Evening star., 1905-09-20
MCCALL ON THE STAND
President of New York Life
Company
BEFORE INQUISIT0Rs
DISPOSITION OF FUNDS PAID AN
DREW HAMILTON.
Drew Checks Without Approval Of
Finance Communicable
Sole Authority.
BEFORE INQUISITORs

| NEW YORK, September 20. - That the
sum of S235, 600 has been paid by the New
| York Life Insurance Company to Andrew
A. Hamilton of Albany; that no account or
this money has been made except to Presi-
dent Mccall verbally. and that Hamilton
attends sessions of the legislature at AL
bany In the interests of the New York Life
Insurance Company, was brought out to-
day by testimony given by Mr.. Mccall be-
fore the legislative insurance investigating
committee. Mr. Mccall said that the vari-
Gus sums making UP the S235,000 paid to
| Hamilton had been given him in connection
with different real estate deals, but Mr..
Hughes, after considerable questioning, de-
veloped the fact that none of the money
had been actually applied to such deals.
Mr. Mccall also said that Mr.. Hamilton
was allowed money for expenses at Albany,
| and that HamiItons accounts were not
| subject to audit Mr.. Mccall denied that
| he gave Mr. Hamilton money to influence
| any member of the legislature or that he
| advised any such course. The s235,ooo Mr..
| Mccall said he was sure would be paid by
| Mr.. Hamilton on demand OF the New York
| Life Insurance Company
| .'If II is not" said Mr.. Mccall, IN be
responsible and I'll pay It." Hamilton re-
ceived for legal services he said about sloo'-
| 600 year from the New York Life lnsur-
ance Company.
On the subject of the New York Life In
surance Companys campaign contributions
IN recent presidential years, Mr.. Mccall
| said they were given for the purpose OF de-
feating the silver platform and for the sup
| MORT of the gold standard rather than Of the
| republican party.
NEW YORK, September 2O,-John A. Nc
| Call, president of the New York Life In
| surance Company, was a witness today be-
fore the legislative insurance investigating
committee.
| 1t was expected that Mr. Mccall would
| be questioned concerning the final dispo-
| sition of the 100000 which was paid by
| order OF President Mccall to Andrew Ham
| ilton of Albany. District Attorney Jerome
| was an interested spectator of the pro-
| ceedngs today for the first time. He said
| he expected to make public statement on
the subject of the investigation in a few
days.
willis G. Nash, cashier OF the New York
State National Bank of Albany, was the
first witness. He produced transcript of
the account of Andrew A Hamilton from
January 1, 1900, to date. This consisted Of
twenty-four ledger sheets. The account
gave no particulars beyond the amounts.
Mr.. Nash said only Mr.. Hamilton and his
daughter had power to draw checks on that
| account.
President John A. Mccall of the New
York Life Insurance Company was then
called. After being sworn and giving the
preliminary information as to his business
| and residence, he said he had been con-
troIler of the Equitable before becoming
president of the New York Life Insurance
Company, and previously had been super
| tnfl dant nf in "A
It was true that he had drawn checks on
the New York Life Insurance Company ac-
count without the approval of the finance
committee He said this was almost a
daily occurrence. He knew Hamilton for
ten years Hamilton is not a relative of
his, he added
The Sole Authority.
Mr. Mccall said he himself Is the sole
fudge of what checks should be drawn
without authorization. Hamilton. he said.
has charge Of the real estate OF the COM
pany throughout the country on salary OF
$1,000 a year. Taking up the 100000 In
checks sent to Albany. Mr.. Mccall said, in
answer to Mr.. Hughes. that he gave them
| to Hamilton. He said in 1903 the company
determined to buy the block in the rear Of
the home Office. this CITY,
He sent for real estate agent to take up
the subject quietly. The New York Life
Insurance Company was not to be known
In the transaction. In December, 1908 the
real estate man reported he thought the
block could be procured for 81 ,1O0, COO and
that Is per cent of this should be available
quickly.
Il told him." said Mr.. Mccall, that I
would put him In touch with Judge Hamil-
ton, and pursuant to that I ordered the
two checks in question drawn. The youch-
ers will show what they were drawn for"
He procured the vouchers and identified
| them One was the controllers warrant
and the other Mr.. Hamiton's receipt. The
/ 'fny tom tcep nf tka
vouchers Mr.. Mccall said meant that the
money was to be used for the purpose di-
rected and to be reported back to the
board. He said the 100000 had been ac-
counted for by Mr.. Hamilton. Mr.. Mccall
here wanted to make an explanation, but
Mr.. Hughes. counsel to the investigating
committee, wanted the account as presented.
The account, the witness said was rem
dered orally to Mr.. Mccall at his office. He
said Mr.. Hamilton had paid out 100000 on
the Elm street property. and that there is
still s235, 600 unexpended The checks were
produced. They were nine in number, four
to the order of John N. Golding, the real
estate broker, and five to the order Of An
drew A. Hamilton These. Mr.. Mccall said,
were checks that had been paid on the
, property bounded by Elm, Worth, Leland
and Center streets. New York. In 1903.
Wanted the Report.
Mr.. Hughes was insistent that the report
made by Hamilton to the disposition of
, the 100000 should be produced.
HAS this money been accounted for?' he
asked Mr.. Mccall.
'It has, Mr.. Hughes.
please produce the account"
1T was given me personally In my Office. "
Please produce this account" repeated
Mr.. Hughes.
'It was given me personally in my Of
hce," again said Mr.. Mccall.
Senator Armstrong broke In: you near
, verbaily?
/, '.Yes, verbally. The 100000 has not all
been expended"
: The minutes" of the special meeting OF
the finance committee of March TO- 1904 au-
thorizing the president and treasurer to
, negotiate and buy the property for the ex-
tension, was read.
Then the transaction had not been before
| the finance committee before March, 1904, >
asked Mr.. Hughes.
MOT formally; 1t was before several
meetings, without formal action" said Mr.
Mccall.
: The plots of land bought and payments
for each having been identified, Mr.. Hughes
| said that there still the 100000 in