The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-11-23
0DELL LlilrRLY
REFUTES CHARGES
Declares Mr.. Eyde's Statements Are
Base Calumny.
DEPEW ALSO A WITNESS

New York, Nov 17.-Former Gov
crnOr BENJAMIN B. Odell, Jr, and Unit
cd States Senator Chauncey NJ. Depew
lis witnesses before the Armstrong
legislative insurance investigation COM
mittee denied parts of the testimony of
James HaZen Hyde in which their
names were used. MIR. Odell in the
course of his testimony called Mr..
Hydes statements base calumny,"
and when he was asked whether he |
directly or indirectly had made threats |
10 have the charter of the Mercantile |
Trust COr-p2ny revoked, his face flush |
ed, and striking the arm of the witness |
chair with his fist, he exclaimed: |
There is no truth in that statement, |
10 help me God
bIr Odell said no political pressure
was brought to bear in the settlement
of his suit against the Mercantile Trust
company, ard that it was settled the
same as suits brought by others. He
esid he had been advised by counsel
that his claim was just one and that
any court would have awarded him
II ore than he received in settlement.
He knew CT the introduction OF the
Amber bill, which it is said, might
ESye affected the Mercantile Trust
coppany's charter, and while he did
not suggest its introduction, he saw
no objection to it. Mr.. Odell denied
that he ever made statement to E..
IL. Hartman or any one else that re-
taliatory measures would be taken
10
The witness said he and Mr.. Hartman
were personal friends, but that they
had no business relations. He wrote
letter Oh behalf of Mr.. Hyde's candi-
Gecy for the post of ambassador to
France. This was at the request OF
William H. Mcintyre, one OF the vice
presidents of the Equitable Life Assur-
arce Society.
4 Mr.. Odell said he had never solicited
q political contributions, but possibly
q some moneys might have come to him
3 through the national committee or Sen
4 afor Thomas G., Platt, as the latter had
]; always gathered together the funds IN
q New York state except In the last
q year.
d Senator Depew was examined with
s regard to his syndicate participation
end his duties es counsel to the EQuit-
ablo Society. Regarding the ambassa-
3 dorship to Paris, Senator Depew said
Mr. Hyde cane to him and solicited MS
influence to secure the appointment
Senator Depew brought the matter tc
the attention Of the president, although
T. he told Mr. Hyde that he was toe
prpciHant said II was
utterly impossible to make such an ap
pOintment.
IL While admitting that he had beer
h IN many bond syndicates OF late years
he Mr. Depew said he had realized yer!
little profit from them, in fact onl!
$1,000 although he had 100000 tied VI
at ono time. He said he had a high re
ga1d for the abilities OF James II. HYDE
and thought he earned his $4,000
ny salary.
Die Samuel s. McCurdy, assistant regis
i ru trar Of the Equitable, and not related I
ed the McCurdy's of the Mutual Life, sal
M bn had c,-r-e Of the vouchers for lega
" service. t!o1n him was cleaned stor
~ of trouble IN California in 1897, whe
me the insurance commissioner OF tina
nd state demanded an examination. Inou
sands of dollars were spent by tn
Eo:1itable in this matter, as accounte
- by Mir. McCurdy, and he Justified tn
expenditure on the ground that
-, would have cost the Equitable abot
IS $4,000 mad no defense been mad
hence the expenditure for counsel. Il
seemed to think the demands OF tf
Caliuornia commissioners were exc
bitant.
Gage e. Tarbell told of his 26 year
E | connection with the Equitable and
q activities in the interest of the pollc.
holders. He started as solicitor
Greene, N. Y, and later was given
:. general agency for the southern tier
counties OF this state, with headqua
., ters at Binghamton. He was oppos'
N to money being spent for legislati
purposes. and thought the policyhol
ers in body could defeat any legisl
tion inimical to their interests. He sa
he had tried to interest the New Yo
m Life and the Mutual Life in an agre
ment to appoint a committee OF one
No look after such matters, but the Of
GERS of the Mutual Life said 1t was II
N nractical. Mr. Tarbell knew OF
II, money expended for legislative p'
poses.