Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-09
NEW VICTIM
IS CL AIMED
IN PAINTER
TRAGEDY
Death Of J. S. Coles, Insurance
Man, Traced to Worry Caused
by MiIIionaire's Fate,
BY COLE {. MORGAN.

JACKSONVILLE. FLA. June s.
While no new light has been shed or
the mystery in the death of f. o
Painter Immediately after he had
taken out 100000 life insurance
that case has a tragic result in the
death Of John Stricken Coles, whicf
is attributed directly to worry ovel
the affair.
Mr.. Coles, a brother Of A. P. Coles
the Atlanta banker; Mrs. Stewart
Phinizy of Augusta Mrs, ], D
Twiggs, Of Albany, and Mrs J. ]
Talley, of Columbia, S c., 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 wa!
overinsured These applications haC
gone through the Jacksonville office
The Equitable was one Of those activ,
in investigating Painters death. Thl,
company ranked next to the Mutua
in the amount of insurance on Pain.
ter.
His Death 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
vestigation was in progress, he was
forced 10 take his bed but his illness
was not considered serious and II
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. II,
had been a resident Of Jacksonville foI
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
ers death. Each Of these companie:
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 theil
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 in discussing the details Of Tho
Investigations made for their compa-
MES until the report on the autopsy
and chemical examination Of Paint
ers organs reaches the Coroner
jury. They fear TO disclose any ot
their information lest it prejudice
their cases if the anticipated court
contests over the payment Of the pol
icies materialize.
State to Take No Action.
The state Of Florida, through the
Criminal Court. is taking and viii
take no part in the Painter inquest
declared William A. HaIlowes, States
Attorney. to-day. There is no sus-
picion 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
where there rs suspicion Of death being
due directly or indirectly 90 a Grim
inaI action on the part of another
No such condition applies iH this
case. and 7 So stated 90 the Coroner
Jury. The Coroner has authority 90
call an inquest when he sees fit. and
10 report the findings To the Criminal
Court for the action ~ the Grand
Jury. bur / VIII state psStiveIg that
the Painter case viii not he presented
tu that body
Mr.. Painter. died either from nat