Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1905-10-19
MCCURDY AND
GRAFT IN THE
LEGISLATURE
Astounding Revelations Brought
Out by Hughes in His InSur-
anCe Investigation.
ARRESTS MAY FOLLOW.
District Attorney Rand Present
at Hearing Company Kept
Open House at Albany.


NEW YORK, Oct. 10. President
Richard A. McCurdy of the Mutual
Life Insurance company, who had al
ready been before the insurance com
mittee twice, was again the main wit
ness.
Astounding revelations Of the most
sensational since the legislative insur
ance Investigation began marked its
session
1t was shown that for ten years or
more Andrew c. Fields has maintain
cd in Albany an establishment ut the
expense of the Mutual Life Insurance
company. in which his fellow dodgers
during Il portion of that time were
Senators Graney and Charles McClcl-
land of the Westchester district, both
of whom were members of the insur-
ance committee in the legislature.
Unfinished inquiry by Chief Inquis
itor Hughes about the Hotel Grosvenor,
at Tenth street and Fifth avenue, own
cd by the Mutual Life and once large
| ly patroniZed by President McCurdy
and his wife and by his son-in-law,
! Louis A. Thebaud, and Vice President
Granniss, brought forth passage at
! arms between General Solicitor Beck
of the Mutual and Chief mquisitor
Hughes, in which Chairman Armstrong
took hand, and even McCurdy him
self finally participated, siding with
the committee against the aspersions
of his own counsel. Beck was afraid
that Mr.. Hughes inquiry might give
the public the idea that the McCurdys
had been utilizing their influence in the
Mutual Life to get reduced rentals in
town. and he imputed to Mr.. Hughes a
spirit of unfairness.
Then Mr.. Hughes made ringing
speech. in which he said that every wit
ness who treated the committee cor
daily would be treated in turn with
the utmost respect, but that those who
were evasivc would be treated with
the contempt which their conduct mer-
itcd which sentiment was SO loudly
applauded by the large audience that
Chairman Armstrong had TO warn the
auditors that any repetition of such a
demonstration would result in their eX-
clusion hereafter.
A point of incidental interest to those
closely following the investigation was
the news from Missouri that the speak
er of the house of representatives for
1 that state had requested Il delay in the
proposed reyolling Of the New York
Life Insurance c0mpany'S insurance in
order that policy holders might take
concerted action.
Senator w w. Armstrong. chairman
of the committee. scathingly rebuked
r. A. McCurdy and his counsel for in
timating that the inquiry was being
conducted in an inquisitorial and un-
fair manner. This was after Mr. Beck
had practically accused Mr.. Hughes Of
leaving the witness in an unfair posi-
ton by quickly changing from one line
of questioning to another While Mr..
Beck was speaking he referred to Mr..
I McCurdy as man of "unblemished
reputation" This was signal for
boots and cat calls and cries of mo-"
"Nor' from the gallery.
George J. Plunkitt, a telephone opera
tor for H. w. Lawrence & Co., was
called. A voucher acknowledging the
receipt of $901.15 'for legal expenses
to February, 1905" which was signed
, by the name of George +. Plunkitt'
and indorsed for payment by A. c..
Fields was shown to the witness, and
lie was asked If the signature was his
He said it was not his. At the request
of Mr.. Hughes he then wrote his name
for purposes of comparison and both
signatures were offered in evidence.
4 Mr.. Hughes called the attention of the
committee to the similarity of the two
signatures. Plunkitt said that he had
never had S901 IL for any purpose.
At the close of plunkitt's testimony
the sergeant ut arms of the legislative
committee was directed to commune
cate with the district attorneys Office.
Shortly afterward Assistant District
Attorney Rand appeared, conferred
with Chairman Armstrong and left the
room.
William NJ Carpenter. a clerk in the
supply department of the Mutual Life,
was called. lie Sald lie saw Mr..
Fields last on Oct. ] in Kingston, N.
Y. Fields told Carpenter he was 60
ing to southern California as soon as
possible.
A voucher for $50 for legal services
signed by Carpenter and recommend.
ed for payment by Fields ON Oct. IL
1904, was identified by the witness
who said he received the money from
the Mutual Life for expenses in con
nection with n house maintained il