The morning call., 1895-02-11
MSpIeased His Employers and
He Was Suspended.
AN INSURANCE SENSATION.
Worked for the London and Lanea.
shire in Oakland.
STATEMENT OF MANAGER MACDONALD.
He Declines to Terify a Rumor That His
Subordinate'S Accounts We're
Not Straight.

Thomas Agnew, who for five years past
was the Oakland agent OF the London and
Lancashire Insurance Company of this
city, has been suspected by Manager Will
liam Macdonald, and the Oakland office IS
temporarily in charge of special agent
The suspension has been the subject OF
general comment in insurance circles for
several days past. The prominence OF Mr..
Agnew as an insurance man necessarily
rendered his dismissal matter OF lmpor-
tance, and in consequence rumors were
circulated that his suspension was due TO
discrepancies in his accounts. Whether
these rumors were well based or not the in
vestigation of his affairs now in progress
alone can determine.
Manager Macdonald yesterday declared
that Mr.. Agnew's suspension was not due
to dishonest practices.
1--WE have not discovered yet anything
that would justify such statement" said
he. "Until it is shown by documentary
proof that Mr.. Agnew's accounts are
wrong 1 will regard him as an innocent
man."
"Will you explain why you suspended
him p was asked.
1--WE did it" replied Manager Macdon-
aid, 'because we were dissatisfied with his
business methods. We thought he was not
attending to the work as we thought he
should and decided that our interests de-
manded a change. / do not mean TO say
by this that his methods were dishonest,
for that would be untrue. Mr.. Agnew's
office is now in charge of my son, who is
checking up his business"
Have you discovered any Irregular
ties ?' was asked.
That word has a very broad meaning"
replied Manager Macdonald. II can say
this, however, that we have not as yet dis
covered anything that would justify the
allegation that Mr.. Agnew was dismissed
for dishonest practices. He was dismissed
because, in our judgment, change might
benefit the company. Mr.. Agnew caused
considerable friction among insurance men
of Oakland, who accused him OF making
rebates to personal friends. That, how
ever, is no crime, but it is a violation of the
hesitate to say that Mr.. Agnew was any
thing but an honest man. Ii had proofs
that he was dishonest while acting as our
Oakland agent would be the first to de-
nounce him"
Assistant Manager Miles made similar
statement. He knew that Mr.. Agnew had
some enemies in Oakland, and it did not
surprise him that they circulated rumor
charging him with being a defaulter after
his suspension.
"Mr. Agnew's removal" said he. twas
in contemplation many months ago. His
business methods were unsatisfactory to
the company, but / do not believe that a
suspicion of dishonesty was entertained in
deciding upon that course. 1t is no dis
credit TO Mr.. Agnew TO have his agency
taken away, for that sort of thing is occur
ring continually. Mr.. Agnews accounts,
however, are being examined, but thus far
| nothing out OF the ordinary course has been
developed"
A number of insurance men in this citv,
who have known Mr.. Agnew for years, were
questioned relative to his suspension, but
all of them declared themselves in ignor-
ance of the facts of the case. They had
heard various rumors, but personally they
could not say whether these rumors were
well founded.
1--WE knew all along" said one of these
| gentlemen, ''that Agnew was liable to get
| into trouble in Oakland on the rebate
question. Many OF the insurance men
| over there were incensed against him for
| various reasons, some OF which, no doubt,
were of a personal nature. The fact that
he was suspended, therefore, did not sur
! prise us in the least. :"
Manager Macdonald stated last night
| that Mr.. Agnew's office would remain in
charge of special agent until a successor
could be found who would fill the neces-
| sary requirements.
II am not dismissed from the services of
the company that | am aware of" said
| Agnew yesterday, land | certainly would
know it if it were so. Why, only to-day /
was talking with son of the general man.
ager, special agent of the company, but
! there was no intimation that | was dis
missed or would be, or that there had been
| any question about my administration of
affairs on this side of the bay.
1.-THE general manager is W. NJ. Mac
donald, and my relations with him in
both business and social sense are AMIGA
ole. l have been Oakland agent for five
years and have had no trouble with the
company. / do not understand how this
report could have got abroad and think
there must be some error.
"In the late insurance rate war the Ian
cashire came out of the fight better than
any company in Oakland, and my report
of the matter was in every way satisfactory
to the head office.
ut is very strange, indeed, this report.
| can say this: If | am dismissed l know
y,nfhino n hot icf he hah 1o