The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-11
JEROME HAS FlgLOS'S BOOKS.
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HNtpfy uHfaFtiftHW ot Vhe NtN'NHi INV W.
suraRcn e'omtmhy There - Q s,mp,cloa
that FleIds assisted W. JeroHe In arttina
the bouka
This was The mrs, interesting develop.
ment yesterday NJ the criminal investlga-
tan ~ the Insurance. oases, 7, had h~en
thought I'LL along that the boohs had been
destroyed II h espectsd that thsee boohs
will explain many u the disbursements
Of the purchase aud supply Department
which we're not explained al the inVeatiga-
ton Ivy the Armstrong committee.
After the Investigation u the Mutual's
affairs begen Frederic Cromwell, who waa
then treasurer Of the company, said hat .
number ~ books were missing. and I've intl-
mated that they vent with Fields. who
at that time was way from the city. When
the TrIesdals committee made it, lnvestl-
CATION II was announced that the commit
tee could not got at tho bottom 81 the work.
inES Of the purchase and supply depart
ment because Of these missing books. The
committee in it, report said that many
important books. papers and accounts
covering transactions prior 90 September,
1905. were missing and although every
possible effort had boon made no trace
could be obtained OF what disposition had
e made Of them. II was said yesterday
that certain books which Mr.. jerome has
were never examined by the Truesdale
committee.
a promise has been made TO Mr.. Jerome
that Fields will be a witness when he 10
wanted If he is we'll enough to appear.
With the assistance Of Fields, IL he is so
disposed, many entries in the books may be
anita i1tt M mat FK a. .nIAwafNNI tIAs
n good deal Of the money which is said
to nave been used for su applies went for
other things, including the maintenance
Of the House Of Mirtb" at Albany and
for Legislative expenses.
The special Grand Jury just now is de-
voting its inquiry to the purchase and
supply department Of the Mutual and its
connection with Lysander Lawrence 4
Co., the stationers, In all Lawrence 4 Co.
did every year about 5000 900 worth ~
business with the Mutual. The investiga-
ton Of the books, both Of the Mutual and
Lawrence a Co., does not show, II was said
yesterday, how about $iOO, 200 Of that money
was expended. The investigation covers
a period Of about w enty years, and a good
part Of the Grand Jury's inquiry these
days il devoted to finding out about this
money.
-Four witnesses wore examined yesier-
day by the Grand Jury. They were Edgar
w. Rogers, who IL q member OF Lawpnce
4 Co.; Charles E. Parsons. q ~hookhesper
for the company; John 4. Ashe Of Albany
and George j. Plunkitt, the telephone boy
for Lawrence 4 Co.. who almost got into
trouble before the Armstrong Committee.
II was thu third day of Hogers's examina-
ton. Before the Armstrong committee
his memory wasn't good. He In said to he
quite ialkative before the Grand Jury and
to have told many int resting things about
the affairs Of the Mutual. With the as
sistancs Of the books Mr.. Jerome has,
1t Is understood, many things are being
brought ont that did not deyelop at the
Armstrong investigation. For instance,
these books are said to shaw how much
the Mutual paid for supplies and what was
delivered, and in this way 1t will not be hard
TO determine how the books were padded
to cover Legislative and other expenditures.
In connection with the testimony of
Rogers 1t was said yesterday that the Grand
Jury might get some Interesting information
from the men in the Mutual and Law
h Co. who are partial to Fields and some
of the old officers. The friends OF Fields
have been dissatisfied with the way they
have been reated, and 1t Is limited that they
are now ready to assist District Attorney
jerome in his investigation.
When young Plunkitt was on the stand
before the Armstrong committee he denied
that he had signed a voucher for ssol IS,
and stuck to his story even after the Dis
trict Attorneys office was called in and a
he D "A M rtt IN ~ o~par4 aatl that DipnLitfta
signature and the one on the voucher were |
identical. Whether Plunkitt held to his
story yesterday could not be learned, but
Mr.. Jerome had discovered what the 1901
went for.
1t seems that there was some hostile
legislation to the Mutual at Albany, and tho |
company decided that It should be stopped, |
1t was decided that the best method would !
be to get the policyholders In the State to
sign a petition asking the Legislature not to
pass the bills. For that purpose four agents
were sent through the State to get policy
holders to sign the petition. The expenses
Of these agents were 1901, mt instead OF en-
tering the transaction on the books. "a
perfectly legitimate proceeding, as the un-
iertaking was a perfectly legitimate one to
help the policyho!ders. the money was paid
the telephone boy Plunkitt, who
signed a voucher. Those who have looked
into the transaction said yesterday that
he methods in vogue in the Mutual were
70 devious that even when something that
,ould not be criticised came up the usual
was followed,
Ashe. the other witness examined yes
Is quite well known around the Sem
tie at Albany as a messenger and type
writer. He was often employed by Fields,
sometimes TO do copying and typewriting
often to come 10 this city with mes
In all Fields paid him about 1000,
was charged up to the company, but
If which no record is said TO have been kept,
he whole thing being included under the
head of legal expenses, Ashe
8 said to have satisfactorily explained
shy he got the money and what the work
vas he did for ii.
DR.. Waiter r. Gillette. who was the head
man Of the Mutual, and for a MUIR
,cr of years vice-president, was summoned
yesterday, but not examined. He will Ee
questioned to-day. He will be asked about
he o. KID for disbuIte mcnts
amounting TO over slOo ECO.
II is quite possible that this Grand Jury
rill not return any indictments. 1t was
49,