Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18
1hOnR5ONBELDENdCyQ
Y. M. G. A. Building, Cor. 10th and Douglas.

delegation to the St. Louis exposition was
entertained by the Mutual wine was served.
Former Agent BFibed.
voucher for $4,000 under date of May
%, 1902, for a first payment on a contract
of that date to Thomas II. Bowles, was
brought up. Witness said Bowles was an
agent at one time. The money was in part
settlement of a suit Bowles brought against
the company for claims after his removal
to Milwaukee. Bowles organized a cam
paign of policyholders against the company
and the company settled the suit for $50, O0O
The witness said Bowles was removed for
INSTRUMENTATION" which consisted of OPP
posing the changing OF his general agency
to a salaried agency and transferring his
agency business to the books of the COM
pany. Mr.. Bowles had addressed a letter
to the trustees denouncing the president.
Mr. McCurdy could not say whether he had
a copy of that letter. He did not think it
was now on file in his office and he would
not know where to find a copy.
Mr.. Hughes handed to the witness a
voluminous package and asked II he recog-
nized 1t as copy of Mr.. Bowles' COM
munication, which he did. The Bowles
letter, extracts from which were read,
charged extravaganza in the management
pies in inviting business, that 1t was con-
stunned with the ambition to write new bust
ness, wrote fictitious business and employed
incompetent men because they were rela-
tives of high officials.
McCurdy Defends His SON,
THE trustees referred the matter to the
president with power" witness testified. lie
| added that the board had not read the let.
ter. Witness read only sufficient of il tc
| see what 1t was and then removed Bowles
He testified that Mr.. Bowles had been o
general agent in the south and west and he
was removed for throwing mud" when nj,
| time came to have his business changed
! according to the policy of the company
I from a general agency to a company
| agency. To the charge in the Bowles let
ter that President McCurdy provided IA
offices for his family, witness replied in
| lengthy statement as to how his son, Rob
J ert II. McCurdy, became the general man
| ager Witness detailed the education hi
son had received to adapt him to take III
| the foreign business, and said above all h,
was loyal to the company II know Of III
| other mans sou in this city or anywher,
else" he continued, who could have fllet
that position as the man appointed to It.
| Witness assumed all the Bowles charge
were a lie," and especially the charge tina
a great deal Of the company's business ha,
been given away.
Settles with BOvvles.
! On the charge that rebates were made
witness said he was aware of a constant at
tempt on the part of individuals that ar
solicited for big policies to get the agent I
| divide his premium, and there is q tempta
tion for the agent TO take half a loa
rather than none" He said the Bowles let
ter was insurrectionary and that It wa
cause enough for any general agent to b
removed. He said the tables and figure
that Mr.. Bowles has been at great troubl
to compile from company records wer
part OF his scheme to make trouble" Wit
ness memory could not be refreshed as (
any policyholders movement. and Nj
Hughes abruptly asked:
well. how did you settle his suit7'
BowIeS Denies statement.
We'll" replied the witness, mot to b
disrespectful to the committee, think
farmer is justified In buying a rifle t