Norwich bulletin., 1912-12-24

NMw York, Dec. 2S.-Charles $. Mel len, president of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad, Edson ]. Chamberlin, president of the Grand Trunk railway of Canada, and Alfred w. Smithers, chairman of the board Of directors of the Grand Trunk. were Jointly indicted by the federal grand Jury in this city today under the Sherman antitrust law.
 Penalty Is Imprisonment or Fine.
 They are charged with conspiring to restrain trade in connection with a memoranda of agreement" between the two roads under which, it is all legged, the Grand Trunk proposed to abandon the extension of it's railroad lines to Providence, R. l., together with a projected steamship line be- tween Providence and New York.
 The penalty for the crime charged, which is alleged to be a violation of section 1 of the Sherman antitrust law, is one year in jail, fine of S5,OO0 or both.
 Mellen and Chamberlin to Plead Today Mir. Mellen and MT. Chamberlin upon being informed of the indictment, promised the federal authorities through their counsel that they would appear at 1 o'clock tomorrow after noon to enter their pleas
 Mr. Chamberlin, whose home is in Montreal, is already in New York and Mir. Mellen will come from New Ha- ven. MT. Smithers is a British sub feet and is now said to be in London. Unless he voluntarily surrenders him. self, extradition proceedings will be necessary to bring him within the jur- isdiction of the court. It is believed by the federal authorities, however, that he will sail for this country as soon as he hears that an indictment lies against him.
 Grand Trunk Would Have Become
 Competitor.
 But for the commission of the crime set forth, the Grand Trunk sys- tem," the indictment charges, would have actively competed with the New Haven system for the carriage of in terstate and foreign commerce between southern New England cities and the west. Through their connections, 1t is recited, both systems reached the same cities in the west, both in the United States and Canada.
 A "quiet" meeting between Mellen Chamberlin and Smithers in New York on Aug. 5 1912, is named in the in- dictment as the time and place al which the defendants first engaged in an unlawful combination and con- spiracy to prevent the construction and completion" of the proposed ex- tension of the Grand Trunk railway system in New England and the oper- ation of the Grand Trunk steamships between Providence and New York.
 Seven Overt Acts Alleged.
 Two other meetings, it is alleged were afterward held. also in New York, one on Sept. 20, 1912, and tht other on Oct. l, 1912, for the purpose of completing the alleged conspiracy Seven overt acts are set forth in tht indictment. They include the meeting! in New York between the defendant! and the exchange of two memoranda between Mellen and Chamberlin, tht first of which provided that the Gran( Trunk should sell to the New Have1 system all its interest in the Centra Vermont and its subsidiaries, whicl would include all of the proposed ex tensions in New England"
 The second and final memorandum which "the defendant Mellen initiated provided, however, that the Grant Trunk was "to retain the Central Yer mont and existing controlled lines an, continue its existing business as a present"
 New Haven to Protect Grand Trunk
 This memorandum, arranged for in terchange of traffic at certain points joint use of certain lines and set fort that the New Haven should "protec Grand Trunk in every way in. its pow CT. in its present differential rate from New England points and sue new territory as it is proposed to ope up to it hereby"
 Another act alleged was that Cham berlin wrote to J. E. Dalrymple, vic president of the Grand Trunk, statin that The and MT. Smithers had had long and satisfactory interview wit MT. Mellen and that it was agreed tha Mir. Dalrymple and Mir. Campbe (vice president of the New Haven should meet quietly at Mir! Mellen office for the purpose of discussin new divisions on New England busi ness and determining whether W could come to an agreement with tha company something on the lines sue gested by MT. Mellen."
 Withdrawal of New Hampshire Pet
 ton.
 The sixth act charged was that tt defendant Mellen caused to be with drawn a petition heretofore filed h