Discusses a landmark Supreme Court case on the admissibility of hearsay evidence involving a dead cowboy, his widow, and a $25,000 insurance policy.

Important characters in the story of the Hillmon case -- Timeline of events important to the Hillmon litigation -- A winter journey leads to an inquest : 1879 -- The parties ready their cases for trial : 1879-1882 -- The Hillmon case is tried before a jury : 1882 -- The case is tried twice more, and a surprising objection is made : 1884-1888 -- The Supreme Court hears a case of "graveyard insurance" : 1892 -- John Hillmon is reported to be alive as the arduous fourth trial proceeds : 1893-95 -- The fifth trial progresses briskly but ends inconclusively, and New York Life capitulates : 1896-1899 -- The Hillmon case is tried for the last time : 1899 -- The century turns, and the Hillmon case is concluded : 1900-1903.