Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-02-01


here on December %, 1852, and has
never been definitely heard from
since, was filed for probate To-Day III
the office Of the clerk OF superior
court of Vance county. The action
was preliminary to litigation aimee
at collection Of insurance McColn
| had when he left.
Demand has recently been made on
, insurance companies for Scltlemenl
, of $4,000 insurance in which MIS-.
McCoin is beneficiary, and dounle
indemnity is being asked on the
! ground that McCoin was accidentally
! killed, running the amount to Sl5,-
! 600, and interest on the Sl6,O@O IS be-
ing asked for period Of seven years,
carrying the total claim to approNl-
mately $4,000, according TO j. T.
Zollicoffer, attorney representing
+! Mrs. McCOin.
AL. B. Westcr. =; many years Il
! business associate OF McCOIn, was
named in the will as administrator
! of the estate, and may file claims Tor
$4,000 additional insurance made
payable to the estate in the event
MIS- McCOin wins III ne" litigation.
Bcnaficiaries Named.
The will left to Mrs. McCOln the
homeplace on South William street
and the ,8O0-acre farm McCOm own
cd in DinWiddie county, Virginia, also
, 90.uUU IN cash. All OF the rest OF the
estate. which was not valued, was
left in trust TO Mr.. Wester tor the
use and benefit Of Mrs. McCOin, r.
S. McCoin, il, an afflicted nephew;
Miss Gertrude Harris, many years
prior TO her death an employe in the
McCoin offices, ana 10 Mr.. Wcster.
The will was dated September H.,
1882, d little over three months prior
to McCoins mysterious disappear
ance, and was witnessed by r. b..
Garter and Mayor Henry T. Powell,
local attorneys.
Property Attached.
After McCoin'S mysterious disap-
pearance, local banks, to whom he
owed something like $4,000, attach
ed the farm and other items Of the
estate, and acquired the homcplacc
after payment Of a small sum TO MIS-.
MCCOin. The home has since been
SOLD by the banks for Il sum report
ed to have been $1,000. II was orcc
valued at twice that amount. The
large DinWiddie farm, in which
McCoin had invested many thousands
OF dollars in Improvements and de-
velopmcntS over and above the pur-
chase price, has been held by the
banks the past seven years, and they
have been operating it and have
realized at tines considerable sums
in its operation. II grew tobacco for
the most part.
The Henderson Loan & Real Estate
Company. which NcCoin headed for
many years, was thrown into re-
ownership shortly after his disap-
pearance, and has since been Ii
quidated.
Insurance Inquiries.
Insurance companies, on whom de-
mand has been made for payment OF
total sums Of S22 900 in behalf Of Mrs.
McCoin, have not refused payment
as yet, and have asked for inlorma-
ton tending TO prove that the miss
ing man met violent or accidental
death. Mr.. ZollicofrCr said today THAI
papers in the litigation would DC filed
with the clerk of Vance Superior
Court in tho next few weeks, anG
the filing OF the will for probate to-
day was Il step in that direction.
Mr.. ZOllicOfrer has obtained copies
Of the complaint used in the myS-
tcrious disappearance Of the now
famous Judge Crater in New 4Off;
City, Case nc holds is in many &c
spccts similar to the McCOin case,
and in which settlements have lately
been made.
Mysterious Letter Came.
After McCoin disappeared, IL l"t-
ter was received by Chief Justice
Walter p. Stacy, of the North Car.
DINA Supreme Court, an intimate
friend of McCoin'S, telling Of how
McCoin was Waylaid and killed BY
blow on the head by party of young
men in an automobile on the turn
pike between Richmond and Peters,
burg, Va, when McCOin supposedly
was enroute back 10 his home hero.
The letter said the body was buried
IN lonely wood near HagcrStOWn,
Md, and gave directions for finding
the McCoin automobile in Column
bus, Ohio, garage, where it was re-
covered and returned here. The let
ter was mailed from Chicago.
Litlgatloa contemplated in behalf
OF Mrs. McCoin will contend that her
husband was violently and acCidCn-
tally killed two DAYS after he left
here, and that he has been dead since
mat time, according to Mr.. LOIlicof-
icr' Inc court will be asked to de-
Glare McCnin legally dead.
State law is that a missing man
may be legally declared dead after
seven years, but the suit will open
up many angles, and promises to be
one OF the most interos ting ever to
be tried in Vance county, if it comes
10 trial, as is expected.
Papers will be filed in time for
uial at the March terra of superior
court, MI Zollicoffcr SAID. but other
actlonS ahead Of it may prevent its
ocihS reached before the June term
10 Call Chief Justice.
me attorney stated that he plan
lied 10 subpoena Chief Justice Stacy
~ d witness, together with an eX-
2ir' from Columbus, Ohio, who a,
'1' time oi the finding of the auto
mobile IN garage there, made a ties
'S 10 whether Splotches of red or
papers found in the chr were humu.