Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-23

mony that the late j. Pierpont Morgan
was an important factor in the Grand
Trunks transaction which involved an
exchange of the New York, Ontario &
Western for the entrance into New
England of the Grand Trunk.
Did you have opportunity to sell
the Ontario e Western stock asked
Mr. Felix.
Yes, to the Grand Trunk and to the
Delaware & Hudson"
Regarding negotiations with the
Grand Trunk, Mr.. Mellen said: Il have
been accused of many things l never
dreamed of and as a result now l am
under indictment for some of them"
Did you ever give the Grand Trunk
100000 or any other sum of money!"
NO"
Trading Ontario and Western
did you try to trade the Ontario &
Western to the Grand Trunk"
There We're some attempts along
that line made by Mr.. Hays
What resulted from these at
tempts?'
We'll, following the negotiations,
there were efforts made to provide for
the construction of a trunk line in
Providence, r. |.
Did Mr.. Morgan have anything to
do with negotiations for this ex-
changer"
He took a very active part. I did
not know Mr.. Morgan knew anything
about the matter until he came to my
Office while Mr.. Smithers and Mr..
Chamberlain We're there. He told them
what they could do to bring about
peace between the New Haven and
Grand Trunk interests. He told of
previous negotiations, saying he had
bought a steamship line on the under
standing that he was TO have the New
London G. Western Railroad for the
New Haven. This arrangement, he
said. was made with Mr.. Smithers'
predecessor. Sir Charles Rivers Will
son. He said the agreement never was
carried out. He spoke emphatically, as
you know he quite often did. He told
them that they must give UP the New
London 81 Northern Road, that be-
ing the only thing that could bring
about peace.
"He left the Office and I told Smith
ers and Chamberlin that we could
only continue the conference on the
basis that they should not give any
attention to the matter of giving up
the New London and Northern. I told
them that / felt the worst punishment
they could get would be to extend
the Grand Trunk into New England.
/ then told them that if they thought
the amount of business was justified
We could discuss the matter of reach
ing an agreement regarding the ex
change of business along the Connec-
ticut River between Windsor and
White River, VT I was asked to put
my views in writing, and within a
week after the federal grand jury be-
gan proceedings against me-"
Shielding Morgan
What about the letter you wrote
to the district attorney at New York;"
asked Mr.. Folk.
Il wrote that letter to the district
attorney and 1 did it to shield Mr..
Morgan"
Mr.. Mellen said the letter was writ
ten at the instance of Lewis Cass
Ledyard and Z. D. Robbins.
Who dictated it?"
II did. 1t was gone over by Ledyard
and Robbins 1 signed it and sent 1t
and / nearly killed everybody in the
office to keep Morgan's name out Of
it."
Mr.. Mellen concluded his testimony
by telling of an interview shortly af-
forwards with j. Pierpont Morgan,
Jr., in which he told him of what he
had done.
Young Mr.. Morgan" said Mr.. Mel
len, was deeply affected and turned
his back on me and looked out of
the window for few moments in or
der to get time to overcome his emo
tons. He said that his father was In