The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-10
INSURANCE PROBE
COMPOUNDS BECK
Attorney for Big Company Asked
for Questions that Failed to
Help Him.
Journal Special Service.

Journal Special Service.
New York, Nov. 10.-Michael E. Mel
laney, the janitor or caretaker of the
Mutual Life's house at Albany main
tanned for the use Of "Andy' Fields,
the legislative agent, was the most in
teresting witness at yesterdays ses-
sion Of the Armstrong committee.
Mellaney said his wages were paid us
ually by Fields or the latter's righthand
man, Carpenter. Since September Car
penter has paid him. He said he bought
all the supplies for the house and when
asked if he ever did any travelling for
the Mutual Life he said he came down
to this city once in a while to see Fields.
He could not remember what the busi-
some money for travelling expenses. He
said when he came down to this city
Fields sometimes gave him money.
Mr.. Hughes read from one of the blot
ters of the Mutual Life an entry dated
Jan. 18, 1905, which stated that NJ. E.
Mellaney had been paid $3.50 for travel
ing.
Beck's Bad Luck.
James M. Beck, counsel for the Mu,
tual Life, requested Mr.. Hughes to ask
the witness if he did not often buy rail
road tickets for Mr.. Fields. MIR. Beck
has been unfortunate heretofore in max
ing suggestions and this case proved nc
exception. Mr.. Hughes said he would
gladly comply with the request: =
! Odd you buy railroad tickets fol
Mr. Fields? A.-Yes. -.s -.
| Q.-Where was he goings A.-Tc
New York. 49,. -
Q.-How often was he in Albany last
fall when the legislature was not il
session? Ale wasn't there. =
Q.-When did he come to Albany fol
the last session? A.-On Jan. l.
Q.-He WASH It there during the sum
mer or fall Of 1904' A:--No, sir:
Q.T,.The!n when you bought ticket;
A.-Yes, sir.
Mellaney said that his wages as thu
caretaker of the Albany house were 81;
a month. Mr.. Hughes showed the wit
ness thick bundle of vouchers an(
Mellaney admitted he had received tht
money each called for.
The vouchers and the amounts pai(
to Mellaney were as follows: March 7
1900, $1yS; April 2, 1920; Oct: 4, $3.50
Is, $3.50; Oct. 20, $3.50; Jan. 20, 1902
June 2, $35; Sept. so, $3.50; Jan. "a
Dec. IS. $275; Feb. II, 1925; Dec. 1
$3.50: and March Is, 1905, $175. -
| Q.-Are you a lawyer? A-No, sir
Q.-Have you ever rendered any lega
services for the Mutual Life7 A.-No
sir.
Beck Tried to Explain.
Mr.. Beck tried to explain away .tht
bad impression the witness was making
but declaring that the house at Albany
was maintained for the purpose of de
feating obnoxious legislation and thai
the cost of it was all charged to law e1
penses. Mr.. Hughes answered thai
that did not explain why some of the
vouchersto Mellaney read for legal serv
ices and others for his services as care
taker of the house.
When asked who was In the Albany
house last year, the witness said MI
Fields, Mr.. Carpenter and occasionally
P. F. Dudeher, who is Fields brother
in-law$ Mellaney admitted that HI
went to Dobbs Ferry from time to time
Fields lives at that place.
| When asked who had lived at the Al
bany house during the past five years
the witness replied Senator Mcclellan
He was asked if Dudeher was lawye
and replied that he was not. MI
Hughes then read voucher dated Jan
IA, 1908, at Chicago. for $2,021, signed
by P. F. Dudeher i" for money paid ou
for legal expenses