The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-05-19
MeIIen Kicked On
 Lack Of Details In
 WeStcheSter Dea

board ?"
 ity. In the first place the power was in the finance committee, then in the executive and finally in the entire board
 Due Bills rotalled $ao,ooo.
 NOW suggested MT. Folk, did you happen to get 5000 shares of New Haven stock which was to be. ex- changed for Westchester stock ?''
 MT Byrnes. former police dnspec- shares be placed in fny hands so that he might not have to deal with a cor poratfon That was natural. 7
 stAs to the exchange of this stock. z continued MT. MelIen, saaas impression is abroad concerning the due bills I gave that is erroneous. I think I gave due bills aggregating about $2O, 900, to- talling about two dozen due bil1s.,s
 ssWere these due bills presented sub sequently by persons whom you did not know?''
 sssYes.'' replied MT Me1Ien. sssome Of them were while others were present. ed through Inspector 6yrnes. Some of them never have been presented. I don't think any cash was paid in the rWestchester transaction except for such due bills as I gave. Tn such cir- cumstances. paid my oWn cash and took the stock Then became quite a stockho1der.''
 A check for s1o45o isss1ed by Mr Msllen to his own order on Feb. 2, 1909. was offered by MT Folk, who asked what it was for
 The amount was paid to be in cash and with the cash took up certain due bills and paid also dividends on the stock whf fch had accumulated. I frequently paid dividends to the hold CTS of the stock These persons were sent to me by Inspector Byrnes.'' Westchester Stock Bunched
 MT. MelIen said that tfae Westches- ter stock seemed to be punched into the hands of certain people.
 Did the financial com1nit ittee know of your holding the New Haven stock and about this stnlaesssr trarsac- ton ?''
 s.Yes."
 Did you make a report as to the due bills that you gave ?''
 ..The principal changes that the New Haven wanted in the Westches- ter franchise related to an extension of time in which the road was to be com pleted, a change of route and con- solidation with the New York and Portchehster,d did they not 2,' asked Mir Folk.
  principal changes said MT. Mellen
 These amendments were made ?''
 MT. Mellen nodded his head.
 Did the committee know of ali these details ?''
 How far they knew of the mem oranda setting forth the franchise amendments cannot tell you
 Did you talk with Rockefeller, Nor gan or Miller about these matters ?''
 T think not. I carried the whole transaction through to completion and then reported
 Yves the Westchester stock of any value ?''
 Well, as T have said before. [ did not think it had any actual value but 1t did have a potential value It runs through a good territory"
 Is the New York, Westchester and Boston not operated now at a loss of $1,25O,0O0 a year 2,
 Well, you have the figures as to that and have not" said MT. Me1Ien.
 Wasn't Anxious To Buy
 MT. Mellen testified that the ques-s New York, Westchester & Boston. or the New York & Portchester was first brought to his attention in letter from F. M. Herr, president Of the Westinghouse company. This was about IS e05, the witness stated and his
  by Governor Folk. It indicated that MT. Mel1en did not think much Of the proposition but the president of, the New Haven intimated he would like to keep track of the matter Among other things the latter said.
 1t looks to me like the company was organized as a strike to sell out to us at the proper time.
 When did the Westchester proposi- ton come up next?.'
 Feelers came to me at various times, to ascertain if would be in terested in acquiring the Westchester. l paid no attention to all this and re- fused to lay the matter before the di- rectors of the New Haven until Oak leigh Thorne came along.
 MT Thorne told me, as I recall. that he had acquired control of both Portch ester or else he said he could acquire them. We talked some time over the matter and I think I told him the roads had been offered to me but not taken up by the directors. He wanted me to take it up with thesedi- rectors and I said I had no objection and promised him to bring it before the board.''
 You had no idea the board would consider the matter favorably ?''
 'sNo.s'
 MT Mellen testified he laid the pro- position before the board in the sum ner of 1906 and that MT. Morgan moved that a committee be named to look into the matter.
 Were you surprised ?''
 thought it indicated that the board would do something I had not expected it to take up.''
 Found Fault With Report
 Mr Me1len further said that he, as president of the New Haven, named Messrss Morgan, Rockefeller, Miller as the com mmittee. He himself was ex-officio. He said when the committee reported about a year. later that $11, Is ,000 had been Aexpended.