The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-11-21

SdTu 10 Ills SNIluICdtt IdTLlctDdUIO1I.
Deposition of George III. Sauires VILE
be Taken, as He Is Not Able to APP
pear.
New York, November 16.-Former
Governor Benjamin Odell, Jr., and
United States Senator Chauncey NJ.
Depew, as witnesses before the Arm
strong Legislative insurance investiga-
ton committee today, denied parts of
the testimony of James HaZen Hyde in
which their names were used. Mr..
OdeIl. in the course of his testimony,
called Mr.. Hyde's statements base
calumny," and when he was asked
whether he directly or Indirectly had
made threats to have the charter of the
Mercantile Trust Company revoked,
his face flushed and striking the arm OF
the witness chair with his fist, he ex-
CLAIMED There is no truth in that
statement, so help me God"
Mr.. Odell was the first witness of
liz uuS. h L III DOIlIICdl plSSSulo
was brought to zeal in the settlement
of his suit against the Mercantile
Trust Company, and that it was settled
the same as suits brought by others.
He said he had been advised by cOun
sci that his claim was Il just oNa, and
that the court would have awarded
him more than he received in the set
Element.
He knew Of the introduction of the
Amber bill, which it is said, might
have affected the Mercantile Trust
COmpany'S charter, and while he did
not suggest it's Introduction he saw no
objection to it. Mr.. Odell denied that
he ever made a statement to e. II.
Hartman, Or any II else, that retail
iatOry measures would be taken
against the Mercantile Trust Company.
The witness said he and Mr.. Harri-
nan were personal friends, but that
they had no business relations. He
wrote Il letter on behalf of Mr.. Hyde's
candidacy for the post of ambassador
to France. This was at the request Of
William H. Mcintyre, II of the vice
presidents Of the Equitable Life AS
a Society.
Mr. .Odell said he never solicited po-
litical contributions, but possibly some
moneys might have come to him
through the national committee or Sen
atOr Thomas c.. Platt, as the latter had
always gathered together the funds In
New York state except IN the last
year.
Mr.. Odell was asked to tell precisely
the facts about the introduction of the
Amber bill. He replied,
Il had prepared the introduction Of
that bill and brought the whole ship
building case before Mr.. Jerome, the
district attorney Of New York and
stated that he had better look into it
and see whether there was anything
connected with or anything in onnec
ton with the scandal which should not
be Investigated by his office. He had
the case for some time, Il he aid to
me after several weeks that he had
gone into it very carefully II he came
to the conclusion that there were no
grounds for criminal prosecution. In
the meantime such concerns as the
fire company and the Whiting Paper
Company and American Bicycle Trust
and some fourteen or fifteen others
had been mentioned as having been
pTOJScleu 10y Al0AulUCI dIu NlCCn
and presumably with the approval and
support of the Mercantile Trust, all OF
which had been failures, and it was
suggested that something ought to be
done to stop that, and in talking over
the matter in conference with people
who came in, it was decided that some
remedial legislation could be formulat-
ed and would prevent the unloading Oh
the public of these securities. In the
meantime the papers had taken entire
1y different and antagonisic views
whether they had been inspired or moi
do not know. but there vas more OF
less talk about it being a measure tc
get even with somebody: and Their
Senator Amber came in to see me ano
talked with me about it, l said to him
that under the circumstances he better
let the whole thing drop"
Mr.. Odell said he told James III
Hyde at their first interview that the
Amber bill would be stopped by him
that there was no fear, no matter what
was done about his settlement, of any
retaliatory legislation.
Mr.. Odell then made q statement in
which he told at some length of inter,
views which he had with Bainbridge
Colby, of Hyde's counsel and James I'll
Hyde with. regard to the suit against
the Mercantile Trust Company. Mr.
Odell said that Mr.. Colby first called