The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-09
Head of State Life insurance
Company Has Trying Time
on Witness Stand.
ENTERS GENERAL DENIAL
SWORE AND RESWORE THAT HE
KNEW NOTHING ABOUT CON-
MISSIONS BEING PAID WHEN
STEVENSON BUILDING WAS
SOLD.


morning, President Sweeney, of the
State Life Insurance company, sat in
the witness chair at the states inquiry
into the affairs of the insurance COM
pany, and swore and reswore that he
knew nothing about any commissions
having been paid on the sale OF the
Stevenson building. Absolute denial
was made by him that he had ever
talked with either Vice President
Quinn of William F. Churchman in
the office of W. E. Mick & Co, or ever
saw either of these in the office. He
de clared with vehemence that he had
received $25, 900 in commissions.
1t had been testified to yesterday by
w. T.. Mick that President Sweeney
and Vice-President Quinn received
$4,000 for voting in favor of the in
surance company's buying the Steven
son building. the present home of the
company. Mr.. Mick testified that fre-
quent meetings had been held in the
back room at his office and that after
the sale of the building had been con-
summated, Mr.. Churchman had
brought over two large packages of
bank notes, one containing $4,000 to
be given Mr.. Quinn and the other con-
tanning $4,000 for the Micks. Mr..
Mick also testified that President
Sweeney had told him that he had
."got his $4,000 all right
Visit to Micks.
Mr.. Sweeney testified that he had
never gone to Mr.. Mick's office in re-
gard to the sale of the building, but
had been there to see Mr.. Mick about
the sale of other properties. During
these visits to Mr.. Mick's office, the
witness said, the sale of the Stevenson
building had been broached. but al
Ya1s. By one of the Micks. either w.
during the sharp examination to
which he was subjected, President
Sweeney admitted that he probably
had gone to the office of the Micks
to talk about the sale of the Steven
son building
The one big inconsistency of Presi-
dent Sweeney's testimony, however,
was in regard to conferences he had
with E. L. Mick since the sale of the
building four years ago. Sweeney
declared that he had not talked to
young Mr.. Mick in regard to the Ste
venson building since the sale was
consummated, back in January of
1904 This declaration was repeat
ed several times in answer to ques-
tions by James W. Noel, who is con-
Quoting the inquiry for the state.
Then it was with suddenness and sur
prise that Mr.. Noel, rising from the
chair, exclaimed:
Sweeney Changes Front.
What we're you talking about to
Mr. Mick last Wednesday morning
when you were with him at Thirtieth
and Illinois street?"
"Oh!" calculated President Sweeney
with a gasp; Yes 1 was with him
there / did not know you meant
that
And you we're there by appoint
ment. were you not Mr.. Noel de-
manded.
Yes, SIR admitted Mr.. Sweeney.
"And you were talking about the
Stevenson building?" persisted Mr..
Noel.
I'VE were talking in regard to COM
missions that had been paid on the
sale of the building" said Sweeney.
Yes, and you broke down and wept.
didn't you?'
NO. l did not weep" said Sweeney,
with a faint smile.
Appointment with e. l.. Mick.
The questioning into this point
brought out that Mr.. Quinn told Mr.. /
Sweeney last Wednesday morning |
that E. L. Mick wished to see him
tSweney). aand that Sweeney and
Mick conferred. Mick then told
Sweeney that the elder Mick was go
ing TO testify at the states inquiry in
regard to having seen money trans
ferred between Sweeney, Quinn and
William F. Churchman-
Time and again Mr.. Noel tried to
break down President Sweney's decla- |
rations that he had never seen either 1
Quinn of Churchman in the Micks' Of |
ice or talked with them there. The |
insisted. however, regardless |
Of the way the question was put, that !
he had not. Sharp questions were |
put and answered sharply. but the |
sum total of the evidence after it lad /
been thrashed out was summed up in /
Sweeney's first declaration that he |
had never seen either of the men men
Toned there.