The sun., 1905-12-12
RYAN READY NOW TO ANSWER
MAY M CALLED TO-DAf IO TELL
WHAT HARRINAN sam.
jerome Tells Crayath That the witness
shOnld Renly and the Latter SO Al.
rises His client 80 No Further Pro.
ceedIngs Likely TO Be Taken In case.


ceedIngs Likely 10 Be Taken in case,
Thomas +. Ryan win appear before the
Armstrong Insurance Committee and an
swer the questions which were put to him
last Friday. He will probably he a witness
at to-day's hearing
Mr.. Ryan's decision to tell what Hartman
said to him when Hartman was trying to
get part OF the Ryan majority stock i'll
the Equitable was reached early yesterday
afternoon after Paul D. Cravath, Mr. Ryan's
counsel had had an hours conference with
District Attorney Jerome,
Mr., Jerome, after the conference. v cnt to
the Aldernen's room in the City Hall and
had talk with the investigating committee.
Later MIR. Jerome sent this letter TO the
committee. addressed to Senator William
w, Armstrong, chairman
beg to acknowledge the receipt Of a COM
muncation OF December from the ioini com
mi'ee of.the Legislature in relation TO the re-
fusal of Mr. Thomas i, Ryan 10 answer Ger
tain Questions asked him by your counsel Ia
the course OF your invest igat!on.
After considering the resolution, a copy OF
which you enclosed me and tho minutes OF
the slenographer | reached the conclusion
thal as a matter OF Law Mr.. Ryan should an
swer the questions propoundpd TO him, al
though on first consideration their materiaity
might appear doubtful. Believing, however
that the object OF your communication in
calling my attention TO the matter was to
cure the testimony rather than the proserll-
ton OF MIR Ryan. sont forMr Ryan's counsel.
Mr.. p ID, Cravath, and informed him that
in my opinion Mr.. Ryan ought to answer
the questions propounded to him.
infer from what Mr., Cravath saws that Mr..
RNan'S refusal to answer sprang from disn-
olination to repeat what he deemed private
conversation rather than from "A desire To de-
prlve your committee Of the benefit OF any
knowledge possessed by him. | am satisfied
from my talk with Mr.. Cravath that if YOU will
recall Mr. Ryan he Will abide by my decision
on the point Of law involved and testify in
regard TO the matters in regard to which
he has heretofore refused 70 testify. Respect
fully, WILLIAM 7, JEROME.
December II, 1906, District Attorney.
District Attorney Jerome sent this letter
TO Mr.. Cravath:
Ny DEAR SIR: After careful consideration
OF the minutes OF the Joint committee of
the Legislature, a copy OF the resolution ap-
pointing them and the brief submitted bv
You. have reached the conclusion that Mr.
Ryan ought 10 answer the questions pro-
pounded 10 him before the joint committee
although fully appreciate the motive which
led him to refuse TO answer until the u,les-
ton Of law involved could be made clear
] enclose . copy Of letter this day sent to
Senator Armstrong. the chairman of the
committee. Respectfully.
WILLIAM iRAvEEs JERoMF,
District Attorney
Mr.. Ryan's counsel issued this statement
last night:
THE decision Of the District Attorney
., II
which he refused to answer in the legisa-
tive insurance Investigation last Friday has
lust reached us through a letter addressed
by Mr.. jerome TO Chairman Armstrong.
We have advised Mr.. Ryan that in view of
the decision Of the District Attorney he
should answer the questions. and he is pre-
pared to do whenever recalled bv the
nrestgating committee"
MIR. Cravath also notified the Armstrong
committee of Mr.. Ryan's Willingness to
answer. The committee has taken no
action in regard 70 the matter, and prob
ably will not until after MIR. Ryan has testi-
fed. 1t is likely then that they will notify
Mr.. Jerome that the incident is closed
There is one answer given hv NJ. RYAN
on Friday which has attracted coil-idCrab b,c
attention ever since. 1t was in reply to a
question a. 10 whet her Mr.. Hartman said
anything about the possibility of a legs-
lative Investigation of insurance condi-
tion in the event of Mr.. Ryan's refusing Ia
admit him into the ownership of the Edui-
table stock.
Mr.. Ciavath advised Mr.. RYAN that he
did not have to answer the question, but
Mr.. Ryan went over the head Of his lawyeI
and declared that MIR. Hartman had said
nothing about "A iegisIativeinvr stigation
Mr. Hughes asked Mr.. Ryan in the very
next question whether Mr. Hartman mad
said anything about the possibility of any
action by the Legislature or hv q State
officer, and thi, Mr., Ryan refused 10 answer.
There was considerable talk about the
naturalization of the Equitable and even
about the passage of a law providing TOR
the retirement of the society stock. Supt.
Hendricks took w this very question of
stohk retirement in his preliminary report
on the r. ,utable. issued on June n, about
ten days after the sale oi the Equitable
stock had been con~um n lted.
He not only said that he was in favor of
the elimination of the stock control from
the society, hut also that he favored the
wiping out of all Wall Street influence
Chairman Odell, when he came out with
his interview on July IL, the day after the
suppressed Hendricks testimony appeared
announced that he was in favor Of action
10y the LegislH allure. He did not say that
he wanted an investigation of Insurance
conditions, but his remarks were 50 con-
Strued at that time.
PUBLICATIONS.
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