New-York tribune., 1905-11-15

James Hazen Hyde yesterday capped the cl-
max of the revelations of the insurance invest1-
CATION by his sweeping charges aimed at nearly
every important figure in the Equitable Llfe AS
s1Irance Society For some time it has been
heralded abroad that Mr.. Hyde was anxious to
take the stand and vindicate himself by testl1S-
ing that he had been saddled with blame be-
longing to older and more experienced men,
His testimony yesterday supplied precisely The
details that had been forecast From start 10
finish of the long day Mr. Hyde indicated that
he believed he had been catspaw used by those
about him. Against z. H Hartman H. Z.
Frick Jacob H. Schiff and James w. Alexander
he showed himself particularly bitter HIS at
tacks upon the good faith of the fr1ck commit
tee astounded his hearers. while his declarations
of the reasons for the settlement of Ex-Governor
OdeT,s suit against the Mercantile Trust COM
pany produced q surprise that has not peen
eauai1e,I sieee the investigation began
The crowd that gathered to see Mr. HYDE
rather than to hear his testimony, remained 10
listen Although his manner at times boy
ish and his inexperience sometimes almost pam
fully apparent there was also what seemed to
be a sincere effort to tell the whole story. Nor
was there any evidence of anger of passion at
any time The most astounding charges We're
made in such matter of fact tone that the I'M
perturbable Mr.. Hughes listened in amazemenl
and insisted repetition
Apart from his testimony, Mr. Hyde was one
of the most notable figures that have occupied the
witness stand. Dressed in black, his long hgure
seemed hardly contained in his clothes, and MS
nervousness manifested itself in the constant
motion of his long, thin hands The french cut
Of his hair and beard gave him Gallo appear
ance which his diction at times reinforced, ana
vet as witness there was no mistaking the
he ma
nesslike answers.
ONLY once did Mr.. Hyde betray any refractor1-
ness and then by his constant evasion of
simple question: he drove MIR. Hughes to MS hrst
appeal to Senator Armstrong to instruct the
witness to reply. But this incident was quickly
passed. and with surprising good humor MI
Hvde returned TO his customary frankness- Inc
most nota bic circumstance OF the session was
the evident system in the signals that passed be-
tween MI Hyde and his counsel, Samuel inter
mver. who sat in the front row Hyde seemed
for all the world like a schoolboy who had been
or.,,,roed for an examination by his tutor and
rras undergoing his quiz in the presence or
tbe anxious mentor. That he had been Wen
trained was unmistakable. Mr. Untermyer, on
his part preserved an unWonted cdnh'
once he loosed a shaft OF sarcasm d' MI
r4uebes hut he scored the first verbal success
Of the hearing and even the committee Joiiieu
in the general laugh =,
The greatest crowd of the sessions Niied ,ne
chamber Mrs. Hughes. Mrs fleiiiliS anu M
Armstrong were among the score VI
present and even standing room "d'
n,be,, Mr. Hvde took the stand in tn afternoon
As he left the City Hall at noon Mr. Hyoe was
followed nv hundred ragamuffins ana eAeite
ment worshipping bystanders. who pursued nun
for several blocks giving him sort ot pohticai
demonstration Nothing in the nVestlsatIot' 10
date has been so marked with the personal ilo'V
as the reception of Hyde. whose long absence
and private fortunes and eccentrcltles fnaue
him the greatest drawing card OF the HFFS'i-
CATION Mr.. Hyde win resume his testinion'
to-day.