The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-06-12
INSURANCE MEN
UNDER INDICTMENT
Charges of Forgery and Perjury
Against Mutual Life
officials.
ALLEGED DEFALCATI0NS
REACH IMMENSE SUM
Former Vice-PreSidents Walter
G. Gillette and Robert A.
GrannisS Accused.

NEW YORK, June 11.-Indictmcnts for
forgery and perjury against DR.. Walter
G. Gillette and for forgery and filing
false statements against Robert a. Gran
Miss. both former vice presidents of the
Mutual Life Insurance company. were
returned today by the special grand jury
which has been investigating insurance
affairs for the past six weeks.
Six indictments were found against DR..
Gillette. five for forgery In the third de-
gree and one lor perjury Mr.. Granniss
WAS indicted for forgery and for making
false statements In the department the
latter being a mlsdemeanor. Both de-
PENDANTS Immediately surrendered them
selves and were admitted to bail, Mr.
Gillette In $1,000 and Mr.. Granniss In
5000. their cases being put over until the
first Monday in September.
Faces Six Charges.
The first indictment against Gillette re-
cites that while vice-presIdent OF the
Mutual May 4. 1894 he caused to be made
In the account book OF the company
known the blotter. a false entry that
$500 had been paid 10 the firm OF George
McKibbin az Son for advertising Indebted
ness. when as a matter of fact neither
that sum nor any other sum was PAID 10
George McKibbin & Son,
False Entry Alleged.
The second Indictment charges that on
the same date a fraudulent entry OF W.
Col for printing and stationery was made.
when as a matter of fact only 81. I0l was
paid for that purpose.
Boosted the Account.
The third indictment charges that on
May H. 1904, the defendant made false
entry In the cash book, indicating the
payment of $6}S7 for advertising. when as
q matter OF fact only s2s76 had been spent
for that purpose.
Padded Advertising Items.
The fourth indictment charges that on
May a. 1904 the defendant caused to be
entered In the blotter fraudulent entry
thai the sum OF $500 had been paid to
Chas F. Parsons for stationery and print
ing when as a matter of fact neither
thet nor any other sum had been paid.
False Payment Set Out.
The fifth Indictment charges that OH
May IL. 1904. fraudulent entry was made
In the blotter tnat $35ll had been paid TO
George McKibbin & Son, when In fact
no sum at all had been paid All five In
dictments charge forgery in the third de-
gree.
Charge of Perjury.
The sixth Indictment charging perjury.
recites that the defendant for two years
prior to April l, 1906. was officer OF
the Mutual Life. and that on May IL. 1906,
he appeared before the grand jury and
under oath sworc that certain bank ac-
count at Dobb's Ferry was his personal
account and that 1t had been obtained
from his personal account elsewhere
as trustee of the Mutual Life and the
money deposited had not come from the
defendants personal account. but from
the funds OF the Mutual Life.
Charges Against Granniss.
The indictment against Grannlss for
forgery in the third degree charges that
his report for the year ending December
81 1901. filed with the State Superlnten-
dent of Insurance, failed 10 make any
report whatever of profit and income
frz ho 10 op1d NAT ITtt NJ
assets while as matter OF fact the
companys net profits from that source
for the year Indicated was sl,oi4.oSS.
Views of Grand Jury.
The grand jury in its presentment to
court says.
shown that each year for years large
sums OF the company's money have been
obtained by means most irregular and
fraudulent, and though probably applied
the company. such expenditures have
been of so improper or questionable a
character that no entry OF them has been
made on the books, nor have any vouch~
ers showing the character of the disburse
nentS been made
Intended to Deceive.
THE system employed was confessedly
designed 10 deceive and conceal and has
rendered il very difficult to nx respon-
sibility.
Moreover, the death of several per-
sons whose evidence might have been of
great value has apparently encouraged u
tendency TO throw burdens upon the dead
which others perhaps would have had TO
bear had death not intervened.
Says No Doubt Exists.
The court charged that the law re-
auired we should not find an indictment
unless legal evidence satisfied us beyond
n reasonable doubt OF the guilt of the
accused This injunction We have strictly
obeyed. but It's observance has made
easier for us to become convinced of
where guilt existed. than 10 find ndict-
ments based upon legal evidence which
we could say satisfied our minds beyond
all reasonable doubt.
Other Crimes Alleged.
"In moro than one case crimes have ap-
parently been committed but some links
OF the chain OF legal proof have been
missing, and there has not seemed to be
any means by which they could be sup
piled.
I'VE have gone as far as we could into
this investigation I'm the time available
and we arc informed that subsequent
grand juries Will continue the inyestiga-
tlr,,