The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-16

New York. Nov. 16.-B. B. 0dell, Jr;
present chairman of the state repub-
Gcan committee, was the first witness
before the surance-lnvestlgatlnS com,
mittee today and denied that he had
ever directly or indirectly threatened
to have the charter. of the Mercantile
Trust company revoked:
Mr.. Odell, when again asked if the
Mercantile Trusts charter was threat
is NO truth in that, SO help me Cod
Senator Chauncey M. Depew went on
the witness stand soon after Mr.. Odell
left it.
Before his testimony was begun, Sam
mel Untermeyer, counsel for James II.
Hyde entered an objection protesting
against the Investigation of the affairs
of the United States Shipbuilding COM
pany by the committee.
The Mercantile Trust.
Mr. Hughes, counsel to the commit,
tee, began by asking Mr.. Odell to tell
the facts pertaining to the Mercantile
Trust company charter, and the wit
ness said he would prefer to tell OF the
whole transaction leading up to the set
tlement, if permitted. -
Mr. Untermeyer protested that IT the
COMMITTEES permitted this, it would take
tnem far outside the legitimate line OF
the inquiry. Senator Armstrong re-
ferred the protest to Mr.. Hughes; who
said he would call to Mr.. Odell's at
tention the fact that tthe mater
which concerns the committed IS simply
the question whether there was any
political influence or pressure brought
to bear upon the Mercantile Trust com
pany. directly. or indirectly, 10 induce
a settlement ;, ru oz,u
Knew of Repeal Bill.
"will you state, governor" asked
Mr.. Hughes. "whether you had. any
Information with regard to the nitro
ductiou of a bill in the senate for the
purpose of repeating the charter OF the
Mstiakr,sv RI krew. Of it It at the time: yes
.sWho advised YOU Of it?a'~.. y :. -
.T knew of it before it's introduc-
' "From whom did you get the infor
mationF" - tho rro
pEisty t;; &c Of +, the introduction OF S"'N
..pid you suggest its introductory
N0' oden Did Not Object.
"Did you request it's introduction?'
HI saw no objection to 1t.
HDid You state that you saw no 90
] lection to the introduction OF tn
measure?' .As.d
cat the time 1t was INTRODUCED
'iTo whom?''
"oa. It, to - anyone an who asked me;
@sw6at soSssrt3 was the 81 ground for that "'
' :Simplv because the scandal inciden
to the shipbiulding trust was uppermos
in The peoples mind and it was elaine
that the Mercantile Trust company ha
been behind fifteen or sixteen corpors
tions, everyone of them had been insolN
ent and it was time I thought, sue
matters in the state OF New Yor
should be stopped.'
Depew Happens In.
While Mr.. Odell was testifyiTg, Sci
at9T DePeM 0Pgs snterfd the room intenae
to provide for an investigation of tt
Mercantile Trust company. He cou
not recall that he had an intervie
with Assemblyman Fish with regard
the introduction I'M the assembly of
bill similar to Senator Ambler's 8 repe
bill. His only interview with Sen
tor Amber about the bill was after
had been introduced.
At that time he had no suit pendir
against the Mercantile Trust compan
His suit was brought in August, 100
When the bill was introduced
Z March, 1904, the witness said, ne st
{ had every dollars worth of his Shi
building holdings. These holdings we
sold at auction and brought $43,6s
against $164,171 paid for them. Sin
their sale witness has had no intere
in the Shipbuilding company. The SO
would be matters Of legislation col
up affecting Shipbuilding affairs, a
he felt that the governor should Il
be interested directly or indirectly
the bonds.
against the Mercantile Trust compa
in August, 1904. He had no intervi
with J. P. Morgan regarding his Sh
building claim, but did have w:
Charles M. Schwab. His interview wi
& Mr. Schwab was when the company "
& in the hands Of receiver.
Never Threatened! Neverl
"Did you make any statement
anybody in the city Of New York tt
retaliatory measures of any kind wo'
q be takena'' asked Mr.. Hughes.
# "Never.'
"That any measures threatening
y Mercantile Trust company or anyc
else would be taken if your claim "
not settled?''
"a ''Never. I never made any s,
statement to Mr.. Hartman, nor die
,E5 ever have any interview with Mr.. II
rlman In which 1T was suggested tt
sa Hartman should use his influence
s procure a settlement of my ella
against the Mercantile Trust.
"Then,' said Mr.. Hughes, "I-
! & derstand your testimony is that J
81 never, directly or indirectly, used
# threat to procure a settlement Of tt
I suit9''
IE ''No. sir.'
! I# "Was the, legislation proposed
la Senator Amber in any way a topic
q conversation, when the settlement
III your suit came up?'
Hs Had a Talk with Hyde.
.# "Never, excepting-yes, when 1 !
5. talk with Mr.. Hyde, he spoke of
IN \ and [ told him no matter what the q
SN come of our settlement might
al Icho, crni into 4b11