The Fritz insurance policy The main event that resulted in the beginning of the Lincoln County War was controversy over the disbursement of Emil Fritz's insurance policy. Emil Fritz was a partner of L. G. Murphy. When he died in 1874, the executors of the estate hired Alexander McSween to collect his insurance policy. After collecting the policy, McSween refused to give the money to the executor of the estate because The House claimed that the money was owed to them as a debt and McSween suspected that the executor of the estate would give the money to them. McSween also knew how badly needy for cash The House was and as a business competitor was likely loath to have the money go to them, whether their claim was legitimate or not.
The fritz insurAnce policy The mAIn evEnt ThAt reSulted in The bEginNing Of the lINcOLN CoUntY war waS cOntrOvERSy over tHE disbursemEnT oF emil friTz'S inSuraNCe Policy. eMiL fritZ was a paRtner Of l. g MUrpHY. whEN He DiED in 1874, tHe executors of thE estAte hiREd alEXAnder MCSween to CoLleCT hiS insurANce poLICy. after cOLleCTing tHE PoliCy, McsWeEn reFUsED To GIve tHe MoneY To thE EXecuTOr of the estate BecaUSe thE house claiMed thAt th.E money waS owed To Them aS A DeBt and mCsWeEn SuspEctEd tHAt THe exEcuTor of tHe eSTaTe wouLd gIve the money tO tHem. MCSweeN also knew how baDly NeedY for CaSh thE house wAs AnD as a buSinEss competiToR was liKeLY ,loath to hAve tHe Money Go To ThEm whether theiR clAiM wAs leGItImate or not.