The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-05-17
STORY OF THE $1,000 CHECK



for 81 900 which was given to Mr.. Stro-
bel and that at that time informed
the directors about the matter?'
Mr.. Platt-"I remember the matter
was talked of but l don't remember
what was said"
do you remember that I asked Mr.
Strobel at that meeting to make "a
statement concerning the check and
that he said that he gave it to Colonel
Doherty who started with it to New
York to give it to Mr.. Baldwin to get a
favorable report on the company from
the commissioner"
II do not remember"
Mr.. Belts then brought out the fact
that as soon as he asked for the resig-
nation of Colonel Doherty from the po-
sition of secretary of the Indemnity
company Mr.. Colgrove, the manager
left Waterbury in the night and the
fact that in twenty eight days Mr.. Col
grove took out Of the company about
$1,614 In addition to his salary
Mr. Kenealy--"Mr. Plat, do you want
this committee to understar that $1,000
of your company's money was being
used for questionable purposes and you
never inquired about what it was for?"
Mr. Platt-'J made an inquiry as to
who were the people who made to Colo
mel Doherty the proposition for the pay
ment of $1,000 to influence the commits
soner's report, and Colonel Doherty
said that those who made the PROPOSE
ton preferred that their names be kept
quiet. At meeting of the directors the
statement was made thai certain indi-
divuals had represented that they could
influence comments made by the insur-
ance commissioner concerning our COM
pany's reports. This statement was
made by Colonel Doherty. No definite
proposition was made to the board of
directors but an indefinite idea was CIV
en- that some one had approached Col
onel Doherty in regard to the matter.
/ understood that the meeting in New
Haven was in regard to that same
proposition. Colonel Burpee asked me
about the sum of money being used
saying that he had heard that some
money had been used and money had
been paid to someone"
Colonel Doherty of Waterbury was
the next witness called. He testified
that on March 8, 1885, he received a
letter from Charles r, Baldwin of New
York saying that his friends in New
York knew what Mr.. Belts report con-
corning the Indemnity company was to
be and stating that influence might be
used to have the report changed. Wit
ness said that he went to New York and
met Mr.. Baldwin at the Imperial hotel
in New York and talked over the affairs
of the Indemnity company, and found
hot Mr., o1I u.i,
those affairs than he did Witness eaid
that Mr.. Baldwin told him that he got
his information from thosa who knew
all about it. He said: Mr. Baldwin
took me to Mr.. Alloway's house after
- o'clock at night. Mr.. Alolway eaid
that he was able to give me figures in
regard to the examination of our COM
pany as an examinat ton had just been
completed by the commissioner and his
actuary. 1t was hardly possible to get
these figures except from the insurance
commissioner, from his office and from
his actuary. | remained with Mr.. Allo-
way and Mr.. Baldwin for two hours.
"They asked me as to the condition of
our company, and I told them that it
was better than ever before and that l
could not understand the attacks by the
commissioner. Mr.. Baldwin told me
that Mr. Alloway was very friendly
with the commissioner and would be
very glad to state our side of the case
to the commissioner. I asked Mr.. AL
loway what his services would be
worth. He said that so far as he was
concerned it would not cost us cent !
but that Mr.. Baldwin was in straitened
circumstances and out of occupation |
and should be considered and an accu-
patton given to him. They volunteered |
to communicate with Mr.. Belts the next |
day by telephone and I understood that |
they did So The next day l lunched |
with Mr. Alloway,at the Hoffman house |
and he wanted to know if I couldn't |
arrange a position for Mr.. Baldwin in |
our company in Waterbury at a salary |
Of $1,000 per year Before I left New |
York they were to notify me when q |
meeting could be held with the commits
sioner. About the time when I arrived |
home in Waterbury I received tele-
gram saying that meeting was to be
held in the Palladium office in New
Haven that same evening. / went to
New Haven, no one with me, and Mr..
Alloway, Mr.. Belts, Mr. Baldwin, Mr.. |
DenniE, Mr.. Moran and myself arrived
at the Palladium Office at about the same
time. That was on March "a, 1896, and
at that meeting there was a general
talk as to the company's affairs and as
to what was proper and right to be said
in the commissioners report. Mr.. Belts
made the contention that the capital
stock and other items were liabilities
and I claimed the contrary. The final
result was this-that 7 never saw any
advance notes of Mr.. Belts concerning
his report of our company, either before
or since, and all thought that I knew |
the report came from Mr..
Baldwin and Mr. All6way, who appear
ed to know what was going on in the
commissioners office.
"It was generally decided at that