Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-11-23
PLATT is NEXT FOR THE GRILL
SENATOR WILL BE ASKED re
EXPLAIN ABOUT CAM
PAlGN FUNDS.
TROUBLE IN CALIFORNIA
COST THE EQUITABLE iNsUR.
ANcE COMPANY THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS.

New York, Nov. 19.-With the end
of the morning session yesterday Sen
ator Armstrong; committee on insur-
ance investigation finished week &
that for strenuousness and Importance a
has been eclipsed by no one week
, since the investigation was inaugur-
ated. Besides being the week in Il
which the most sessions have been 4
! held, the witnesses have been the
most important, including the big
guns" in the financial world as well as
in the insurance business. Early in
the week James Hazen Hyde was ex-
amined and made charges against E. Z
II. Hartman and Former Gov. Odel, 4
who successfully appeared and denied 4
Mr.. Hyde's statements, and MIR. Hyde
being recalled.
Affirmed His Testimony.
Then Senator Chauncey M. Depew !
was heard. and when the session
opened yesterday it was expected that
before the day was over Senator Plat
would be called. He is wanted to tes-
x
lions to political campaign funds by
the insurance companies, Mr.. Odell
having testified Thursday that Sena-
tor Platt collected all such moneys up
to last year. 1t is now expected that
the senator will be heard early next
week, possibly on Tuesday, when the
sessions will be resumed
Frank B. Jordan, son Of the former 4
controller of the Equitable, who at 4
previous session said he did not know !
where his father was or whether eth &
er his father or mother was living
was called again yesterday ard said
that he had received a letter from his
mother, who was in Canada, since he
first testified, but that she said moth
ing of his father.
Trouble in California.
| Samuel S. McCurdy, assistant regis
trar of the Equitable, and not related
to the McCurdys of the Equitable
Life, said he had charge of the
vouchers for legal service From him
was cleaned story of trouble in Cali
fornia in 1897, when the insurance
commissioner of that state DEMANDED
an examination. Thousands of dollars
were spent by the Equitable in this
| matter as accounted by Mr.. BIcCurAy,
and he justified the expenditure pon
the ground that it would have cost the.
Equitable about $4,000 had no de-
fense been made, hence the expend-
iture for counsel He seemed to think
| the demands of the California commits
+, sioners We're exorbitant.
| Depew on the Grill.
Senator Depew was called to give
J any information he might possess as
to a number of vouchers for legal
1 service, but his knowledge was rather
limited and many of the expenditures
and signers of these vouchers he hal
never heard of.
One voucher to John A. Nichols for
| legal services was accompanied by
letter to Senator Depew referring To-
| our friend who comes around oncea
| year, and your rambunctioHs friend /
up the river" The senator said ne
knew Nichols had been retained at
different times by the Equitable, but
he did not know in what connection.
W. 1>lSiOiS, lie Sdiu, Was once quar- K
ant.ne commissioner and used to be
active in politics
Senator Can't Remember.
Mr.. Hughes, counsel for the com.
mittee, read an extract from the let
ter which was written by Nichols to
the senator, in which the following ap-
peared:
THAT this is to remind you that
some one gets around this time Ut (
year"
DO you recall" asked Mr.. Hughes.
who this some one is?o
Il don't recall his name" said Sena-
tor Depew
Here Mr.. Hughes again read from
the letter:
Our friend up the river has beer.
very rambunctious Of late and wants
! to know, you know
Mr.. Hughes asked IL that refarred T.,
to the same man.
u believe so, but / don't rersn HE
name, & said the senator. He added
that the man was not conneefea VIII,
the legislature and he thought i,e nan
nothing to do with politics but Spas an
Insurance man.
Town Constable MissInn.