Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-18
NJ 'CURDY JEERED
At BY HEARERS
Continued from Page oue1

cuss the question. He would proffer
Witness his actuary, whose business IL
was to know these things, but for HIM
self he would not discuss the question.
Mr. McCurdy's demeanor was so de-
fiant that the spectators bent forWard
to catch every word and stood on tip
toe, expecting every moment to near
him directed by counsel to answer the
question. His proffer of another wit
ness was all that prevented steps being
taken toward his indictment. When
Mr.. McCurdy would not offer the IN
formation himself, Mr.. Hughes started
en- another line of inquiry. Later IN
the day Chairman Armstrong explained
that since the information desired py
the committee could be obtained oy
another course, it was agreeable to
the committee to let Mr.. McCurdy
place himself in the position he did.
Had he, however, been directed to
answer and knowing the information
desired and then refused MIR. Arm
strong said, steps would have been
taken to indict him for misdemeanor,
which is the offense of witness refus-
ing to answer questions before a legls-
lative committee while the legislature
is not in session. If the legislature
were in session, refusal to answer
would have constituted contempt
McCurdy Wakes PfotesI
Mr.. McCurdy also during the effort
to induce him to answer the questions
as to the reduction of dividends
launched forth into protest as to the
manner in which the investigation was
being conducted. He said the COM
mittee was going beyond the scope in
tended when it was appointed by the
LEGISLATURE and that the investigation
had assumed the proportions of IN
inuuisition. He was asked by Sen
ator Armstrong how he would conduct
the investigation and was told If he
had any better method the committee
would be glad to know of 1t. MIR. NC
Curdy thought that testifying under
oath made him feel he was on the
rack. He said his answers were pub
lished in a distorted form, that ap-
peared like an attempt to ruin him.
After taking up the questions of the
reduction of dividends, Mr.. Hughes
read a long list of policy numbers that
mad been paid and the dividends re-
ceived by the policy holders. Asked
what he had to say to these, Mr.. Nc
Curdy said:
"Figures don't lie, but liars can
figure"
He hastily explained that he meant
! that facetiously, and that he would
be very glad to verify the figures.
The legal expenses were again re-
ferred to and a number of vouchers
were read. 1t was brought out that
William Barnes, ST., of Albany had ap-
reared before committees in Albany
last winter and has received $1,000 from
the New York Life and the same
amount from the Mutual. Later it was
! brought out in a letter to Mr.. Nc
Curdy from William Barnes, jr., that
G.. A. Barnes, sr., was under an annual
retainer to the Mutual Life. A voucher
in 1902 for $4,000, payable to t. H.
Bowles, was explained by Mr. McCurdy
as part payment in settlement of a suir
Mr. Bowles had brought against the
company. Mr.. Bowles had been dis
missed by the company for insubordin-
ation
Mr.. McCurdy said today that insubor-
dination consisted in throwing mud"
and trying to injure the company.
Mr.. Bowles has not been in business
since he severed his connection with
the Mutual Life in Milwaukee. Mr.
| Bowles is visiting in this city at the
present time and tonight gave out a
statement in which he said:
MIR. BowIes' Statement
"The aspersions cast upon me by the
speculations and deductions drawn out
| by the testimony offered in the insur-
| ance investigation are false and 1 stand
ready to go before the honorable body
! and give the facts"
The entire testimony of the day was a
continual thrust and parry between the
counsel and the witness and when ad-
journment was taken for the day Mr..
Hughes had not finished with Mr.. Nc
Curdy. The latter will be recalled to-
morrow and questioned along the lines
| of the trust companies and subsidiary
organizations of the Mutual Life.
The fact that James H. Hyde had re-
turned to the city and that William
II. Mcintyre would voluntarily appear
before the committee, was an an
nouncement of much moment today.
1t was stated today that neither Mr..
Hyde nor Mr.. Mcintyre will be called
this week.
At a meeting of the committee after
the session it was determined to hold
| sessions three days this week.
At the afternoon session Mr.. McCurdy
was questioned concerning Mr. Eiald's