New-York tribune., 1909-03-23
DENIAL BY SCRUGHAM
NEW york LIFE BALLOTS.
Jerome Assistant Tells of His Com
pIaint-GirI Clerks Testify.

Girl clerks employed in the offices of the Inter
national Policyholders' Committee to write the
Of policyholders on the envelopes to contain
their ballots preceding the annual election OF the
New York Life Insurance Company December
49, 1906 were witnesses yesterday in the trial of
George r. Scrugham and Charles Stirrup on con-
spiracy charges before Judge Foster in General
Sessions They worked under the direction of
Charles Darlington and testified that they had been
instructed to write the Names addresses and num-
bers of the policyhoders as they appeared on the
ballots. On cross examination they told John b.
Stanchfeld that they instructed merely 10
copy the names they appeared on the oallots'
without any attempt to initiate or simulate the
handwriting.
The only instances in which they had tried to imi-
tate the signatures, they said. were those In Which
the name illeglble. In such cases. a1ter con-
sulting with a Mr. Budde, In charge Of the ROOM
thew used the same Irregularities appearing on the
ballots.
One of the clerks. Miss Evelyn ". Miles, testified
that she had tried to initiate the handwriting, be-
ing instructed to do by Darlington AS the
election annroached this order was rescinded she
said and she was told then merely to copy It.
The witness identified several envelopes on Whlch
she had tried to initiate the handwriting.
Assistant District Attorney Howe told of meet
ing he had with Scrughan IN the office OF the DIS
trict Attorney April q, 1857 MT smyth' an
other assistant was present Scrugham had Called
the witness said, 20 tell Of Irregularities in the
election of the administration ticket which had
ed International
"Afr Sn1vth then told this defendant, Scrugham
vent or, Mr. Howe that the of the admins
tration ticket had also accused him Of inserting
irregular ballots in the boxes to be counted as vad
ballots for the International ticket Mr.. Scrugham
denied that any ballot envelopes had been written
with his consent or by his authority. He told US
that vvhen the ballots were returned incomplete at
q period too late to be returned they were put
aside Those having omissions. he said, were put
aside from those having no envelopes, and t1e Two
grcups were accompanied by notes Of explanation
Charles Strrup, one of the defendants. went TO
the Office of the District Attorney April q. 1907
and made a statement which Mr.. smyth read 10
the Jury In It he said that all the envelopes hlled
out by the girls were intended 10 be kept In a
boy and to these ballots distinguishing af1daVlt
v,as to he attached Every possible precaution was
taken, he said, to keep the envelopes hlled out
by the girls distinct from the regularly hHed out
envelopes He asserted that he had worked under
the direction of Darlington.
The defendant admitted that he had signed IN the
spaces for attesting witnesses fictitious names
acting SOLELY he said, his own initiative neither
Darlington nor Scrugham having given him 1nstruc-
tions He denied that there was an attempt 10 I'M
itate the handwriting Of the ballots IN writing INC
envelopes.
To-, = ravshe an inspector of elections during
the New York Life election testified that he saw
threefourths of the boxes containing ballots. out
that In none OF them there any AFFIDAVIT signed
by Scrugham.
..T1d You not bring to the District Attorney
number of ballots supposed 10 have been forged by
a New York Life agent named Frank Mr..
Stsnchfeld asked.
- brought over one at least replied Lawshe.
Were there not at least fifty Of these alleged
forgeries?'
Il don't remember"
'.Dd you ever inquire why Frank was not In
dicted and tried for this forgery
II did not"
Mr.. Snyth told the Court that the Frank case
Ft.oI tho nd IL
had failed to take any action.
The case will 60 to-day.