Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-29
Sum Was Paid to Judge for Advice,
He Says.
LETTERS FIGURE IN THE CASE
Letter Between COmpanis Officers and
Legislature Agent Figures.
HE SAYS OWN FEE IS SMALL
Also states That cease Would Not
BE Taken by Any Reputable
Lawyer Under Any
Circumstances.

NEW YORK, March s.-'Tnterestlng ma
terial," was the way Superintendent Of In
surance Hotchkiss classified big bundle
OF documents in his possession today. Three
days Of delving into leads which had been
opened up when the investigation into fire
insurance conditions, which Mr.. Hotchkiss
Is conducting here qdjourned last Thurs
day, has been furnished the superintendent
with quantities Of new ammunition for use
at the resumption Of the inquiry today.
Much Of it, the superintendent indicated
was likely to be used in further question
ing OF the Albany agent OF fire insurance
companies, William H. Buckley. whose
testimony so far has been the most signi-
ficant and important adduced at the hear
ing.
Another witness was expected to be Ed
ward A Brown Of Niddletown, who was
state purchasing agent at Sing Sing prison
at the time George F. Seward, president OF
the Fidelity and Casualty company, testi-
fled he visited Sing Sing prison and was
told by "a man named Brown" that $4,000
paid to State Senator Timothy d. Sullivan
would satisfactorily adjust some pending
insurance legislative matters.
Mr.. Brown is Identified.
Mr.. Brown, who said that at present he
is keeping hotel at Mlddletown, was the
first witness today. He testified that he
never had talked with Mr.. Seward or any
one else about legislation affecting the in
surance business.
Mr.. Seward was then recalled and asked
II Mr.. Brown, who had just preceded him
on the stand, was the man who approached
hi-n and demanded 10000
II wish to say" Mr Seward said 'that
am morally certain that he is the man."
William H. Buckley, who received so
many thousand dollars from the insurance
companies as their executive, agent and
who was the last witness on Saturday
then resumed his testimony.
Mr. Hotchkiss read a copy of an order
served on the National Commercial bank
OF Albany from Buckley forhthding the
officials of the bank to reveal 10 any one
the record of his transactions with the
institution.
buckley Again ON stand.
Another OF Buckley's clients, it was
shown. was the Prussian Life Insurance
company. Mr., Buckley got $3.50 after he
had obtained permission for the company
to do business in this country. He wrote
letter to Carl Sturhahn on September 9.
1904 saying he wanted 81 $50 and an annual
retainer Of $1,000 year. He said that any
other lawyer would have charged twice
that amount and that 1t was a matter
which would not be taken UP under any
circumstances ''by any reputable lawyer. -
Mr. Buckley said he did not know what he
meant by that statement ~
William B. Smith, general counsel OF the
Travellers Insurance company of Hartford
was called to the stand interrupting Mr..
Buckleys testimony. Mr. Smith testified
that his company had paid ST. 400 to Buck
ley. There were four payments one Of
$4,000 on May 20, 1908, another of $500 on
the same day, $1,000 in juno Of the same
year and $500 in the following November.
The money was paid to pass an insurance
reserve bill which was put through the
legislature after a hard fight
Mr. Buckley then resumed his testimony.
He said that of the $3.50 he got from the
Prussian Life he paid $3.50 to ex-Judge A.
]. Danaher for legal services.