The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-05-05
CALLS FOR Elk GOV. BULKELEY
CLARENCE DEMING asked 10
HAVE HIM SUBPOENAED.


Deming's Statements and Said "God
Save us from Our Friends,
Another adjourned hearing on the res
oution requiring the judiciary commit
tee to investigate the legal expenses of
the insurance commissioner in 1898 and
the history and final settlement of the
suit of Insurance Commissioner Fred
erlck A. Belts against the Aetna Life
Insurance company was held yesterday
afternoon. The hearing was held in the
senate chamber, and when it opened a
! large attendance of interested speCta-
! tors was present including a number
| from New Haven. Mr.. Belts and his
counsel, Attorney John w. Alling and
Judge Hungerford, were present, as
were also Attorney General Phelps to
examine witnesses and Clarence Dem
ing, who few days ago published a
letter in which he asked several ques-
tons which he held were pertinent to
| the inquiry.
| The committee was called to order by
| Mr.. kenealy, the house chairman, at
2:3O. Mr.. Kenealy stated that every
opportunity would be afforded for any
person having information as to the
matter referred to the committee to give
that information to the comittee, and
to the end that a compulsory attend
ance of witnesses might be had, blank
subpoenas had been prepared and were
at the disposal of Mr.. Belts and his
counsel, and any money that might be
required to secure the attendance of
witnesses might be had from the chair
man of the committee. There was no
disposition on the part of the committee
to shirk the duty imposed on it, and, If
the witnesses desired the names of the
witnesses might be given to the attor-
ney general if it was desired that they
should be examined by him. He said
that if Mr.. Belts desired to make any
further statement the committee was
ready to hear him.
Mr.. O'Sullivan asked the committee
that if Mr.. Belts statement would in
clude any statements or hearsay evil
dence he might be permitted to offer
similar evidence.
Mr.. Alling said he didn't know wheth-
er this thing would come to an end or
not. He was associated with Mr.. Belts
for three years in the conduct of the
Aetna Lifes case, and was astonished
that charges against Mr.. Belts We're
filed and a request for an investigation
made. Mr.. Belts was conscious of be-
ing entirely innocent and that there was
nothing that needed investigation. Mr..
Belts, as he thought and as Mr.. Alling
thought, had nothing to do but to go
about his business. He thought that
the committee would take care Of the
matters involved at the proper time.
Governor Bulkeley, who was Interested,
was absent in California. Mr.. Alling
did not think it proper for Mr.. Belts to
try the case in the newspapers. He
said Nothing has appeared which
Mr.. Belts was called upon to answer.
We heard that something had taken
place in barroom. Our hands We're
tied. If we had attempted to do any
thing it would have been said that we
had fixed witness. There is no charge
in my work here for Mr.. Belts. | felt
that great wrong had been done to
his reputation and his character.
Now there is another aspect of the |
case. My friend and neighbor comes
into the arena. I supposed that it was
finished the other day. Mr. OSulivan |
is right; the committee should no more |
dignity hearsay evidence in one case
than in the other. We have hearsay
evidence which we do not submit be-
cause it has nothing to do with the
Aetna Life case For Mr.. Belts to come
here and turn this hearing into an in
of Mr. O'Sullivan would not |
be proper. and / am not going to attack
a man when l think there is no occa-
sion for it.
Il should judge from the questions
that my friend has put in the papers
that he wants to know the motives
which actuated Mr. O'Sullivan. / don't
think that should be done unless there
was an investigation of Mr.. OSulliVan.
If Mr.. Deming has witnesses who know
sbout the settlement of the Aetna Life
case let him hand their names to the
committee. If he knows what Mr.. Belts
has told him he has heard, that is not
proper evidence. So far as handing IN
the names of witnesses, we are in the
hands of this committee. We will say
that the questions have nothing to do
with the Aetna Life case. We submit
that as long as we are willing to serve
Mr. Belts freely as counsel we should
not be bothered by his friends who
.hinl1 that we have not been as diligent
sor Mr.. Belts as they think We should
nave been.
81 understand that the attorney gen
,ra1 has the names of witnesses to tes-
ify concerning those questions so open
V propounded in the papers. we nave
10 witnesses and don't think that there
s any necessity for them, as there is
lot a scintilla of evidence to snow any
on Mr.. Belts part
Mr.. Deming asked if he had an op-
to reply and was told by Mr..
that the committee would hear
NV one who could throw light on the
ubiect of inquiry. Mr.. Deming said
hat the hearsay which he desired to
,ffer came from one Of the principals,
nd certainly if the inquiry was to be
men and free from the rules which have
titled it, it should be heard. He said:
Am I in a condition OF suppression
BECAUSE ] have only what came from
Ar Belts himself? Mr.. Belts is per-
aitted to say it by your permission,
nut is under the suppression of coun- !
ell" Mr.. Kenealy Informed him that
what he desired to say was some
hing which MI Belts did not desire to