Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-10-07
M'CALL RAISES
BLACKMAIL CRY
Sass Most Insurance Bills In State
Legislatures Are For Extortion.
sl.lO3, 800 FOR LEGAL SERVICES

New York, Oct. 5.-Somewhat OF
sensation was caused In the session or
the legislative committee which Is In
yestigating the methods OF life insur-
ance companies. when Neil +. Towner,
Of Albany, was called to the stand anu
disclaimed any knowledge OF the
whereabouts of cancelled checks OF
Judge Andrew Hamilton. OF Albany.
Mr.. Towner testified that he had made
deposits for Judge Hamilton. but not
while the latter was In Europe. he
had taken some cancelled cnecks
from the Albany Trust company early
in September and had thrown them
into a drawer In Judge Hamilton's
desk. He had no occasion to look al
them again until last week. when ne
received the subpoena To appear De-
fore the committee. He was asked 10
hiring these checks with him. but when
he looked for them they were gone.
He had no knowledge. he declared, Oh
where they could have gone or VINO
could have taken them. Pressed py
Mr.. Hughes. he said almost anybody
had access to the drawer In whicn tne
checks were placed.
John 4. Mccall. Of the New YORK
Life. was asked about deposit 70
the credit of Judge Hamilton of $lo..-
O41 on September !. 1905. MT McCai'
said the New York Life Insurance
company had paid MIR. Hamilton no
moiiey. but suggested that part OF IL
might nave come from the state con-
troller's office by reason of an assign
ment of tax moneys. which wouin
come to the judge by reason OF his
securing the repeal of the tax law
which relieved the New YORK Lie
from payment of taxes. Judge Ham
,lton was to have one-third OF the
amount that would rebate to the com
many. a sum OF $272.0o0. netting Mr..
Hamilton about 100000.
II developed that the New York Lie
had acquired by foreclosure an apart
ment house In one of the most desir-
able residential sections OF TINS city
and the cost. with the improvements
deemed necessary. was $2O3.O5b. The
net income from this property was
found to be .O23 per cent on the IN
vestment. Among the improvements
was the throwing Of two apartments
into one of nine rooms. with TWO
baths. These were rented for $looo
and $500 year. 1t then developed
that four of the tenants were the I'M
mediate family of President Mccall.
three sons and son.in.law. Mr.. Devlin
was asked who fixed the rental or
these properties. and he said he DIS
cussed the matter with Mr.. Mccall.
Mr.. Mccall enlivened the proceed
ings further when he said that there
was no record on the books OF the
New York Life Insurance company OF
the $500 paid the Republican ma
tional committee for contributions 10
presidential campaigns. While he had
no personal knowledge that the
money was paid. he assumed 1t was.
because he had told the treasurer to
make these payments.
Earlier in the day Mr. Mccall. in de-
failing the general legislation work OF
Judge Hamilton and the counsel he
employed, denied any knowledge OF
the legislative pool which was dis
closed In the examination of Alfred
w. Maine. auditor of the Equitable
Life Assurance Society. last week. He
said that the New York Life Insurance
company's expenses for legal services
from June /. 1900, to August 81. 1905.
were sl.l03.9 800. or this amount. Mr..
Mccall said. Andrew Hamilton re-
ceived s476.927. In states where Mr..
Hamilton looked after legislation. Mr..
Mccall said, he was expected to deal
with the man who could produce the
results.
Mr.. Mccall then made the startling
assertion that threequarters of the
bills affecting life insurance COM
panies were In the nature OF black
mail. The officers OF the companies
were worried at the beginning OF each
year. he said. by the proposal Of laws
that would hamper their companies.
and these officers really trembled at
what they would have to endure the
first six months of each year"
SUIT AGAINST MCCALL
PoiIcyholders After Permission to sue
Him For Campaign Gifts.