Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1905-11-16
HARTMAN
HASTENS TO
DENY IT ALL
Declares Hyde Was Anxious
for Deal With OdeII.
MEANWHILE ODELL IS
ANXIOUS TO TESTIFY
The People Rapidly Getting to Inside
of Their Affairs by DiSser sions
Among the Insurance
GrafterS.

New York Nov. 15.-E. II. Harri-
man, chairman of the board of direc-
tors of the Union Pacific railroad, for
mer member of the board Of directors
of the Equitable Life Assurance soci-
ETY., and connected with many rail-
roads and financial institutions, the
former friend of James Hazen Hyde,
against whom the letter charged acts
of an unfriendly nature In his testi-
mony yesterday, was one of the chief
witnesses before the Armstrong COM
mlttee on insurance investigation to-
day.
Mr.. Hartman was called immedi-
ately after the recess and his testi-
mony was a series of denials OF the
charges made by Mr.. Hyde.
The Odell Suit Deal.
Mr., Hartman said that Mr.. Hyde
came To him about a month before
the Odell settlement was made and
asked him to use his influence to In
duce Governor Odell to settle his suit
against the Mercantile Trust COM
pany. Mr.. Hyde told him that
the Odell suit was dangerous to the
Mercantile Trust company in that IL
might induce other suits to be brought
by other people who had subscribed
To the bonds of the United States
Shipbulldlng company. Mr. Hartman
said he arranged an interview be-
tween Governor Odell aud Mr.. Hyde.
which was held in Mr.. Harrlman's of
flee.
Some days later Mr.. Hyde and Mr..
Colby visited Mr.. Hartman, and Mr..
Hartman promised to see Governor
0dell and try to get him to do some-
thing about settling the suit" An
other interview between Governor
Odell and Mr. Hyde took place, It
may have been at Mr.. Harrlman's
house. Afterward Mr.. Hyde told Mr..
Hartman that he was willing to pay
1000, and asked him to try to get
the governor to accept that amount.
Governor Odell told Mr.. Hartman
that If he tHarrmam specially ad-
vised 1t. he Governor OdelD would
settle for that amount.
II told Mr.. Hyde of that inter-
view" said Mr. Hartman. "and said
to him that II | were In his place and
were going to settle It, while l had no
advice to give as to whether II should
be settled or not. | would not stand on
$75 900 on a settlement OF that kiud,
would make It satisfactory. Ana
afterward that Mr.. Hyde
saw him and payment was made of
which I had no further knowledge"
Mr. Hartman denied having said to
Mr.. Hyde, as Mr. Hyde had testified.
that there was a possibility of power
tul interests In Albany doing harm to
tie Mercantile Trust company because
of the ship building loss. He also de-
MED saying anything to Mr.. Hyde
about the repeal OF the charter OF the
Trust company, and declar-
ed that he did not know of any rumor
hat a bill was introduced to repeal
that charter.
The HYDE Exile" job.
About year ago Mr.. Hartman said
Mr.. Hyde came to him and asked him
to use his influence to have him ap-
pointed as ambassador to France. and
when he saw the president to speak to
him about Il. He said that he did SO.
but did not recommend Mr.. Hyde's
appointment. Mr.. Hartman said he
did not know whether Governor Odell
did anything about the appointment.
There was no connection, Mr. Harrl-
man said, between Governor Odell's
claim and his own action on the am
Mr.. Hartman said he
mentioned the subject OF the Odell suit
To President Roosevelt, but did not re-
member whether the president was
consulted about II.
Mr.. Hartman said he might have
told Mr.. Hyde that II would be good
thing TO have such a committee an
pointed MS the one headed by Mr..
Frlck. He declared that he had never
said that the report of the Frlck COM
mittee would be favorable to Mr. Hyde
and that he was not concerned In any
movement to buy the Hyde stock and
had told Mr. Hyde and Mr.. Frick that
Mr.. Hyde ought not TO sell II.
The Equitable Stock.
on the day before the report Of the
Frick committee was presented. Mr..
he did not think anybody but the
own the shares and that II Mr.. HYDE
had any fears on that subject he (Mr.
Harrlman) would subscribe $500 600
to fund TO help him hold It. and that
II he thought IL desirable To turn II
over to the Equitable without any pay
for IT, MI Hartman thought others
could be Induced ID do the same thing
Mr. Hartman did not recall that
Mr.. Hyde made any answer TO that
suggestion. Mr.. Hartman did not re-
peat this talk To the Frlck committee.
and he said he did not think that the
committee had any specific lnforma-
tion about the relations OF the EQull-
able to the Union Pacific syndicate
other than the charges made 20 the
committee by J. w. Alexander The
committee did not ask him about the
facts
In the findings OF the Frlck commits
tee. Mr.. Hartman snfd he understood