Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-16
0DELL WILL
TAKE STAND
FORMER NEW YORK GOVERNOR
WANTS TO REFUTE HYDE's
CHARGES.
SENSATIONAL STORY

Hyde Says odell BIaekmailed the
Equitable to Recoup His Losses in
shipbuiIding Trust-Denies Connec-
tion Of His Society and Trust-Mem.
ory Is Bad.
New York, Nov. 15.-James Hazen
Hyde was the first witness today be-
fore the committee on insurance in
vestigation
After making some corrections In his
testimony of yesterday relative to Of
fers for his stock, he made statement
denying that he or the Equitable Life
Assurance society had anything to do
with or any interest in the United
States Shipbuilding company or its Sc
curities.
Memory Bad-No Refreshing.
Hyde denied having any knowledge
Of transactions concerning the stock Of
the lawyers for the Title Insurance
company, in which George H. Squire
and Thomas d. Jordan figured prom
emily. He said he could not remember
that he had ever received any money
or division of profits from Squire, and
it would be difficult to refresh his
memory because his books had been in
a most confused state since he left the
Equitable Life. He did not know that
1t was possible for Squire to sell stock
to the society without the knowledge
of the executive committee, but
thought It could be done by arrange
ment with the president.
His Power Of Attorney.
Hyde said he was unable to ascer-
tain who held his power of attorney,
while he was abroad because when he
returned the papers were always de-
stroyed.
odelI Denies Story.
Former Governor Odelli today re-
cuested Chairmen Armstrong Of the
insurance investigating committee to
call him before the committee to give
him an opportunity to testify under
oath in reply to the testimony Hyde
gave before the committee yesterday.
Was Days Sensation.
Eclipsing all sensational testimony
yesterday were the statements of
Hyde concerning Ode1l and Hartman,
relative to the settlement of the Ship
building Co.. suit by the Mercantile
Trust company. Hyde said Hartman
came to him and advised a settlement
Of Odells suit as he feared powerful
influence at Albany would be invoked
IN retaliatory measures.
Hartman suggested as one Of these
measures the revocation Of the char
ter of the Mercantile Trust company.
Hyde knew of no actual steps that
we're taken, nor of any bill introduced
but he was beset with rumors that
such steps were about to be taken by
legislation. The Equitable Life, he
said, was not interested beyond the
connection it had with the Mercantile
Trust company.
Hyde was under the impression the
Mercantile in settlement retained the
bonds and paid Odell about $4,000.
Odell's original claim was $180000.
The bonds subsequently netted about
so cents on the dollar. Hyde said Har-
riman suggested a settlement Of suit
and that the counsel and members Of
the executive committee Of the Mer-
camille Trust advised it and he recon-
mended 1t.
Tried to Get Him From Country.
Charges of conspiracy to get him out
of the country were made by Hyde
against Henry G. Frick and E. H. Har.
riman, in connection with the reported
sador to France. He said Frick in,
e,,;r xx,3%v,
= as a joke at first, but when Frick
brough 1t UP later Hyde was fiattered
and both Hartman and Frick prom.
ised to use their influence to secure
the appointment.
Again Hyde waxed bitter In his ex.
PLANTATION of the extraordinary inter.
est these gentlemen had in his alb.
sence from the country. He said he
thought their idea was "that they
would acquit themselves of their
friendly stewardship with great profit
to themselves" and added that the ma
ture of their interest had since become
very obvious.
Thought Frlck Committee "FriendIy.'
Hyde charged Frick with breach OF
faith In leading him to believe the
Frick com mittee was friendly to him
and with doing all he could to dissuade
the witness from selling his stock. "at
the same time," as Hyde said doing
everything on that committee he could
to knife me and destroy the value OF
that stock
Hyde explained he used Friendly
in the just sense of the word, and thai
If there was anything for which he
could be criticized he was willing to
take whatever criticism came. Hyde
said he did not think the report was
at all fair and that the committee
posed as his friend while he was be
ing attacked on the other side by Alex
ander and his friends under the sham
of naturalization.
Hartman, he said, asked him tt
move the adoption of the Frick report
at meeting of the board, but Hyde
said he absolutely declined, as it was
condem natory of everything that has