The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-11-21

New York, November 17.-Wirh the
end Of the morning session today. Sen.
ator Armstrong; committee on insur-
ance Investigation finished a week
that for strenuOusness and Importance
has been eclipsed by no one week since
tie investigation was inaugurated. Be-
sides being the week in which the most
sessions have been held. the witnesses
have been the most important, includ-
ing the big game III the financial
world, us we'll as in the Insurance bus
mess. early i'll the week James HaZen
Hyde was examined and made charges
against e. II. Hartman and former
Governor Odell, who successfully aD-
peared and denied Mr.. fIyde's state
mentS, md Mr.. Hyde being recalled,
affirmed his testimony. Then Senator
~Chauncey NJ. DepeW was heard. and
,When the session opened today it was
a&pecEsd hat before the day was over
Plat would be called. He
NZhI.eG to testify as TO the collection of
contributions To political campaign
funds hy The insurance companies,
Mr.. Odell having testified yesterday
that Senator Iiatt collected ali such
monies up to last year. 1t is now eX-
pected hat the senator will be heard
next week, possibly on Tuesday, when
h sessions will be resumed.
Frank 3. Jordan, son of the former
comptroller OF the Equitable, who at a
previous session said ne did not know
where his father was, or whether
eikher his father or mother was living,
Nailed again today and said he had
~hyed a letter from his mother who
Wa9 III Canada, since he firsj testified,
but mat she saT1 nothing of his father.
He could tS1I nothing as to the amount
Of fire insurance business he had lone
for the Equitable, or why he got it, but
is going to supply taat Information
later.
Samuel S. McCurdy, assistant regis
trar of the Equitable and not related
to the McCUIi ys' OF the Mutual Life,
said he had charge of the vouchers for
legal service. From him vas cleaned
Il story Of trouble in California in 1897
when the insurance commissioner Of
that state demanded an examination.
Thousands of dollars were spent by
theEQuitable in this matter as account
ed by Mr.. McCurdy and he justified the
expenditure on the ground that it
would have cost the Equitable about
$4,000 had no defense been made,
hence the expenditure for counsel. He
seemed to think the demands of the
California commissioners were eXhOrb-
itant.
Mr.. McCurdy said he did not know
when David g.. Hills retainer AS
- L. H. T-4Ilo Oo:nt bnnon
The first voucher from MI. Hill the
witness had was dated March 20, 1898.
Nj. Hills letter to Is. ". Alexander,
Accompanying this voucher and &C
Spwledging receipt Of the retainer,
Created much laughter. In a note at
the end of the letter Mr.. Hill wrote:
Il am feeling pretty well now that
congress has adjourned and the coun-
try is safe. When the Legislature adj
journs the state will be safe" 1t was
brought out that Hills retainer IN 1900
was fixed at $500.
Senator Depew was called to give
any information he might possess as
to a number of vouchers o legal ser
vices, but his knowledge was rather
limited, and many of the expenditures
and signers of these vouchers he mao
never heard OF.
One voucher to John \. Nichols for
legal services was accompanied by a
letter to Senator Depew referring to
''our friend who comes around once a
year. and your r~ambunctious friend
I'D the river The senator said he
knew Nichols had been retained at diff
ferent times by the Equitable, but ne
did not know in what connection. MI.
Nichols, he said, was once quarantn
commissioner and used to be active IN
politics.
The letters concerning which Mr..
Hughes questioned Senator DepeW
were as follows:
new York, December 10, 1896.
NNy Dear Depew:-My friend, who
usually gets around at this time Of the
year has written me several letters to
which [ have not replied. He now
writes me that he will be here Monday
or Tuesday, and desires to have me
HELM him as usual. What shall [ deT
Faithfully yours,
JOHN A. NICHOLS"
New York, December 4, 1900.
"My Dear Senator:-Our friend up
p river has been very rambunctious
Mylate and wants to know, you know:
Don't care a hang ETC., and etc. A
soon as you can conveniently say will
you kindly do 20.
wishing you all the good things OF
life in this holiday season, / am, as