New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-01
SCRUGHAM ARRESTED.
CONSPIRACY THE CHARGE
T5co international Watchers and
". Y. Life Agent Prisoners.


was arrested here tonight at 11:30 o'clock at
the Hotel Hampton by Detective Norman Fitz-
simmons of District Attorney Jerome's office, on
charge OF conspiracy, under Section fGS of the
Penal Code.
He returned with the officer to New York on
the train leaving here at 1:15 a m. Mr.. Scrug-
ham declared that he did not know the reason
for his arrest.
He added that he went TO Albany to-day 10
file certain memoranda with the legislative COM
mittees on insurance in connection with the
pending bills 20 amend the Insurance law with
reference 10 elections of directors in domestic
mutual life insurance companies especially with
the intent to prohibit voting of policyholders by
proxy.
At the instance of the District Attorneys Of
hce, Charles Stirrup and c. F. Darlington,
watchers for and assistant managers of the
international committee and Jacob Frank an
agent Of the New York Life. were arrested yes
terday. Darlington and Stirrup for conspiracy
and Frank for bribery in the third degree. in
connection with the recent election in this COM
pany
The arrest OF Nessrs. Darlington. Stirrup and
scrugha1n as well as the evidence on which the
arrests were based, abundantly confirms Inc
Tribune's exclusive announcement as early as
last Saturday, which the committee at that time
sought TO discredit- Briefly. the internatlonai
men are arrested for conspiracy in tampering
with international ballots by means OF per
fecting'' forging" etc.
Darlington and Stirrup were released from the
Tenbs Prison a few minutes before midnight
last night ON bail furnished by John Will
Jams who gave property in 14th street as secu-
rity. Justice Wyatt, in an automobile. went to
the Tombs at midnight. at the request of the
prisoners and accepted their bail. Darlington S
was So 600; Stirrups $500.
Assistant District Attorney Howe made the
AFFIDAVIT on which the men were arrested.
Detective Russo arrested Stirrup at No. 30
Broad street, the headquarters OF the committee
early In the afternoon. Darlington was arrested
at his home here last night
CHARGES AGAINST PRISONERS.
The complaint is based on the previous depo-
sitions of the three alleged consprators. as well
as on the dispositions made yesterday by three
women employed by the committee on the eve
of the election and now taking part in the can
vass OF votes in the New York Life Building.
Mr Howe charges stirrup, Darlington and
Scrugham with violating the Penal Code, IN tnat
they "unlawfuly agreed and conspired together
for the perversIon and obstruction Of the due ad-
rrinistration of the laws of the State of New
York, especially with relation 10 the election OF
directors of the New York Life"
Mr. Howe declares that on December ID, 1906,
the alleged conspirators had in their possession
a large number of ballots for the policyholders
committees ticket which We're not at that time.
according to the complaint in proper form to be
counted. Mr.. Howe says stirrup, Darlington
and scrughaIn did conspire together to tamper
with the said defective ballots, and 80 altered
and changed them without the consent OF the
poIicyholder who had signed them as TO make
them appear to be in due form Of law and proper
to be counted at said election"
He declares that many ballots were not In
closed in envelopes which had been signed by
the policyholder required by law and that
the defendants caused these envelopes to be pre-
pared and signed by persons other than policy
holders. that the inspectors Of election might
be deceived and count for the policyholders
committees ticket large number Of ballots
which were not valid and entitled TO be counted
The Assistant District Attorney asserts that
they did then and there cause large number
Of the said ballots 10 be altered and changed
In many respects. including the forgery OF
the names OF poicyholders and of witnesses, and
did cause the said ballots SO altered and forged
10 be presented TO the inspectors Of election Of
the New York Life, and did cause large num-
Der OF envelopes TO be signed on the outside
by persons other than the policyholders with
the policyholders' names in order TO deceive the
inspectors. and did cause ballots to be placed
therein and did cause the said envelopes and
ba lots 10 be delivered 10 the said board OF in
spection."
SOURCE OF INFORMATION.
MI Howe makes the charges on information
and belief The information TO him from
Miss Anna Mason Miss Evelyn Miles and Mrs.
Francis Goldsmith, who testified earlier in the
day, and who were employed by the policy
holders committee and statements made to
him by each of the alleged conspirators and by
Jay e Lawshe, who is chairman Of the board of
Inspectors.
Miss Mason, according 10 Mr.. Howe. told him
that one Of the alleged conspirators had in
szucted her on Sunday. December 16. to take
certain ballots for the policyholders' committee
ticket and TO copy the name of the policyholder
and his address and policy number on envelopes
one for each ballot. She did 50, and she added
that in the last few days she had seen large
number cf the envelopes on which she wrote
names, as well as the ballots. in the hands of
the inspectors. She also says that she was told
by Of the alleged conspira tors 20 initiate as
well as possible the handwriting of the policy
holder in writing his on the envelope. The
work she and others did in this connection con-
tinued according to Mr.. Howes affidavit from
Sunday until the following Tuesday, and the
three men were constantly going in and out OF
the room while the work going
Mt. Howe says ne told by Miss Miles that
she was also engaged in this work, and that
while she was 50 engaged she had overheard one
OF the three men say to another person who was
present:
Il do not know whether these will be counted.
but win take a chance"
Miss Miles declared also that she. too, was in
CIR nse1 Sf,Fs orfry