New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-05-29
FIELDS BEFOkE JURY.
VAS H WILLING WITNESS.
No ActiOn on Perkins Resignation
j. w. Alexander AbrOad.

Andrew c. Fields. former head of the supply
department Of the Mutual Life through which
hundreds Of thousands of dollars diverted
for his use in influencing legislation at Albany
and in other states. testified for half hour
before the insurance grand jury yesterday. It
Is understood that District Attorney Jerome OBJ
tanned enough information 70 form the basis for
several important indictments
James W. Alexander. former president Of the
Equitable. who for some time was in a sana-
tOrium at Deerfeld. Mass. it learned. had
so far improved in health that he had sailed for
the Mediterranean on Saturday. May 10
Owing 10 the fact that there bare quo
rum at the meeting of the board of trustees Of
the New York Life. action on the resignation oc
George W. Perkins put off until the Juns
meeting The report of the accountants. re-
ceived and accepted showed that on Decernber
81, 1905. the assets OF the company amounted
to S43S 1SS O15 80
The full story OF the mysterious disappear
ance Of the books of the supply department. OF
the Mutual Life became known yesterday when
one of the clerks there who had confessed to-
shipping them away when the Armstrong CON-
mittee was in session last fall was discharged
The books were recently recovered. and are now
in the hands OF the District Attorney.
The visit of Fields to the grand jury room was
great surprise TO most of the attaches OF the
1t until after he had gone Since the latter part
of April he had been at Ocean Grove. and re-
ports from there had represented him as seri-
ously ILL On Saturday he promised the District
Attorney that he would come to New York yes
| terday, and in spite of the stormy weather hs
kept his promise. 1t is said that he went di-
rectly from the train TO the Criminal Courts
Building. and after his testimony given re-
turned to Ocean Grove the first train
FIELDS A WILLING WITNESS
Fields was accompanied by his son Clarence
DR.. Johnson, his Ocean Grove physician, and
Howard s. Cans. an ex-Assistant District At
torney who is the third attorney to be engaged
by the former head of the famous House OF
Mirth" 1t was evident to those who saw him
that Fields had been sick and was far from we'll
He was on crutches, and his right foot which Is
badly swollen from Bright's disease. was ban
daged In black cloth. His face was covered with
three weeks growth of gray beard He
reached the grand jury room at . o'clock and
was on the stand for thirty minutes
District Attorney Jerome personally directed
the examination Fields willing witness.
The District Attorney had the questions he
wanted to ask well in hand. and the examlna-
tion proceeded rapidly. It is said that Fields
corroborated the facts already obtained as TO
the way he got the Mutuars money through ths
padded bills of Lysander ". Lawrence & Co.
He is also said to have given information as to
the origin of this system. and to the officials
of the Mutual who had knowledge of its work.
I ings. How this money was spent in Albany and
elsewhere was also part OF his testimony. it is
understood. with details as 70 the estabIshmenr
and the operation Of the House of Hirth-''
The connection Of Fields with some OF the
money turned over TO the legal department. for
expenses which is said 10 have gone for cam
paign expenses and legislative work. is believed
to have been brought out
II is understood that the District Attorney
obtained all the information from Fields that he
needs at this time. The latter however PROM
ised 10 return and testify whenever he was
wanted. Within the next few days some Of the
former officials OF the company and some trus-
tees will be examined by the grand jury. 1t Is
believed.
ALEXANDERs SAILING SECRET.
The sailing OF Mr.. Alexander for Europe was
guarded with the greatest secrecy until the
out in this city yesterday About
six weeks ago Mr.. Alexander. who was in a
sanatorium at Deerfeld. Mass, after two oper-
ations in this city, reported 20 be in a
critical condition He slowly grew stronger,
however. both physically and mentally. and e.
decided that he could safely attempt an
ocean trip In order not TO attract attention
Mr. Alexander sailed from Boston. leaving there
on one OF the Cunard Lines Mediterranean feee
on Saturday. May 10. He was in the care Of a
personal attendant. but none Of the members
of his family accompanied him. The plans were
that Mr.. Alexander should disernbark at one Of
the Mediterranean ports and proceed TO Munich
Later he Will go 10 Dresden. and probably
Baden Baden. He will take n course OF treat
ment for three or four months Dr. Pearcs
Bailey, of this city, the family physician OF Mr.
Alexander, has sailed from here for the 1Iediter-
ranean. where he will join his patient
friend of Richard A McCurdy formerly
president OF the Mutual. said yesterday that ha
had received word from the SOUTH OF France.
where Mr.. McCurdy is living. that he was much
improved in health He is living in retirement
and trying TO forget his Insurance troubles. His
counsel in this city said there was no truth in
the report that Mr.. McCurdy was preparing I'd
return to testify before the grand jury in about
three weeks
II was only after much difficulty that thirteen
members IA quorum) Of the board of trustees OF
the New York Life were gathered Several Of
them are out of town. AT $50 O'Clock. the tins
for which the meeting was called. there wers
only ten present. Messengers were sent OUT and
two more were brought in. Finally John Claain
arrived. and the meeting was called On account
Of the small number present IL was thought best
not to act on the resignation of George W. Per-
kins until Wednesday. June 49, the next regular
meeting II was said that Mr.. Perkins had
rendered his resignation as trustee at the time
he resigned as vice-president and chairman OF
the finance committee. last December The res
ienation as trustee was laid or the table at that
time and has been there ever since Mr.. Per.
kins was present yesterday. but James \ Blah
was not.