The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-16
Former Governor of New York
Goes on the Stand
To Testify in the Insurance Com
pany Investigation.
HE MADE NO THREATS.
Denies That He Tried to COerce
Mercantile Trust.
Says PIatt Generally Collected
the Campaign Funds.

New York, Nov. 16.-B. 3. Odel,
Jr., former governor of New York. and
at present chairman of the state Re
publican committee. was the first wit
ness before the insurance investigation
committee today. Before his testimony
was begun Samuel Untermyer, counsel
for James H. Hyde. entered an obJee-
ton, protesting against the investga-
ton of the affairs of the United States
Ship Building company by the com
mittee.
Mr. Hughes. counsel to the commit
tee, began by asking Mr.. Odeu to tell
the facts pertaining to the Mercantile
Trust company charter and the witness
said he would prefer to tell of the
whole transaction leading up to the
settlement, if permitted. Mr.. Inter
meyer protested that if the committee
permitted that it would take them far
outside the legitimate line of inquiry.
Senator Armstrong referred the protest
to Mr.. Hughes who said he would call
to Mr.. Odell's attention the fact that
the matter which concerns the COM
mittee is simply the question whether
there was any political influence or
pressure brought to bear upon the
Mercantile Trust company, directly or
Indirectly to induce a settlement"
There was not" said Mr. Oden.
viii you state, governor" said Mr..
I1USAACSs N1A6lAACEz you DdQ dlF nA4OI-
nation with regard to the Introduction
of bill in the senate for the purpose
of repeating the charter of the Mer-
camille Trust company"
OdeH Knew of 1t.
4 knew of it at the time, yes
who advised you of it?'
4 knew Of it before its introduc-
From whom did you get the in
formation ?"
"Oh, various people as to the pro-
priety of the introduction of such a
measure"
Did you suggest its introduction ."
No"
did you request it's introduction ?''
I saw no objection to it,
Did you state that you saw no OBJ
lection to the introduction of the meas
ure2'
s'At the time It was introduced 1 did.
yes"
ITO whom2"
"oh. to anyone who asked me; have
forgotten"
What was the ground for that action
or aDDrovaI?''
Simply because the scandal incident
to the shipbuilding trust was uppermost
in the peoples mind and it was claimed
that the Mercantile Trust company had
one of them had been insolvent, and it
was time, I thought. such matters in
the state Of New York should be stop
ped"
While Mr.. OdelI was testifying Sen
atOr DeDeW entered the room.
Continuing, Mr.. Odell said the bill
was intended to provide for an investi-
cation of the Mercantile Trust COM
pany. He could not recall that he had
an interview with AssembIyrnan Fish
with regard to the introduction in the
assembly of bill similar to Senator
Ambler's repeal bill His only inter
view with Senator Amber about the
bill was after It had been introduced. At
that time he had no suit pending against
the Mercantile Trust company. His suit
was brought in August, 1904.
Why He Sold Out.
When the bill was introduced in
March, 1904. the witness said he still
had every dollars worth of his ship
building holdings. These holdings were
sold at auction and brought S43. .6S7
against S164. Ill paid for thesn. Since
their sale witness has had no interset in
the shipbuilding company. The sale
was made because he felt that there
would be matters of legislation come up
affecting shipbuilding affairs and he
felt that the governor should not be
interested directly or Indirectly in the
bonds.
He contemplated beginning an action
against the Mercantile Trust company
in August, 1904 He had no interview
with J. P. Morgan regarding his ship
building claim, but did have with Chas.
NJ. Schwab. His interview with Mr..
Schwab was when the company was in
the hands os a receiver.
Did you make any statement to any
body in the city of New York that re-
taliatory measures of any kind would
be taken?'' asked Mr.. Hughes.
Never"
THAT any measures threatening the
Mercantile Trust company or any one
else would be taken if your claim was
not settled p
Never" He never made any such
statement to Mr.. Hartman nor did he
ever have any interview with Mr.. Har-
riman in which it was suggested that
Hartman should use his influence to
procure settlement of witness claims
against the Mercantile Trust.
Then said Mr.. Hughes, 4 under
stand your testimony is that you never
directly or indirectly used any threat
to procure a settlement of that suit?
mo, sir"
posed by Senator Amber in any way
a topic of conversation when the set
tlement OF your SUIT came up?
Never exeepting-yes, when I had
talk with Br. Hyde. he spoke of it and
I told him no matter what the out
come of our settlement might be,
whether should go into the courts, or
the case should be settled by the Mer-
camille trust company, tliSAS was AO
fear of retaliatory legislation.
Changed His Mind.
Had anything occurred to change
your mind as to the propriety Of the in
| PRODUCTION of such measures?'
.sYes. sir The fact that the base
caIumny which Mr.. Hyde uttered here
/ had been circulated in the papers and
/ called Senator Amber and said that
as desirable as I believed the legisla-
tiou 7 feared that my unfortunate con-
nection with the ship building matter
/ was of such q character that It would
be better for him to drop this legisla-
ton. That interview took place some