The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-05-01
Arrest Manager POIicYhOIders Of
New York Life
CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY
District Attorneys Office Applies the
Probe--Untermeyer Says It Is a
Move on Part of Companies
to Cover Their Tracks.

New York, April sO.-sensational re-
suits have quickly followed the inquiry
by the district attorneys office into the
recent election of directors of the New
York Life Insurance company.
George B. scrugham, manager of the in
ternational pollcyholders committee
which inspired the present investigation,
making grave charges against those who
conducted the election, was himself ar
rested at Albany tonight and put aboard
a train for New York.
Scrugham is charged with conspiracy,
and he was the third man identified with
the international policyholders' committee
to be taken into custody since noon to-
day The others are Charles Stirrup and
Charles f. Darlington. These two We're
not members of the committee but were
employed as watchers for the committee
at the election. Stirrup was watcher
at the directors election of the Mutual
Life Insurance company, while Caring
ton acted in similar capacity at the
New York Life election.
UnIawfuIIy Conspired.
They are specifically charged with hav-
ing ''unlawfully conspired together for
the perversion and obstruction of the due
administration of the laws of the state
of New York, with relation to the election
of the directors of the New York Life
Insurance company"
stirrup, it is alleged, was employed In
the office of the policyholders committee
previous to December Is and the offense
with which he is charged was committed
prior to that date.
Earlier today Jacob Frank. a New York
life Insurance company agent, was
arrested, charged with forgery in the
third degree Frank had been summoned
10 explain the signatures of several policy
holders to alleged forged ballots cast at
4f5 frHs9f< sic Sea = lltecsors OF Tie
New York Life Insurance company. The
policyholders' committee, headed by
Scrugharn as manager, and Samuel I'm
termyer as counsel and with a member
ship of many distinguished persons In this
country and Europe fought the admins
tration tickets in the recent election of
directors of the New York Life and Mu-
tual Life Insurance companies.
Scrugham was arrested while in Albany
in connection with insurance legislation
looking to the reform of insurance com
panies elections. He was expected here
tonight and was awaited by representa-
tives of the district attorneys office, who
met the train reaching the Grand Central
denot at 1910 O'Clock When he did not
arrive it is stated his arrest was ordered
In Albany
Untermeyer's Statement.
Samuel Untermyer, counsel for the
policyholders committee, gave out the
following statement tonight:
my attention was only called to this
complaint late tonight. During consid-
erable part of the campaign l was in
Europe. I know nothing about the SUBJ
ject of the complaint, except what 1
have just heard, but 1t looks on its face
vsry much like a cry of stop thief on
he part of the companies. They know
that the forgeries on the part of the
agents ran into thousands, and they
would like to obscure the issue.
Il have no doubt Mr.. Scrugham will
be able fully to meet this last move
on the part of the companies to cover
their tracks"
Since the elections in both the New
York and Mutual companies on December
is the district attorneys office has been
looking in the counter charges of crooked
work by the administration party and
ths policyholders' committee. Representa-
tives of both sides have been heard and
many ballots have been examined. Moth
ing definite was done, however, until
after the official count was announced.
showing the administration tickets to be
the victors by large majorities in both
companies.
Darlington. Stirrup and Scrugham were
In the district attorneys office yesterday
and were examined separately.
Today four women clerks employed by
the policyholders' committee in preparing
ballots. were examined In the district at
torney'S office. Soon after that the COM
plaint against the three policyholders'
employees was drawn up Stirrup and
Darlington could not secure bail and
were locked up in the Tombs.
Hearing Today.
The three prisoners will be given a
bearing tomorrow morning.
In the complaint Assistant District
Attorney Howe declares that the
1 alleged conspirators had in their poses
sion on December Is, 1906, a large
number of ballots for the poicyholders'
committee ticket which were not at that
time, according to the complaint. in
proper form to be counted The com
plant further asserts that the prisoners
did conspire together to tamper with
the said defective ballots, and so altered
and changed them without the consent
Of the policyholders who Lad signed them,
as to make them appear to be in due form
of law and proper to be counted at said
election."
Many ballots, it is further complained.
we're not enclosed in envelopes, which
had been signed by the poicyholders. as
required by law. that the inspectors
might not be deprived of an honest count
Tor the policyholders' committee ticket
large number of which ballots were
considered improper of count.
Miss Mason, one of the clerks, Howe
says. told him one Of the men under ar
rest had instructed her on Sunday De-
,ember 16, to take certain ballots for the
policyholders committee ticket and to
copy the name of the polieyholder and
his address and policy number on en-
Felopes. one for each ballot. She did
10, and she added that in the previous
lew days she had done a large number
pf the envelopes on which she wrotes
names as well as the ballots at the office
h the inspector Of elections.
Miss Miles. another clerk, declares she
vas instructed to initiate as nearly as
possible the policyholders' signature.
The complaint says Scrugham admitted
he filled In certain envelopes and told
girls in the committees employ to fill
n others Darlington and Stirrup were
'eieased from the Tombs late tonight on
I'll.