Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1905-11-16
SoDELL GIVES
HIS EXPLANATION
New York Politician
Answers Hyde's
Charge.
--------------
p AAaA i4s aa - - -
SAYS He MADE No THREAT
Bill to Repeal Trust Com.
pany's Charter Was Not
a Retaliatory Measure.

| New York, Nov. 1G.--B. B. Odell, Jr.
former governor of New York, and al
present chairman of the state Repub.
lican committee, was the first witness
before the insurance investigating
committee today.
Odell was asked whether there was
|any political influence or pressure
drought to bear upon the Mercantile
llrust Company directly Or indirectly
to induce a settlement.
| There was not" said Odell.
"Will you state, Governor" asked
Attorney Hughes, whether you had
any information in regard to the in
PRODUCTION of a bill in the Senate for
the purpose OF repeating the charter
of the Mercantile Trust Company
Il knew of it at the time.
| "Who advised you of it,"
Il knew Of it before its introduc-
tiou."
From whom did you get the infor-
mation?'
"Oh, various people as to the pro-
priety of the introduction of such a
measure
did you suggest its Introduction p
NO"
Did you request its introduction p
| saw no objection to it..
Acted for People.
What was the ground for that ac-
ton or APPROVAL"
| "Simply because scandal incident to
the ship building trust was uppermost
in the peoples mind and it was claim
led that the Mercantile Trust Company
was behind fifteen or sixteen corpora
tions, everyone of which had been in
ssssyent and it. was time, l. thought
fsuch a practice in the state of New
York should be stopped
i Odell said the bill was intended 70
the investigation of the Mercantile
Trust Company. AT the time he hat
|no suit pending against the Mercan
tile Trust Company, and when the bill
Twas introduced the witness said nj
lhad every dollar of his holdings IL
1.-THE Ship Building Company.
| Later these holdings were sold a
lauction, as he felt that as governor
he should not have direct or indirec
Interest in matter before the legisla
ture. The stock cost $164,17 and was
sold for $43,6S7.
Il Never Made Threat.
/ Odell denied that he ever threatene'
Iretaliatory measures against the Mel
camille Trust Company, or anyone els
!, if his claim was not settled.
The witness was asked il later III
had changed his mind about the pre-
priety of the introduction OF the meas
= ure in the legislature.
He replied: Eyes, sir, the fact ina
1.-The base calumny which Mr.. Hyde III
: tered here had been circulated in ps
= pers, led me to change my mind.
" called Senator Amblerin and said tina
,Ndesirable as believed the legislation
lbe. | feared my unfortunate conne
ton with ship building matter wa
of such character that it would U
lbetter for him to drop this ieglsl'
: ton"
Odell said he wrote letter at tn
request of Mr.. Mcintyre, former four|
vice president of the Equitable, IN D
It half of Hyde's candidacy for tt
- French ambassadorship This ma
y nothing to do with the ship buildlf
= settlement. The letter was Write
!, hefore the settlement was made.
II No Political Money.
= In regard to political contributor
y the witness said he knew notnll
)" labout them. He also said he kne
~ nothing about the efforts of the insu
ance companies to prevent mimic
e. legislation. He said no money nj
Viewer been placed in his hands eth
le directly or indirectly for political pl
a noses or. otherwise to influence leg
I'd lation.
ry| Odell said his was not the only sh
b. building suit settled, as the Unit
myer claim was paid and SO we
- others. He felt that his claim W
50 just. ,,.u,
~ "Of course" said Attorney Hugh'
.' "you understand the committee IS
!, ~ here to pass on the merits OF 70
~ claim, We are simply interested
Ia cause it is alleged that defn
gs threats were made against the M
AT camille Trust Company unless
el' claim was paid"
IA "There is no truth in that stateme
ne 50 helm me Cod" he replied.
18th Depew is Called.
Senator NJ. Depew, who follow
is Odell on the stand testified that
ga was asked by Hyde to use his IN
tie ence with President Roosevelt to
lty cure for Hyde the ambassadors
eff to France. He spoke to the Presid
'ip. about it and Mr.. Roosevelt said Is
utterly impossible.