The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-11-17
HYDE'S TESTIMONY IS
 DENIED ON ALL SIDES
HIS STATEMENTS DENOUNCED ny EX-GoE ODELL As CEASE
 CALUMNY.D

Never Threatened to Have Charter of
 Mercantile Trust Company Revoked.
 "So Help Me, God,' OdeI Exclaims
 With Flushed Face-Admfts writing
 Letter on Behalf of Hyde,s Candidacy
 for Enthusiastically to France-De-
 pew Also Testihes-TOId Hyde He
 Was Too Young for Post.
 New York. Nov. 16--Former Governor Benjamin B. odeIl. jr., and United States Senator Chauncey M. Denew aa witnesses before the Armstrong legisl latiVe insurance investigation commit tee to-day, denied parts of the testi- mony of James H. Hyde in which their names were used Mir. Odell. in the course of his testimony, called MT. Hyde's statements "base caIumny.'' and when he was asked whether he. directly or indirectly, had made threats to hava the charter of the Mercantile Trust company revoked, his face flushed and. striking the arm of the witness chair with his fist, he exclaimed: saThere is no truth in that statement, so help rna God"
 MT, Odell was the first witness of the day. He said no political pressure was brought to bear in the settlement of his suit against the Mercantile Trust com pany, and that 1t was settled the same as suits brought by others. He said he had been advised by counsel that his claim was a just one, and that any court would have awarded him more than he received in the settlement.
 He knew of the introduction of the Amber bill, which, it is said, might have affected the Mercantile Trust corn- pany's charter, and while he did not suggest it's introduction, he saw no ob- jection to it. MT. Odell denied that he ever made a statement to E. H. Harri- man, or any one else, that retaliatory measures would be taken against the Mercantile Trust company. The witt ness said he and MT. Hartman were personal friends, but that they had TO business relations. He wrote a letter on behalf of MT. Hyde's candidacy for the post of ambassador to France This was at the request of William H. Me- Intyre, one of the vice-presidents of the Equitable Life Assurance society. |
 MT. Odell said he had never solicited political contributions, but possibly some moneys might have come to him through the national cornuait ttee or Sem. ator Thomas .. Platt, as the latter had always gathered together the funds in. New York state except in the last year. E Justice Ransome, of the state supreme court, representing George H. Squire, was called and explained MT. Squire's condition. He said MT. Squire was very i'll and 1t was arranged that his deposition should be taken. Judge Ran some told what he knew of the trans actions with which MT. Squire's name has been connected.
 Senator Depew was examined with regard to his syndicate participations and his duties as counsel to the Equita- ble society. Regarding the ambassa-s dorship to Paris, Senator Depew said MT. Hyde came to him and solicited his influence to secure the appointment. Senator Depew brought the matter to. the attention of the president, although he told MT. Hyde that he was too young.
 The senator advocated, in the interest of the public, the limiting of risks under insurance policies, and favored public audit of the accounts of companies at stated periods by chartered account |[5----I Is-I--I ..-F rI1i.s,,e5z Toe, r.e