The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-17
REPORT MINE HENDRICKS.
s,,STHAT NOTHING WAS EDITED
OIT-FLING AT MAYER.
Az Much as Says Attorncy.Generl Gave
out the Testirn Ony-Rcport De.
la,cd to Investigate Loan or
sass 900 Not on Equitable Books.

ont the Testin ony-RcpOrt De.
Ia,cd to Investigate Loan or
sgss 900 Not on Equitable Books.
Albany. July 18-State Superintendent
~ Insurance Francis Hendricks gave out
today this statement regarding the testi-
rony taken by him at the Equitable in
yestigation and his report thereon
-The statement made In certain news
napers that my report and the testimony
taken were edited and altered in the in
terests of or at the suggestion OF certain
Individuals Is unqualiiedy false. No per-
son except those employed by me in the
conduct of the investigation read or had
access to the report prior to the time it
was delivered to the printer, except Gov.
Higgins and his counsel, the Hon. Cuthbert
" Pound No suggestion was made
nv either of them as to any modification
of the report and no change was made
in the report as prepared by me The
report as printed is in the exact form in
which it was finally drafted by me and
my counsel.
Al the interview with the Governor
end his counsel l was asked by the Governor
whether I had been successful in secur-
ing the facts relative to all matters under
Investigation. l stated to him that
had not: that the investigation was neces-
sarily still incomplete; that among other
matters which had not been fully covered
was one which l deemed OF immediate
Importance, but concerning which l had
been unable to procure the facts, by reason
Of not having learned of it until the pre-
liminary investigation was about COM
pleted.
Il then stated to him that l had been in
formed that the Equitable society was
carving a loan in the Mercantile Trust
Company of $685. 900, of which no record
appeared on its books as a liability. The
Governor stated to me that he believed
that further effort should be made to
thoroughly investigate that subject. In
accordance with that suggestion | then
directed my counsel to make further in
vestigation and examination relative to
that item. and by reason OF such action
my report was delayed until the conclusion
of his effort. Our efforts in that particular
we're unsuccessful. At that time we were
unable to secure the facts relating to the
matter and consequently my report re-
NAMED unchanged.
with reference to the criticism that
nv report does not fully cover all OF the
facts brought out in the testimony, never
intended that it should specifically refer to
everything that was developed by the
testimony. On the contrary, l stated at
the outset that it did not: that the report
was preliminary in character and covered
only such matters as deemed OF immaculate
Importance to the polcyholders. under
II, ~ 81 hat I ms ~
Ia the Insurance Commissioners Of other
States early in May to present report as
early as the 18th of June, and 1t was I'M
POSSIBLE in the limited time had to refer
in detail to all matters developed during
the investigation. If / had undertaken
in the report to cover all matters referred
to in the testimony it would have delayed
issuing the report at least sixty days, and
the report would have comprised volume
of at least two or three hundred pages.
The further charge made that some of
the testimony taken was suppressed or
edited in the interests Of certa in individuals
is likewise unuualifiedly false. Every word
of the testimony given and taken was tran
scribed by the stenographer in the tram
scripts of the testimony absolutely without
change No person except those employed
by me in conducting the investigation saw
the transcript of testimony, or asked to see
it. or made any suggestions with reference
to it directly or indirectly. Only three
copies of the testimony were transcribed,
and they we're delivered to me personally by
the stenographer who transcribed them,
and each copy was separately wrapped up,
marked and placed in the private compart-
ment o! the Department vault at Albany.
"On the 9th day of July delivered by one
of my deputies one copy OF my report and
one copy of the transcript OF the evidence
taken to the Attorney-G General accompanied
by the following letter;
The Hon, Julius NJ. Mayer. Attorney General
Mbdnp:
SIP. land You herewith copy OF the pre-
lmuary report in the recent investigation
OF the Equitable Life Assurance Society.
with copy of the evidence taken during the
Investigation. Respectfully yours
Enclosures, FRANCIS HENDRICKS.
AT the same time I forwarded by ex-
press one copy of the transcript OF the evil
denca taken, marked and sealed, to Robert
H Hunter, my deputy in charge OF the
New York Office, accompanied by the follow
ing letter:
July o.
The Hon. Robert Fl. Hunter. Deputy Superin-
tendent of Insurance. II Broddrdv. Neu
York City:
DEAR SIR: send you herewith by ex-
nress one copy OF the evidence taken In the
Investigation of the Equitable Life Assur-
ance Society of the United States. Should
the District Attorney desire access to this
evidence you are at liberty to deliver IL to
him OF allow him to examine it. Respectfully
yours.
FRANCIS HENDRICKS. Superintendent.
= 'The other copy has at all times since
completion remained in the department
vault, where it was placed by me.
-The charge that copy OF the testimony
was procured by any other person from
this department is absolutely false and
without foundation. At the time Of the
publication in the newspapers Of part of
the testimony. the copy in the New York
Office was intact and the seal upon the same
had not been broken. The other copy had
not been removed from the vault in the
department at Albany. 1.-THE publication
was on July II, five days after the copies