The New York herald., 1878-12-20
THE CHARTER OAK TRIAL.
SECRETARY STEVENS SUBMITTED TO A SEVERE
EyAMISATToS-AN ANNUAL REPORT IN EyI-
DENcE.

SECRETARY STEVENS SUBMITTED TO SEVERE
ExAM1SATIoS-AN ANNUAL REPORT IN EvI-
DENcE.
HARTFORD. Conn, Dec 10. 1873.
The testimony in the Charter Oak conspiracy trial
to-day mainly that of Halsey Stevens secretary
OF the company who holds that position and
held it through the period OF the Furber manage
ment. In the first part of his testimony
the prosecution gained a point by getting in
evidence the report made by the accused
Of the condition of the company on the 3lst Of De-
cernber 1875, which had heretofore been ruled out.
The defence objected TO il as inadmssible but the
Court ruled that, produced by the witness in the
shape Of the original return made to the State Insu
Department, signed by President Wiggin on be-
half Of the company according TO the State law It
was clearly admissible. This the first report
made by the accused after they obtained control Of
the company. and its exclusion until this time has
been damaging 10 the prosecution.
SECRETARY STEVENS KNOWLEDGE VARIOUS MATTERS.
For two hours or more Secretary Stevens read
from the record Of directors meetings accounts Of
votes authorizing transactions in real estate loans.
Sc. or ratifying many things that had been done.
The defence confined their examination mainly
to showing that the annual reports both of 1876 and
1876 signed by witness more of the
accused without yerhcation of the hgures-that is.
that the cures furnished by the clerks Of the several
branches OF the office accepted correct Wit
finally admitted that he and the other officers
did not attempt to verify an annual statement before
signing it. for the that the task would occupy
weeks of labor.
THAT FuRBFa CONTRACT AGAIs.
lie also admitted signing the original contract
made with Furber in November 1875. III the presence
OF three Of the directors Fnrbor told witness that
he did not want him TO sign IL until he fully compre
hended and approved il, and witness made but sim
gle objection and that that there limit To
the amount Of compensation that Furber might
ceive under IL. Furber explained that IL the in
tcntion to have majority Of the Board Of Directors
Hartford at all times, and this In itself would he
u strong protection of the company's inter-
ests in The matter OF compensation. Further
also inquired whether witness could suggest any
better plan by which he might be guaranteed repay
mcnt for values advanced by him TO make up the i'm
pairinent of capital. After some thought witness
10 the conclusion that the contract the best
thing that could be devised under the circumstances,
and thcrcupon signed IL. In this conversation Fur
her suggested that way that the company could
new policies. the result Of which would be an early
restoration 10 solvcncy through the operation OF the
companys rccuperativc power.
had BEEN KEPT ~ TILE DARK.
on redirect examination witness said that he had
never seen Wiggin until the day the contract was
signed aud never had heard from the directors that
there TO be any change n the management.
though of the accused. Walkley. then president
Of the company had told him that the Furber con-
tract had been approved by the Board. witness was
not sure that Charlton Il. Lewis, " the New York
Chamber Of Life Insurance. present at the sign
ing OF the contract the document was read aloud by
Furber: did not then know that Wiggin had any
stock, and Furber remarked 60 witness that Wig
kiu was only an acquaintance whom ne neld Known
but short time and only in this trans
action regarding the Charter Oak. Witness further
testified that after the contract had been signed hc
took letter to Insurance Commissioners Stcdman Mt
Norwich, from Charlton Lewis, but the contents OK
this letter not disclosed. Defence made point
against the allegation BY the prosecution that the
alleged conspratOrs knew that real estate asset
reported in the annual returns overstatcd, by
securing from witness admission that lac and
possibly they also. when signing the returns, knew
but little of the values n such assets. except by the
hgurcs reported from the company = appraisers.
SOUTHERN PROPERTY ovhAvALUED.
The testimony closed with the calling of sur
yeyor named THURMAN. residing in fayette county,