The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-11-18

Did Not Suggest Settlement OF Oue'
Suit and Says Hyde Asked Him to
Use His Influence to Have Him APP
pointed Ambassador.
New York. Nov lie. II. Harri
man. chairman of the board OF di'
rectors OF the Union Pacific railroad,
former member of the board of dircc-
tors OF the Equitable Life Assurance
Society. and connected with many
railroads and financial institutions the
former friend of James Hazen Hyde.
against whom the latter charged acts
OF an unfriendly nature in his tcsti-
monv. was one of the chief witnesses
before the Armstrong committee on
insurance investigation.
Mr.. Harrimans testimony was n
series of denials of the charges made
by Mr.. HYDE. Contrary to Mr. Hyde's
statement. Mr.. Hartman said that Mr..
HYDE came TO him about a year ago
and asked him to use his influence To
have him appointed ambassador 10
France. Mr.. Hartman said he would
sneak TO President Roosevelt when he
saw him. but added that he did not
recommend Mr.. Hyde for the post
Upon MI Hyde's testimony relative
10 the settlement of the Odell suit be
ing read 20 him. Mr.. Hartman denied
that he had suggested TO Mr. Hyde
any danger of a repeal OF the charter
Of the Mercantile Trust company di-
rcctly or indirectly. and stated that
Mr.. HYDE came to him and asked him
10 use his influence with Mr Odell
toward a settlement Of the suit
Mr.. Hartman explained that he
wanted Mr.. Hyde's individual sigma
ture 10 the syndicate agreement of the
$50 O00. 600 Union Pacific pool. because
no syndicate wants a corporation as a
member. He justified this because 1t
was difficult TO guard condolences when
more than one individual represented
the same interest
He denied that he ever advised Mr.
Hyde to sell his stock until after the
report of the Frick committee. and said
he had offered to subscribe 100000
TO assist Mr. Hyde in retaining his
stock
Mr.. Hartman said the Frick report
never mentioned the Union Pacific
deal specifically. but included it under
the general statement that Mr. Hyde
had committed the society in unwar-
rantable transactions without the
knowledge Of the committee. Mr. Har
rriman thought it perfectly proper for
the Equitable Society to buy Union
Pacific under an agreement to hold il
for five years. He did not know that
II was Mr. Hydes personal money In
this deal and always supposed II was
that Of the Equitable.
Witness also denied that he had re-
ouested that the executive committee
be not informed Of this deal. and when
Mr.. Hyde's testimony on this point
was read 10 him he replied that he
did not remember" Mr. Hartman
said that early in the Equitable trou
bles he had defended Mr.. Hyde from
attacks and had advised him to move
the adoption of the Trick report tell
ing him that he would stand by him
through thick and thin.
Mr.. Hyde was the first witness of
the day. He-told Of four offers for his
stock beside that of Mr. Ryan, to
whom he sold. These Offers were made
by Mr.. Frlck and Mr. Hartman. by
George Gould. by Gage z. Tarbcll rep
resentng a syndicate and by George
W Young These were mae verbally
and the largest was made by Mr.
Young. former president of the United
States Mortgage and Trust company
who offered $1,000 600 MI Hyde said
he declined all these offers, because
he did not think it to the best interest
Of the society to accept any of them.
Mr.. RYAN made the only offer for
the stock after the Frick report Mr.
Hyde started to read a statement in
reply to the criticism of Superintend-
ent Hendricks on the safe deposit
companies controlled by the Equitable
but it was marked for Identification
md put in evidence without its read
ing being finished, and will be consid
cred by the committee in its report. if
IT is relevant matter.
After Mr.. Hartman had testified
Mr.. Hyde was called again. and asked
if he heard Mr.. Hartman testify. He
replied that he had. He reaffirmed his
previous testimony. and supplied data
about several questions concerning
which Mr.. Hartman was uncertain.
Samuel Untermycr. counsel for Mr.
Hyde. attempted to cross-examine Mr.
Hartman. but the committee after
consultation refused him permission
whereupon Mr.. Untermyer asserted
that the examination had been con
Quoted in a disorderly manner.
Later Mr.. Hyde threw the room in
to an uproar by an answer to Assem-
blyman Rogers. who asked Mr.. Hyde
why Mr. Odell was feared when there
was no legislature in session and the
governor was soon to retire. Mr. Hyde
replied that some men are more in
fluential and powerful out Of office
than in.
With the days session the exam
nation of both Mr. Hyde and Mr.. Har-
rIman was completed, and the next
witness. who is awaited with much in
terest. is Mr. Odell. who has requested