New-York tribune., 1911-02-12
ANDY" FIELDS DIES AT 65
"House of Mirth" Figures Passes
Away in Atlantic City.
WAS SON OF A CLERGYMAN
Hughes Insurance Prooers
Sought Dobbs Ferry Man IL
Vain in 1906.

Andrew c. Fields, who figured proml-
nently in the investigation Of the Mutual
Life Insurance Company in 1906. died on
Friday night at the Hotel Marlborough
Blenhem. at Atlantic City. The body was
taken 10 his home in Dobbs Ferry yester-
day for burial.
Mr. Fields left his home. Gerehurst on
Broadway. Dobbs Ferry. on Wednesday for
the benefit of his health. He was accom-
panied by his wife and daughter, who were
with him at his bedside when he died.
Andrew c. Fields was born sixty-hve
years ago in Dobbs Ferry and lived there
all his life. He was a son Of Andrew Craig
Fields, who was pastor Of the Summerheid
Methodist Church in Dobbs Ferry for
number Of years. When he was twenty
Eve years old he ran for county treasurer
Of Westchester County. In his home town
he was we'll liked by the townspeople,
many Of whom had been aided through his
acts OF charity.
AT the time Of the life insurance investi-
CATION, beginning in the early part of 1905,
ANDY" Fields came into much notoriety
through his alleged connections with what
was termed the yellow dog fund" At
that time Field was superintendent Of the
supplv department Of the Mutual Life In
surance Company. and it was said that
hundreds 'of thousands Of dollars were di-
verted to his use in influencing legislation
AT Albany and in other states. He main
tanned a house at Albany. used as o dis
tributing point for the enormous funds
that were turned over to him. which soor
became known as "The House of Mirth, -
because Of the many humorous reports Of
81 y,v1dn tfG
In a report regarding the activity OF
Fields as a watcher OF legislation at Al
bany while he was in charge Of the Mu'
tuals supply department" the following
information concerning Fields was given:
For many years the company main
tained under his care a house at Albany
and through him and his agents close
watch was kept upon the proceedings ci
the Legislature. The rent Of this house
the supplies there consumed and the wages
OF the cook and other servants were
charged TO legal expenses Fields LETT
for parts unknown soor after the commit
tee began its hearings and It has not been
able to procure his testimony. 1t appears,
however, that he acted also for the Equi-
table. and from it's records have been pro-
duced a series Of memoranda or lnstruc'
tions sent Fields by Thomas d. Jordan, its
controller, whose whereabouts the commit
tee has been unable 10 ascertain, although
Il has made diligent effort 10 do so. II
may be supposed that Fieldss work on be-
half Of the Mutual was at least as compre-
nensive as in the case of the Equitable
and his instructions from the latter show
an exceedingly wide Ia.5~ o. supervisor
OF matters OF lec's 'a,iOl.
There wcrc ,sucral instructions and also
nume-o's ,ecac commands during the ses
sia- ..,actlug that particular bills should
T.. opposed, killed or supported"
The report continued that the large insur-
ance companies Systematically attempted tc
control legislation in this and other states
which could affect their interests, directly
or indirectly and that in this effort Fields
who concerned himself mainly with thi:
state, played a most important role. The
three corpanies divided the country out
side of New York and few other states,
so as to avoid a waste of effort. each look
ing after legislation in its chosen district
and bearing its appropriate part of the total
expense.
In Nav. 1906, Andrew c. Fields was
summoned before the insurance grand jury
in this city, and William TraYers Jerome,
then District Attorney of New York Coun-
~. conducted the examination. bringing
from the witness important revelations of
what had occurred at THE House of Mirth.
In July 1906. Fields was sued on two ac-
tions by the Mutual Life Insurance Com
pany. one claiming S1.Z46,000 for Mr..
F4elds's misconduct in approving vouchers
and buying supplies at prices grossly in
excess Of their reasonable value" and the
other action alleging fraud and asking an
accounting Of moneys alleged to have been
recetved by Fields by means Of fraudulent
hills and vouchers.