The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1905-10-19
PRES. M'CURDY
IS REBUKED
Hughes and Beck Clash In
Graft Hunt.
RAND. MAY CAUSE ARREST
Mutual Lie Kept Open House at
Albany For Legislative Com.
miiiee Men.
RAND. MAY CAUSE ARREST

MIN NuNha VT - ANNstf"s
Richard 4. Mccuniy u The Mutual
Life Insurance company. Who had a.
rpady bosa bsforv the Insurance con-
mllice twice. was again The main Nit
hes.
Unfinished inquiry by chicf inauis
lios Iingil.s about the Hotel Urnstenor'
a. T.nih siress aud rifth avenue. own
al 10 the Mutual life aud onr- large
% pairouis~i 10 I'rrsid~nt Mrturiy
sni his wife and by bis son'in'law.
i,puis A. Thehand. aud virr lscsii.ni
Oranniss. brought forth q passage n
arnis b~ivcen General sn''riior heck
Of the Mutual and chief inauisiioF
Hughes. In which Chairman Armstrong
TOOK a hand. aRd even Mccuriy him
sclf finally participated. siding with
N. committee against the asp.rsions
81 bic own counsel Heck was afraid
that AIR. Hughes inquiry might give
the public III. Idea that III. MrCuniys
had bscn utilizing iiirlr influence In the
Mutual Life 10 grt rsiucci r-ninls In
town. and be imputed 60 Mr. Hughes .
spirit % unfairne-s.
Th.u Mr. Hughes made n ringing
speech. In which he said that every wi,.
hes who treated the committee cor
daily would h. treated IN turn with
the utmost respect. but that those who
were cvnsive would he treated with
the contempt which their conduct mcr.
tied. which sentiment was 20 loudly
applaudcd by the large audience that
Chairman Armstrong had 10 warn the
auditors that any repetition Of such q
demonstration would result In their ct
clusIon hereafter.
A point Of incidental interest 20 those
closely following the investigation we
the news from Missouri that the speak.
er 81 the house Of representatives, for
that state had requested delay In the
proposed revoking Of the New York
Life Insurance company's Insurance In
order that policy holders might take
concerted action.
Senator W. W. Armstrong. chairman
II. A. Mccurdy and his counsel for In
timatIng that the inquiry was being
conducted In an inquisitorial and un-
fair manner. This was after Mr.. Beck
had practically accused Mr.. Hughes OF
leaving the witness In an unfair posi-
tlon by quickly changing from one line
Of questioning 10 another. While Mr.
Beck was speaking he referred 10 Mr.
McCurdy as man Of ''unblemished
reputation" This was n signal for
boots and cat calls and cries OF NO"
"No!' from the gallery.
George J. Plunkitt. telephone opera
tor for l.. w. Lawrence Il Co.. was
called A voucher acknowledging the
receipt of So0l.l5 ''for legal expenses
TO February, 1905" which was signed
by the name of George +. Plunkitt'
and Endorsed for payment by A. G.
Fields was shown TO the witness, and
he was asked II the signature was his.
He said II was not his. At the request
Of Mr.. Hughes he then wrote his name
for purposes Of comparison and both
signatures were offered in evidence.
Mr.. Hughes called the attention OF the
committee to the similarity of the two
signatures. Plunkitt said that he had
never had 1901 LIS for any purpose.
At the close Of Plunkitt's testimony
the sergeant ut arms of the legislative
committee was directed to commune
cate with the district attorneys Office.
Shortly afterward Assistant District
Attorney Rand appeared, conferred
with Chairman Armstrong and left thu
room.
Charles A. Norris, employed In the
supply department Of. the Mutual Life
Insurance company, said he sometimes
signed vouchers with Fields name, but
none for legal services. Witness did
not know Plunkitt, never saw his, sig
nature and never saw the voucher
Plunkltt is alleged to have signed for
services. Mr.. Norris was questioned
as to the relations of the Lawrence
firm and the Globe Printing company
with the Mutual Life Insurance com
pany. Little was brought out along
this line of inquiry.
Edgar w. Rogers. president Of the
Globe Printing company, was called
He was represented by John B. Stanch-
field as counsel, who stated to the COM
mittee the position of his client, saying
that Rogers is citizen Of New Jersey
and that he reserved the right to con-
test the Jurisdiction of the committee
over his person and its right to. ques-
ton him. He was willing to facilitate
the inquiry as to his dealings with the
Mutual Life Insurance company, but
did not think 1t relevant to question
him about his private affairs.
Rogers testified that his position was
nominal, and the business of the Globe
Printing company was carried on by
L. w. Lawrence & Co., for whom he
is also clerk. He knew 'Plunkitt, and
his Judgment was that the signature to
the voucher was Plunkitt's. He never
knew of Plunkitt receiving money or
rendering service to the Mutual Life.
William NJ. Carpenter, a clerk in the
supply department of the Mutual Life,
was called He said he-sAw -Mru
.ncs<,1da ia NJ on O,f-snoI