The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-18
.F:'R|[NO|WHOI COMES.
BUT ONCE 4 YEAR.
This Unknown Character Looms
Up iii Interesting Way i'll
Insurance Inquiry.
NICHOLS LETTER Err 10 DEp I' "
Two Of Them Are Read But the
Senator Fails to Remember
Service Rendered.
NICHOLS LETTER TO DEp {. 4
nv Associated Press.)

.,sar,,n,,anesst and Importance has been
~c,insnd nv no one week since the lnves-
tigation was naugurated.
paaidea being the week In which tho
most SESSIONS have been held. the Wit
nesses have been the most important, in
GLIDING the big guns In theflnancial
uorId' as well as In the insurance busi-
ness.
Early in the week James HaZen Hyde
was examined and made charges against
e. H. Hartman and former Governor.
Odell who SUCCESSFULLY appeared and
denied Mr.. Iydc's statements, and MI.
Hyde, being recalled, affirmed his testi-
1nony. Then Senator Chaunccy NJ. De-
pew wax heard, and when the session
opened to-day II was expected that be-
fore the day was over Senator Plat
would be called He wanted to testify
as to the collection of contributions to
political campaign funds by the insur-
ance companies. Mr.. Odell having testi-
fed yesterday that Senator Plat col
lected all such moneys UP to last year.
IT Is now expected that the senator Will
be heard early next week, possibly on
+ Tuesday, when the sessions will be re-
sumed.
Heard From His Mother.
Frank 3. Jordan. son OF the former
comptroller OF the Equitable, who at. a
-
where his father was or whether either
his fad her or his mother was living, was
called again to-day, and said he had re-
ceivcd Il letter from his mother, who
) was In Canada, since he first testified.
but that she said nothing OF his father.
He could tell nothing as to the amount
OF fire insurance business he had done
for the Equitable, or why ne got 1t, but
Is going to supply that information later.
Samuel S. blcCurdy, assistant registrar
of the Equitable, asd not related to the
AIcCurdys OF the Mutual Life, said he
& had charge OF the vouchers for legal
3 service. From him wa sgeancd Il story
OF trouble In California in 1897. when
the insurance commissioned OF that State
demanded an examination. Thousands
OF dollars were spent by the Equitable
Z In this matter, as accounted by Mr.. Nc.
Curdy, and he justified the expenditure
e on the ground that It would have cost
the Equitable about $4,000 had no defense
4 been made. hence the expenditure for
counsel. He seemed to think the de-
mands of the California commissioners
were exorbitant
Mr.. Hills Retainer.
Mr. AlcCurdy said he did not know.
when David B. Hits retainer as counsel
Il tn the Equitable Society began The first
voucher from Mr.,@Hilll the witness had
was dated March 20. 1895. Mr.. Hills let
ter to B. ". Alexander. accompanied this
voucher and alleging receipt of the re-
tainer, created much ughter. In note
4 at the end OF the letter Mr.. Hill wrote: II
am feeling pretty well now that Con-
gress has adjourned and the country IL
safe. When the Legislature adjourns the
State will be safe.
It was brought out thar HIS retainer
III 1900 was fixed at $500.
Senator DepeW On Vouchers.
Senator Dcpew was called to give any
informa ton he might possess as to a
number OF vouchers for legal services.
but his for legal services, but his knowl-
edge was rather limited, and many OF the
expenditures and signers OF these vouch-.
ers he had never heard Of.
One voucher to John a. Nichols for
legal services was accompanied by let
ter to Senator Depew, referring to our.
friend who comes around once year"
and your irambunctlous friend up the
river The senator said he knew Nichols
had been retained Mt different times by
the Equitable. but he did not know in
what connection. Mr.. Nichols, he said,
was once quarantine commissioner, and
rsed to be active in politics.
The Letters.
The letters concerning which Mr..
Hughes questioned Senator Depew we're
as follows:
New York, December 10, 1896.
My Dear Depew,-My friend who usu-
ally gets around at this time OF the
year, has written me several letters to
which l have not replied He now writes
me that he Will be here Monday or Tues
day and desires to have me help him as
usual. What shall Il dol?
Faithfully yours,
gJOHNs a. NICHOLS.
New York. December 4, 1900.
My Dear Scnator,-Our friend up the
river has been very rambunctious OF late
and wants to know. you know, Don't
care a hang, etc, and etc. AS soon as
you can conveniently say will you kin.ly
y do so. Wishing you all the good things
OF life IN this holiday season., ! am, @
AS ever yours,
JOHN "A. NICHOLS.
The Senator said he did not know 10
what service the letters related but that
& he knew at ths time he received them
and that he turned them over TO Mr..
Alexander Or Mr.. Hyde Of the Equitable
Society.
No Money for Legislation.
Gage L. Tarbell was called just before
recess, and had hardly got started In
his testimony when Senator Depew was
called. When he resumed 1t was almost
time for adjournment. and Senator Arm
strong announced that the subcommittee
Of Senator Tully and Assemblyman Cox
4 " ould take the deposition Of Mr.. Squire
at o'clock; therefore no afternoon ses-
sion would be held, a
Mr.. TArbell told Of his twenty-six years
connection with the Equitable and his
activities in the interest IN the policy
\ holders. He started as a solicitor In
Greene, NJ y, and later was given
general agency for the southern tier
counties OF this State. with headquarters
az Blnghamton. lie was opposed to
money being spent for legislative pur-
poses and thought the policyholders in
n = poay could defeat any legislation mimi
ca Ito their interests. He said Ia had
tried TO interest the New York Life and
the Mutual Life in an agreement to APP
point committee Of one to look after
such matters, but the officers Of the
Mutual Life said It was impractIcable.
for legislative purposes ''N 'N
Mr.. Tarbell was OH tho stand NJ, ~,