Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-04-10


RUTLAND, VT, April 1.-The cross-ex-
animation of Mr.. George b. Chase of Bos-
ton by Gen Burnett consumed the fore
noon of yesterday, and was the most spicy
encounter between witness and counsel
that has taken place during the trial. The
witness stated in answer to interroga-
tories that he was director and transfer
agent of the Rutland railroad company
from 1868 until 1873 when he resigned !;
that the contempt he felt for Gov. Pages
misrepresentation had nothing to do with
his leaving the company, but that he left
because he sold out his stock, and his ser
vices were not longer needed by the COM
pany. He admitted that he received Il
salary as transfer agent and also charged
a commission of one per cent per annum
on paper of the company Endorsed by
him; that he Endorsed paper, some of
which were renewal notes, to the amount
of S1,200,O00 odd in one year; also that
when he sold out his bonds he agreed to
the settlement of some suits against the
company to collect the value of coupons
on the bonds.
On being further Intercepted in respect
to his friendly relations with Gov. Page,
he said that his respect and friend
to Europe and left him in the lurch in 1871.
Gen. Burnett read n letter from Mr.. Chase
to Gov. Page in 1872, in which he urged
the Governor to retain the presidency of
the road. In connection with that the
witness stated that he thought Page the
best man for president, because he was an
indorser to IA larger extent of the com
pany's paper that no one else would take
the presidency; that Page was remark
able fnancier in some respects and he
thought it best to let him work out this
large Indebtedness, the amount of which
all the directors had told him they were
unable to get from Gov. Page. He was
questioned with reference to resolutions
passed. as Gov. Page claims at meeting
of the directors of the Rutland Railroad
company in April, 1872 at Boston, censuriug
Mr.. Chase for speech made at a meeting
of the stockholders and afterwards pub
lished in the Boston Daily Advertiser.
These resolutions Mr.. Chase character
lied as IAN Internal fraud" He claims
that the resolutions censuring him were
not passed at all until 1875 and only came
to his knowledge in 1879 that the records
of the meeting in 1872 were altered after
1873. by the addition of the words "See
proceedings on file" His testimony was
very positive and his determination to tell
his story in his own way, and his quick
sharp answers, "Oh Lord yes" Figure
it Yourself NO sIch thing" brought
In the afternoon the direct examination
of Joel NJ Haven was continued, and was
not finished at the adjournment of court
Haven stated that there was an under
standing between him and Governor PAGE
that he was to be paid extra by Governor
Page for carrying those unpaid checks on
his mind, and that Page decided him some
property to pay him. In regard to accept
ance rs, signed j. NJ. Haven and under
meath it by Page, he stated, with some re-
luctance, that it was signed by some hand
writing unknown to him. His testimony
supported his former statements that
Governor Page used the proceeds of &C
ceptances and transacted business in re-
latOn to them without his knowledge or
consent, and was squarely opposed to
Pages testimony.
The court adjourned over until Monday
afternoon, on account of Fast Day.
RUTLAND. Vt, April 6.-The direct ex-
ed yesterday afternoon by Mr. Ballard.
He contradicted the details of Gov. Pages
testimony one by one as they were pre-
scented to him by the examiner. He said
that he never gave Gov. Page, nor any
body else authority to sign acceptance No.
rs, which was signed j. NJ Haven, but
as he said Thursday, by a handwriting
not known to him. An acceptance of
S6O,00O stated by Mr. MEMS, the discount
clerk of the Second National bank of Bos-
ton, to have been discounted at his bank
May3l, 1852, Mr.. Haven said he had no
knowledge of, and upon examining the
bills payable book of the Railroad said the
only acceptance discounted in May, 1892
as shown by the book, was one discounted
May p, at the National bank of Rutland
and he never heard of the acceptance of
May, 81, until he heard Mr.. MEMS testify
Mr. Ballard asked the witness whether it
was possible for him to know the affairs
of the companyor keep the books properly
unless he knew when his name was used
on the paper of the company. General
Burnett objected to the question and said
that nobody but the Almighty could know
what We're in the books as kept by Mr..
Haven. In reply to question rs to
whether heever signed any acceptances
in blank at the request of Governor Page,
the witness said that the Governor tele-
graphed for four acceptanceS to be sent
him at Young's hotel in Boston, and he
sent them the next day. The telegram
asking for them was identified by Mr..
Haven and put into the case A letter
from Page to Haven, dated Feb. |, 1888,
was read and put in, asking Haven to
make change in the report being printed
by Tuttl6& Co., of the directors meeting,
as Mr.. Haven said, appointing a commit
tee to investigate the affairs of the Rail
road. The change was made in accord
ance with the governors request, the
witness said. The dividend checks print
ed by the treasurer were changed in form
at Pages instance drawn on National
Bank of Rutland and payable at the Bank
of Redemption in Boston, instead of being
payable at the bank drawn upon as for
merly.
The Chaffee judgment for about 80, OOC
for coupon cheeks, against the road was
paid by Page with checks signed with
Haven's name without his knowledge OF
consent. Mr.. Haven charged off the
amount rs scrip and interest, upon the
books and not as q Judgment. This was
also done by Pages direction The wit
ness stated that his relations to Page hat
always been of the most pleasant charac
ter, even after his resignation had beer
obtained and handed in by Page, upor
the understanding, as he says, chat Pag,
was to resign at the same time, and up {,
the time he was refused access to tn,
books in the summer of 1888. Page haC
never criticised his bookkeeping, on tn,
contrary, had voluntarily said that "h,
would stick to me would see me through
this affair" When refused access to tn,
books witness said to Page 81 suppos,