The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-12-29

Gals increased rather than diminished
as time went on. During the spring
months the public demand for action
was reinforced by Justice OSullivan of
the court of general sessions, who, in
a sensational charge to a grand jury,
directed them TO take up and investi-
gate insurance matters with the assist
ance of the district attorney, If he
chose to give them assistance, or with
out il if he did not. The question was
considered to some extent by that jury
but no definite conclusion was reached
and the work they had begun was left
unfinished when they were dismissed.
On the request of the district attorney
special grand jury was next drawn
for the sole purpose of taking UP the
insurance companies.
Jerome Finally Acts.
The real activity. however, began
only few weeks ago after the con-
viction of George W. Burnham, jr, gem
eral counsel for the Mutual Reserve
Life Insurance company, on a charge
of forgery. The Indictment of Burn
ham and two other high officials of the
Mutual Reserve had followed the in
surance investigation. The verdict
against Burnham convinced Mr.. Jer-
ONE, so he later announced. that there
might be grounds upon which he could
proceed against the officials of the New
York Life. AS result the matter was
once more placed before the grand jury
and was pressed vigorously.
Among the present and former New
York Life Insurance officials who have
been examined by the grand jury are
George w. Perkins, Edmund D. Ram
doiph. treasurer; F. II. Shipman. assist
ant treasurer: Woodbury. Langdon and
George A. Morrison, who were MEM
bers of the finance committee in 1854
and Milton NJ. Mdttison. head book
keeper of the treasury department of
the company. Another witness was
Alexander Webb. jr., secretary of the
New York Security & Trust company.
1t has been said that when Mr.. Per-
kins was a witness before the grand
jury he was warned of his legal rights.
but it is understood that he told all
he knew of his connection with the
various transactions in the New York
Life Insurance company.
Specific Charges.
The indictments against Messrs. Per-
kins and Fairchild set forth that "tiie
defendant, with intent TO defraud. did
feloniously make in d certain book of
accounts called the old dates cash book
belonging to and appertaining to the
business of said corporation, certain
false entries"
The entry on the first indictment APP
peared as follows:
B and S, 1900 shares Chicago &.
Northwestern preferred at 235-S470.000.
Il and S. 900 shares Chica go Milwaukee
& St. Paul preferred at s19o-s57.000.
which false entries" the indictment
relates. then and there purported to
set forth and Indicate. and did in sub.
stance and effect then and there signify
and dclare. that the said New York Life
insurance company. on Dec. 81. 1901, re-
ceived in payment for 1000 shares of pre-
ferred capital stock of the Chicago K
Northwestern Railroad company. the sum
of $4,000, and received in payment for
800 shares of the Chicago. Milwaukee &
St Paul Railway company $4,000. where
as. in truth. the New York Life Insvr
ance company had not received such
payments, all of which the said George
w. Perkins we'll knew was against the
statutes and the peace of the people of
New York"
Would Not Talk.
When Mr.. Perkins was asked tonight
whether he cared to make any state
n.ent regarding the action of the grand
jury. he replied:
No: ! am more concerned tonight over
the death of President Cassatt of the
Pennsylvania than with any personal af-
fair. The country has lost great public
servant who devoted busy and trying
life to the upbuilding for the public benc-
fit of our greatest of railroads. He died
of broken heart-a heart broken by the
bounding of iconocfasts.'