New-York tribune., 1910-01-18
FOR FULL INQUIRY
PEOPLES LIFE CASE.
Justice Orders Thorough In
Uestigation by Grand Jury.

Syracuse, Jan. 17-Justice W. S. Andrews.
IN the Supreme Court here. this morning,
ordered an immediate and thorough investi-
cation Of the affairs of the Peoples Mutual
Life Insurance Association and League by
the grand jury. The jury was called into
court. and Justice Andrews told the mem
bers to investigate every feature of the
case. which will include the transaction in
volving the distribution of the $4,000 in
Canadian money by. Lieutenant Governor
HORACE White. (
The State Superintendent Of Insurance,
w. H. Hotchkiss. last night examined
w. R. Travers, manager of the Farmers
Bank, of Toronto, and John Tevis, of
Louisville, the man who Is said to have
engineered the deal for the sale Of control of
the Peoples Mutual Both men appeared be-
fore the grand jury this afternoon. Lieuten-
ant Governor White was in conference for
several hours with Superintendent Hotch-
kiss here to-day. The superintendent de-
clined to state what took place. He said,
however, that he would later prepare q
statement regarding the sessions held last
night and to-day. Mr.. Hotchkiss, District
Attorney George H. Bond and Alfred Hur-
ren, attorney for the Insurance Depart
ment, had protracted conference.
eshlCIIcy CSIcIdl ~ A1dllSS tc-Qcy pcSfh
actions against the directors of the asso-
citation for the recovery of 100000 or more
paid to them through lieutenant Governor
White as treasurer.
John Tevis appeared at the District Attor-
ney's Office this afternoon, and while he
was there a stenographer and a notary
were sent for. Later it was said that Tevis
and Travers would not be called. Tevis
is still under subpoena but Travers has left
town.
State Superintendent of Insurance Hotch-
kiss did not give out his promised state
inent in the Peoples Mutual case tonight
and declined to talk TO reporters. Officials
Of the insurance association intimated that
the state official was UP against a stone
we'll in his efforts to show conspiracy in
the transfer of the Mutual. It was stated
that ,cevis and Travers were both ques-
toned to-day by the Superintendent and
his assistants, and both said that the
s15a,0o0 lent by the Farmers Bank of Can
ada and the $4,000 deposited there by the
officers of the Mutual were separate sums.
involving two transactions The state
authorities have expressed the belief that
the money said TO have been placed in the
Canadian bank by the Mutual directors
was simply lent 10 Tevis for the purpose
of purchasing the insurance business.
The grand jury did not call upon any of
the directors of the insurance company to-
day, but received documentary evidence
from the state officials. Records of the
County Clerks Office and the annual re-
port of the Mutual as sworn to by Tram
c. Reed and NJ H. Peck, officers of the
insurance association, were also received.
1t is said these records were intended to
show he half Nv ba
officials were not included as liabilities, al
though Peck and Reed declared that the
money they received when the transfer of
the business was made was to reimburse
them for services and giving up the con-
tracts.
Interested persons ventured the opinion
tonight that the grand jury proceedings
were likely to result in the Indictment of
one or two men, but it is not believed that
the part Lieutenant White played in the
transaction will receive consideration.