
cies on Painters life totaling $4,000
and which refused him $4,000 ad-
ditional on the ground that he was
overinsured. These applications had
gone through the Jacksonville Office.
/ The Equitable was one Of those active
/ in investigating Painters death. This
company ranked next to the Mutual
in the amount of insurance on Pain
| ter.
His Death a Surprise.
Coles had been in bad health for
| several months The Painter mystery
caused him much worry, as it did the
agents Of other companies interested.
A few days ago, while the Painter in
vesugation was in progress. he was
forced to take his bed, but his Illness
was not considered serious, and IT
was stated at his office only Friday
| afternoon that he was expected at his
desk within a few days. However,
/ before the day was over he was
stricken with a heart attack and died
ALMOST Immediately.
| The announcement of his death to-
/ day came as a real shock in Jackson
vile business circles, for Coles was
one Of the most popular men here. He
| had been a resident Of Jacksonville for
nine years. He was 81 years old. His
wife and eight children survive him.
Rush Active Investigation.
The Mutual Equitable and New
York Life companies have been most
active in the investigation Of Paint
er's death. Each Of these companies
has had an adjuster here directly
/ representing the home office. Some
| Of the companies have had inspectors
on the ground, while two or three
have been represented only by their
resident general agents. The Mutual,
being the largest company Interested,
has probably gone more thoroughly
into the case than any other.
| The local insurance men are reti-
cent I'm discussing the details Of the
investigations made for their Compa-
mics until the report on the autopsy
land chemical examination Of Paint
| cr's organs reaches the COrOner's
| Jury. They fear to disclose any IF
their information lest II prejudice
| their cases if the anticipated court
contests over the payment Of the pol
llcies materialize.
State to Take No Action.
The state Of Florida. through the
| Criminal Court, is taking and Will
Itake no part in the Painter inquest
declared William a. Hallowes, states
/ Attorney, to-day. There is no sus-
lpicion whatever that Mr.. Painters
death was due to any act of violence
on the part Of another" he said. and
for that reason there is no occasion
for an inquest as far as the Criminal
| Court is concerned The law specifies
that inQuests are necessary only
iWhcre there is suspicion of death being
idue directly or indirectly to Grim
iual action on the part Of another.
No such condition applies in this
ease and ! SO stated to the Coroner's
jury The Coroner has authority to
lCall an inquest when he sees mt, and
to report the findings 10 the Criminal
Court for the action Of the Grand
|JurN. hut / will state positively that
the Painter case will not be presented
To that body
Mr. Painter died either from nat
Iural causes. by accidentally drowning
Tor he committed suicide. No second
party had any hand i'm his death. The
lquesuun is one between the insurance
companies and the representatives of
1.-THE dead mans family The state Of
Florida has no interest in IT,"
Attorney Hallowes is law grad
Uate of the University Of Georgia,
class of 1903.
No Report Vet
The report of analysis made Of
Painters vital organs by Baltimore
chemists did not reach Jacksonville
to-day. Cashier Wheeler. Of the Bar
Iuety National Bank. 20 which institu-
/ tiun 10 was ordered sent, said IL had
not reached the bank nor had there
been any message received as %
3 when II would come Coroner G. u
Abbott said he had received "a mes
sage that the report would leave
Baltimore on Monday That means
Tia viii be next Wednesday before il
Iwlu be available for action by the
Coroncr's jury After COmpletinE
their tests the chemists needed addi-
Iuoutl time 90 write and certify under
b oath 90 their report.
DIT ! r Boyd and Dr. r. c. Perry
, I the physicians representing the Pain
/ ter family who performed the au-
Jopsy and who went 10 Baltimore "a
witness the chemical analysis ar
. rived In Jacksonville Friday night
/ after am absence Of fifteen days on
|thts ease.
The result of the Baltimore analysis
is a closely guarded secret as far as
Jacksonville is CoACerued Drs BOYD
and Perry and representatives Of the
Painter family are the only persons
{ here who know what took place in
Baltimore. and they absolutely refuse
( To discuss the matter to-day DR.
Perry said Il viii answer no ques-
uons whatever Il Is no use asking
them.
CUNARD LINER LAUNCHED.
] LONDON June The new Gu