Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-10-21

oAt A 1I HIN NA1No hlI1V1N was one of the most successful geaera, great mark in the central west and was then placed in charge of the south ern field. While there for some unex- plained reason he began secret cam paign against the McCurdys. He charged nepotism, extravaganza and general disregard of the policy holders interests. For one thing he said that son Robert was raking $250,000 an- nually out of the foreign field. As re- suit, Bowles was fired. Then he began campaign in the open to oust the Me Curdy management. To do this he gathered policy holders proxies from all over the country. It was at about this time that the S35,O00 payment was made to MT. Bowles, and the war sud denly stopped. There have been vari- ous intimationS that the amount he re- ceived was much larger. Rumor says that it ran all the way from half mill lion to a million. However that may be, MT. Bowles retired and is now said to own more than $1,O0O,OO0 worth of property, most of it in the south.
 Richard A. McCurdy is past seventy years old. His father before him was connected with the Mutual Life com pany. The son was graduated from Yale and studied law, beginning the practice in New York city. Soon after he was made attorney for the Mutual Life. After few years in this position he was made vice president tempora- rily until a. permanent man could be found. The permanent man was found in McCurdy himself AS he expressed it in his testimony, he "got the halter about his neck and never could break it." After a long term as vice presi- dent he was promoted to the presi- dency of the company, first at $30,0W year and afterward advanced gradu- ally to the present figure
 Does Not Mix With the Four Hundred.
 He is not a social man. He does not mix with the Four Hundred. He has managed to keep out of the public prints all his life-that is, until recent ly. It has been his boast that he could walk all the way down town in New York, from his Fifth avenue residence to his office, and not be recognized apna It hos Saamad to ha hic dnsiro to surround himself with mystery and se- crecy. A lawyer recently described an attempt to reach President McCurdy personally as very discouraging and did succeed in gaining access to the highest salaried insurance man in the world he found that functionary in an elegantly furnished office, seated on a 5000 chair, in the middle of $12,000 rug and before $6,000 desk, on which was not a scrap of paper or other sign of vulgar labor. How the lawyer knew the prices of these different articles he did not explain, but it is good story anyway. MT. McCurdy testified that he did not know the price of these fur nishings.
 McCurdy is like king in the Mutual. He has practically unlimited power. He speaks habitually of it as my" company, refers to its officers as my" officers and the agents as my agents. He has never designated the assets as 'my" assets so far as known. But, then, he has no need to do so. There are means of conveying meaning of that sort other than speech.
 Their Real Homes In New Jersey.
 Both Mir. McCurdy and his son have New York houses, but these are not particularly ostentatious, nor is much time spent in them. The real homes of both are in New Jersey. At Morris town the elder McCurdy has one of the finest country places in the land, and here he lives and here he is in the very cream of the exclusive society of that summer home of mlllionaires. Son-in- law Thebaud also has fine new house at Morristown, and son Robert has an equally fine mansion at Morris Plains, the next station. Here the McCurdy clan has literally regal estates, where they ride to hounds after the most approved English fashion. MT. Thebaud is espe- cially fond of riding and hunting.
 It is not generally known that the elder McCurdy is a poet, but such is the fact He recently had some verse in the Independent, and it is not bad verse either. In it frequently occurs the word alas" Just why the mon- arch of the Mutual should use such a doleful term is not apparent. Now, if the policy holders were writing poetry they might say "alas" with some pro- priety. But'tEey are not. Most of them doubtless are too busy.
 J. A. EDGERTON.