The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-12-06
HYDE MAKES DISCLOSURES
Former Vice. President Of the Equit.
able Life or the Witness Stand.
TELLS OF "YELLOW DOG" FUND

Frlck, e. L. Odcll, Dr., and Others
Pro,nldent in the Financial and Polit.
Ical World-His Aspirations to Become
Our French Ambassador.
New York City.-By far the most
sensational testimony in the legislative
investigation Of insurance methods
was that given by James Hazen Hyde,
the former Vice-President of the Equi-
table Life Assurance Society. Mr..
hyde was disposed for several months
to remain outside the State Of New
York, but a threat of indictment by
Mr.. Hughes brought him within the
jurisdiction Of the Legislature. Hyde.
it was agreed by everybody, made the
most self-possessed witness seen up to
this time in tile inquiry. He never lost
his temper, nor did he lose track of the
most involved questions by Mr..
Hughes. His answers seemed to be
frank, and at times there was a play
Of wit between Mr.. Hyde and the chief
counsel which brought animation to the
proceedings.
In the early day Hyde attracted the
interest Of everybody by explaining the
several accounts in the yellow dog"
fund and admitting that out of the
famous $685. 900, $780, 900 had been paid
to. Cornelius N. Bliss for the last Ma
tional campaign, Mr.. Bliss being at
that time Il director in the Equitable.
Hyde followed this by Aatly contra
dieting the testimony of Jacob Fl.
Schiff in relation to the Union Pacific
blind pool. He asserted positively
that Schiff and Hartman always knew
that the Equitable was a direct partici-
pant, and that Mr.. Schiff must have
known, as his son did, that all the
checks were signed on behalf of the
Equitable.
The climax to Hyde's sensational
testimony anne late in the afternoon,
when he testified that Chairman B. B.
Odell, Jr., had received $4,000 through
the Mercantile Trust Company as a set
incurred in the purchase Of Shipbuild.
ing bonds. Hyde asserted that this
money was paid because the Equitable
Society feared the charter Of the Mer-
camille Trust Company would be taken
away by legislation in Albany.
MI. Hyde testified that the man who
brought to him the intimation that tho
charter of the company would be re,
voked in Albany unless the Mercantile
Trust made good in part, at least, tbs
losses of the former Governor was Mr..
Odells close personal and political
criend, e. H. Hartman, President Of
the Union Pacific Railway Company.
director of the Equitable Life Assur:
ance Society and director Of the Mer-
camille Trust Company. Hartman,
Hyde said, after reciting the sinister
consequences which might follow re,
fusal to settle with Mr.. Odell, advised
that such settlement should be made
without delay.
Confronted by Harriman's threats
and acting upon the advice Of counsel.
he witness asserted, the officials of
the Mercantile Trust Company settled
with Mr.. Odell for $4,000 to recon-
pense him in part for losses suffered on
S19C.00 of S%hipbuilding bonds which
he held. In fact, Hyde said, that as
an earnest of the alleged threat a bill
lad been drawn in Alabny to repeal the
charter of the Mercantile Trust Com.
pany. 20.
Hyde was on the witness stand all
day, and nc more composed witness
has been before tho committee since
the insurance investigation was be-
gum. His friends thought he would
be disconnected by the crowd which
filled every available spot in the Coun-
ell Chamber to see and to hear him,
but he was not. He answered clearly
and distinctly, manifested a disposition
to argue questions with Mr.. Hughes,
which the latter was compelled to re-
press repeatedly, and never lost an op-
p~ortunity to throw hot shot into e. H.
Hartman, Henry G. Frick, James w.
Alexander and other men who. he said,
had joined in what he termed 1.-THE con-
spiracy" to drive him out Of the Equi-
table Life.
Hyde said that the sale of his con-
trolling stock interest IN ~the"society to
Thomas T. Ryan was absolute and that
he received the certified check of Ryan
In payment therefor. He denied that
there was any agreement that he
should take back the stock at some flu
ture time and return to Ryan tile
money.
The witness admitted frankly that
he had aspired to be appointed AMER
lean Ambassador to France. He SKID
it had been suggested to him at a din
ner by e. n. Hartman, and that Jacob
II. Schiff, Henry C. Prick and Sena-
tor Depew and others had used their
friendly Offices in his behalf. Hyde
nlso said he had gone to Washington
alone to see what his chances Of ap-
pointment were.
"Mr. Frick was the active agent in
terested in my behalf" he said sarcas-
tically, land Mt. Hartman used his
friendly Offices"