The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-19
LED A DUAL LIFE.
Attorney Cowie and Orange
Grower Everett Same Man.
Insurance Co. Establishes Iden-
tity Year After Death.

Los Angeles, Cal, Sept. 19--Declar-
ing that Francis j. Everett, who died
and was buried in San Bernardino one
year ago, was not Everett at all, but
James F. Cowie, once brilliant attor-
ney and former law partner of United
States Senator Moses E. Clapp. of
Minnesota, who mysteriously disap-
peared twenty-six years ago, docu-
ments have been filed in San Bernar-
dino, Cal, by the Standard Accident
Insurance company, disputing the
claim of the widow.
If Mrs. Everett was actually the
widow of the man who was buried
she would be entitled to $500 acct
dent insurance, for the man she sup
posed was her legal husband for many
years died aS the result of an automo-
bile accident.
that Mrs. Everett is entitled to no
benefits whatever under the policy,
for the reason that Everett was Cowie,
who left wife in Fergus Falls, Mimi,
and therefore could not legally marry
in San Bernardino county.
Wife Not Sure.
Mrs. Everett, who is 20 years of
age, declared today that while during
the many years she lived with Everett
cause the slightest suspicion of mys-
terry in his past, she was now con-
WINGED that the allegations of the in
surance company might possibly be
true.
Mrs. Everett, however, declares that
her husband must have divorced his
first wife before marrying her, and
she has employed attorneys to compel
payment of the $500 policy on Ever
etts life.
Another strange angle of the case,
is the presence for fifteen years in
who knew Cowie at Fergus Falls.
No word, however, came from them
during the years that the three men
met on the streets and moved in the
same circles
Eyes, 1 knew Cowie, of Fergus
Falls" said w. T. Bill, one of Red
| lands most prominent men. when
I met Everett we did not mention the
past. I said nothing, he said nothing.
And why should L? He was a young
man in the past. He made a misstep
and came west to bury himself He
buried a brilliant future. He paid
| dearly for the indiscretion of youth"
| Judge c. E. Chapman, prominent
Redlands attorney, knew Cowie of
Fergus Falls, and the grave took Ever
EFT without a word from him.
| Prospered in West.
| For twenty-three years the man
known as Everett lived in Redlands
or that vicinity. He was respected
and he prospered. He wooed Mrs
Elizabeth A. Judd, member of a well
known San Bernardino family, won
her love and married her. When he
died many prominent citizens followed
his body to the grave.
| James F. Cowie was a brilliant at
torney of Minnesota and a former law
partner of United States Senator Moses
E. Clapp of Minnesota, is the story is
set forth in the insurance company's
answer. Twenty-six years ago he dis.
appeared utterly, as if the earth ha6
swallowed him up. Search was made
for him in many states in vain. Nc
trace of min. could be found any
where.
When Everett died he was superin
tendent of a water company and {
prosperous orange grower.
As Everett, the orange grower, HI
was buried. Some time afterwart
much mystery attached to a midnigh
disinterment of the body. The author
tiles permitted the opening of thu
grave in Mountain View cemetery, Sal
Bernardino, to give the representa-
tives of the insurance company op
portunity to view the body. This mys
terry is dispelled now by the conten
ton of the company that it has es
tablished the identity of Everett a
COwie.