The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-08
GRAND JURY TACKLES MUTUAL
sppIy DEPtRTMENT THE FIRST
no M INVESTIGATED.
Two witnesses Examined, One az Them
Ilcr.Pr esldcnt Lloyd Fields TO Appear
when wanted EIdridge Accepts Sus'
.er,'cn Of Court That iie lie Excused

derartmCnt and its connection WIN tine
aunuse Of Mirth" Mt Albany we're the things
,,nnediately taken up by the special urand
Jurv drawn Yesterday to investigate the IN
s,,r,nce cases. After the Grand jury had
loon sworn in by Justice Scott in the Su-
,reme Court, Criminal Branch, It held a
two hours session. The MUTUAL Lie ID 'he
first to go on the griddIe'
Two witnesses were examined yesterday.
rbev were Isaac f. Lloyd, third vice-presi-
Io,i nj the Mutual, and Edward r. Rogers,
y, memher of tho firm of Lysander w. Law
rorce 4 Co.. the stationers who got special
,ayors from the Mutual and through whom
Andrew C.. Fields, head of the purchasing
and supply department, is accused OF havng
conducted the operations which helped In
maintaining the House Of Mirth."
In addition to these witnesses a score OF
tho EMPLOYEES of the Mutual and Of Law
,once A Co.. we're summoned to the Grand
.T,,rv room but were not examined yester-
Jay, II ey included William Carpenter,
Wallace Babcock and Henry Epps. Car
renter IA said to have been Fields's repre-
sentative at the House Of Mirth" and to
have signed a number of vouchers. Bah
cock is employed in the purchasing and
.,nnlv departrnent Of the Mutual and Is said
N ave issued orders for supplies. Epps Is
the chief bookkeeper in the supply depart
ment.
Rogers was a witness before the Arm
stronr committee and was asked about
certain vouchers he had signed for Fields.
His memory was not very good as for what
purpose he got the money. One voucher
was for more than 81 600.
Lvsander Lawrence was not a witness
before the Armstrong committee, although
Mr.. Hughes was anxious to m him.
He was wanted to explain certain expendi-
lures for supplies. The Armstrong COM
mittee also wanted to see certain books
OF the supply department which could
not be found. The Truesdale committed,
which made an investigation Of the Mutual,
wanted to get at these books and records,
but being unsuccessful, hired expert 40
colntants to go over all the books to de-
temine what the expenditures had been
for.
1t was said yesterday that Mr.. Lawrence
is at Hot Springs, Va, and it could not
be learned if he would be a witness before
tut GTdlu Jury. IL IL uhbOlotoOdi ho"-
ever, that Mr.. Jerome is in possession Of
whatever information the Truesdale COM
mittee obtained.
4 great pile of books and papers Of the
Mutual were taken to the District Attorneys
Office Yesterday. Also a number Of can
cclled checks-three big stacks-were pro-
duced. presumably on a subpoena duces
terum. These were one over by Assistant
District Attorneys Mott and kresel, who are
assisting Mr.. Jerome with the insurance
cases.
1t could not be learned yesterday when
Andrew c. Fields will be a witness, but it
will probably not be this week. Mr.. Jerome
said, however. that he was authorized by
John B. Stanchfeld, counsel for Fields, to
announce that Fields would appear before
the Grand Jury whenever he vas wanted
provided that his health would permit it.
Mr.. jerome said that he had no reason to
believe that Fields, who has heart disease,
was trying to dodge or evade being a wit
ness. Whenever Mr.. Jerome wants Fields
and a reputable physician, selected by Mr..
Jerome, decides that he is physically able
to appear he will be examined by the Grand
Jury.
1t came out yesterday that the Equitable
Life Assurance Society will not be included
In the investigation of political contribu-
tons by insurance companies. The loan
Of $3.50 GOO which the Mercantile Trust Com
pany carried on its books as made to James
W. Alexander, the former president, and
Thomas D. Jordan, comptroller, was re-
pudiated by President Paul Morton. Then
Alexander, Jordan and Hyde paid up, and
1t l. now asserted that whatever campaign
contributions we're made by the Equitable
came out of this fund.
In connection with the investigation of
political contributions the Appellate Divi-
sion will hear to-day the argument on the
decision of Justice G%reenbaum holding
George W. Perkins for larceny. Mr.. Je-
rome will make part of the argument and
Samuel Untermyer will argue a phase of
1t for the prosecution. Mr.. Untermyer
represents the International P~olicyholders'
Association and Mr.. Jerome thought it was
only proper that he should be allowed to
present his views. Lewis L. Delafeld and
Ex-Judge William n. Cohen will appear for
Mr., Perkins.
F%orty-two of the fifty men on the list from
which the special Grand Jury was drawn
we're in the Supreme Court yesterday morn
ing. Then Justice Scott asked those who
wanted to be excused to step up. George
ID, Edridge, vice-president of the Mutual
Reserve, who has been indicted FIVE times
Tor larceny and forgery, did not join the
line of fifteen men who stepped up TO ex-
plain to Justice Scott why they wanted to
get of Eldridge was on the list from which
the Grand Jury was 10 be selected.
After Justice Scott had listened to various
excuses, some Of which he accepted, Mr..
jerome, who was in the court with several
OF his assistants, asked to look over the
jury list. Then he whispered to Justice
Scott, who leaned over and said a few words
to Clerk William Penny.
is Mr.. Eldridge in court?- asked Mr..
PENN. A gray haired, clerical looking
man with a frock coat stood up in the back
OF the room.
Please step up here said Mr.. Penny,
The Judge would like to see YOU
Justice Scott said few words to Eldridge.
In effect they were that under the circum-
stances he should ask to be excused. Mr..
LIdridge accepted the suggestion and
walked out of court.
COMPARED with some of the speeches
mat have been made to Grand Juries re-
Gently Justice SCOTS charge was very
am nRA IL