The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-09
RYAN MAY BE INDICTED
Owner Of the Equitable Too Defiant in
- Insurance Inquiry.
Journal Special Service.

Journal Special Service.
New York, Dec. 9.-The publication
yesterday of the fact that Edward H.
Hartman had tried to force Thomas
Hyde stock in the Equitable Life AS
surance society, brought about a con-
dition of affairs before the Armstrong
committee which may lead to the in
dictment Of Mr.. Ryan by the grand
jury on Monday for his refusal to an
swer questions concerning what passed
between Mr.. Hartman and himself in
a prolonged row over the Hyde stock.
Charles e. Hughes questioned Mr..
Ryan when he appeared*as q witness
before the committee yesterday about
the holdup attempted by Mr.. Harri-
man. -a@sa. H..
There was an amused twinkle in the
cold blue eyes of Mr.. Ryan as, with
a eourtly. nodding of the head and a
legislature of New York and refused
to answer questions about this matter.
Again and again Chairman Armstrong
directed the witness to tell what Ed
ward H. Hartman had said in his at
- tempt to force Mr.. Ryan to part with
a part of the majority stock of the
Equitable Life Assurance society and
each time Mr.. Ryan declined to speak.
ALL Ryan Would Tell.
Ryan would go no further than to
admit that Mr. Hartman tried to get
him to part with a portion of the Hyde
stock even before the sale was com
- pleted. He said Mr.. Hartman saw
him practically every day for week
Mr.. Hughes, however, asked Mr.. Ryan
if Mr.. Hartman did not use threats
he refused to answer.
Half dozen questions put to hin
by Mr.. Hughes remained unanswered
All Of these bore directly upon what
Mr.. Hartman said to him during thei1
49, many meetings about the Hyde stock
as he could remember what Mr.. Harri
man had said to him. Even if he were
inclined to withhold nothing of impor
lance, this question would have embar
raised him greatly. Mr.. Hartman
when denied anything he wants, ha
these interviews with Mr.. Ryan MI
=. Hartman is said to have taken tn
bride off his wrath and allowed hi
rage to cut loose without restraint.
Hartman Swung 8. Club.
In these interviews Mr.. Hartman i
understood to have threatened MI
be manufactured by the republican
powers of New York state under tn
skilled guidance Of his friends. ex-Gov
ernor Benjamin B. Odell. These threat
did not shake Mr.. Ryan and he clun
to his control of the Equitable Life
that came to him thru his purchase 0
the 5O2 shares of stock from James Fl
Hyde.
Prompt measures were taken by tn
Armstrong committee to have Mr.. Rya
punished for his contumacious cor
duct. The following statement will b
issued by the committee:
1.-THE committee has determined t
tilted copy of Mr.. Ryan's testimon
to the district attorney of New Yor
county, with request that proceed
ings be instituted by him to punis
Mr.. Ryan for his refusal to ansWe
certain questions on the witness stant
iThis course is rendered necessary b
reason of the fact that the committe
has no summary power to punish fo
contempt while the legislature is nc
in session.
Assemblyman Prentice, secretary G
the committee, sent to the district a
torney's office last night formal con
'munication calling that officials after
ton to the offense committed by M
-, Ryan and asking that proceedings b
instituted He sent a copy. of tn
transcript of Mr.. ,Ryan's testimony.
~~- MIR. Ryan's Offense.
Mr.. Ryan's offense centers under Sc,
ltion SO Of the penal code, which is q
follows: =
Refusing to Testify-A person VIII
being present before either house {
the legislature, or any committee Their
Iof authorized to summon witnesse
iwilfully refuses to be sworn or a
ffirmed, or to answer any material {
lprOper question, OF to produce, upo
reasonable notice, any material an
aproper books, papers or documents
his possession or under his control,
guilty of q misdemeanor.
The punishment for such offense
Continued on I'd Page, 7th Column,