Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-02-18

night read a letter wnlcn had been
written by Welch 10 the Southern
Surety company AT 81. Louis, in which
no asked that concern TO furnish .
$4,000 bond for Harrilrs bank, stat
Ing that both himself and llarrill
might be In a position later 10 do the
company some favor
Dorset Carter, attorney for Welch
asked late tonight that Harrill he per.
mltted TO make a statement
Denies All Charges.
81 see by the papers today" stated
liarrill, that | have been accused Of
receiving special fayors from Mr.
Welch In the matter OF a bond from
the Southern Surety company / want
TO say that Mr.. Welch did nothing
moro than his duty in that respect
AID believe the insurance commits
sioner OF this state should compel q
surety company to furnish bond for
n state bank that is solvent and re-
liable / have done nothing for Mr.
Welch except what was in appreCia-
tion for the courtesy he showed me
in getting the bond.
This man Petit" continued IIar-
rill, owes myself and Mr. Welch an
apology. | have never seen him and
do not know him, but " ! should see
linn he would apologize"
Petit was seated in a chair not
three feet from Harrill. You are
looking right at him." some one re-
marked.
Everyone in the crowded room
looked at Petit. Harrill turned upon
the former assistant state insurance
commissioner and angrily shouted; !;
Are you the cur? If you are you
are dirty crook and you must apol-
ogiZe. ] am ashamed OF you TO think
that YOU would steal a letter from
the files of your employer and be-
smear peoples regulations"
IIarrill Heprimandcd.
Representative Sans objected to
Harrills remarks. such state
ments," said Sans, "are unfair. Mr.
Petit has been summoned before this
committee as a witness and should
not be subjected to anything OF this
kind. The letter he read was a part
of the open files of the insurance com
missioner and as citizen of Okla
homa had a right to read 1t or copy it,
Mr.. Harrill owes this committee an
apology
Chairman Goodwin declared that 1t
was a personal matter and If Mr. Har-
rill wanted TO meet Petit outside that
would he all right, but no witnesses
should be criticized in the presence
Of the committee
II beg your pardon" said Harrill,
but my feelings against Petit are
very bitter and ] want you TO under
stand it,"
]. E. Smith and II. A. Dillon. Off
cials Of the Union Mutual Insurance
company of Enid, We're the only wit
nesses tonight, Dillon admitted writ
ing the letter to Welch in which he
spoke of n "divy" and dress suit
He said the letter was only a joke
but admitted that he had met Welch
only two or three times before the
letter was written.
Smith testified at length concerning
the tribulations of his company. He
said that the receivership was lifted
after all claims against the company
had been purchased at 40 cents on
the dollar
Lays Blame on Geissler.
He said the reason custer suit had
been filed against the company during
the administration of former Insur-
ance Commissioner Perry Ballard was
that Arthur Geissler, chairman of the
state Republican central committee,
was competitor of the Union Mutual
and Ballard had formerly worked for
Geissler He said in answer 10 ques-
tions from Attorney Carter that he
believed Geissler and Ballard con-
spired to keep his company from do
ing business in Oklahoma. He said
that ever since Welch issued them a
license to do business their company
had been solvent and had done a nice
business
The procedure of the committee is
unprecedented in that the official un-
der investigation is permitted TO have
an attorney, who interposes objec-
tions, makes sighting remarks about
witnesses, goss-eXamines witnesses
and otherwise hampers the committee
in its work No other investigation
committee Of this character has per-
mitted such conduct.
Investigator Partial.
Attorney Carter, it developed today,
was representing the Union Mutual at
the time WEIGH granted them license
20 do business. Carter's name has
Geen prominently mentioned in the in
vestigation before tcnignt There are
rumors ahoat here that at least one
member Of the probe committee is
partial to WEIGH and is a warm per-
sunal friend Of Dorset Carter.
Now that prominent members of
both predominant political parties in
the state have been brought into the
probe and one of them has appeared
personally to defend his reputation, 1t
is hard 10 surmise just where the in
vcstgation will end and who it will
involve before the end is reached.
Banker Tcstifies.
j. A. Tyndman. a banker Of Hobart,
OKLA. testified before the committee
at 10 O'Clock this forenoon. His testi-
nony was introduced for the purpose
of showing Welch was inclined to take