Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-10-31
JEROME ENTERS
Insurance WAR
PROSECUTIONS OF HIGH OFF,
GALS LIKELY AS RESULT OF
RECENT REVELATIONS.
TESTIMONY OF OFFICE
BOY OPENS LOOPHOLE
Declares Voucher Bearing His Name
Was Not Signed by Him-Assist-
ant Treasurer of Mutual Before
Legislative Investigators.

lNtW 1Olh. OCl. AllOT-
ney jerome has paused in his cam
paign for reelection to give his undi.
vided attention to the scandal in the
life insurance companies, 1t looks as
if some one, perhaps an official high
up in the insurance world, will be
prosecuted criminally as result OF
the latest revelations made by the
legislative committee that is investi-
eating the companies. One official of
one of the biggest companies is now
suspected of forgery and Mr.. Jerome
will push his investigation with view
to sending him to the penitentiary.
The first loophole in the bulwark OF
defense erected by the insurance men
was punctured when George ]. Plum
kett, an office boy of II years, testified
that voucher for $9O115 held by the
Mutual Life Insurance company and
bearing the name of George Plunkett
was not signed by him
Boys Writing Different.
The boy was asked to write his name
and did so. When the signature was
compared with that on the voucher
the investigators declared at once that
the latter was not young Plunkett's
signature. Young Plunkett is an Office
boy employed by Lysander w. Law
renee, who conducts a stationery store
in the basement of the Mutual Life
building. The Mutual company buys
its stationery supplies of Lawrence.
The voucher was drawn February 20.
1905, and purports that the money was
paid for services" Vice President
w. R. Gillette, of the Mutual, approved
the payment.
A. G. Fields, the Mutual's legislative
agent, recommended the payment of
the amount. Instructions written
across the voucher in red ink show
that the amount of the voucher is
charged to "law expense" on the MI.
tuals books
District Attorney Jerome was called
into the investigation as soon as the
alleged forgery was found. He is now
conducting a special inquiry designed
to find out whether any witness has
committed perjury and also to fix re-
sponsibility for the forgery if it proves
to be one. He believes the one-man
power in insurance companies is back
OF the strange development of affairs,
Further disclosures in this line are
anticipated.
When the hearing was resumed
Thursday Richard A. McCurdy, presi.
dent of the Mutual Life Insurance
company, was recalled to resume his
testimony as to the connection Of the
Mutual Insurance company with the
trust companies, which were being in
vestigated when the committee ad.
journed Wednesday.
Assistant Treasurer on Stand.
James Timpson, assistant treasurer
of the Mutual, was later called to the
stand. He described the organiza-
ton and the conduct of the Brooklyn
Wharf and Warehouse company, of
which the Mutual Life Insurance CON-
pany took securities amounting to
$3,50O,000. 1t sold a portion Of these
and bought new securities of the same
company, making profit thereby.
The Brooklyn company was reorgan.
lied in 1901 because it was not pay.
ing its expenses and dividends and
its securities were taken by the New
York Dock company. Mr.. Timpson
also stated that the Mutual partici.
pated in the syndicating of the securi.
ties of the Washington Traction &
Electric company, which was formed
to take over electric light and street
railway properties in Washington, d.
G. This company was afterward re-
organized as the Washington Railway
& Electric company.