Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-06-10
LEDYARD REFUTES
STORY OF MELLEN

"" SSoo
Ledyard continuing his testimony on
New Haven railroad financial affairs
before the Interstate Commerce COM
MISSION, denied that the New Haven
directors were dummies or that the
iate j. p. Morgan or former President
NJ Mellen dominated the board. He said
ne oIten mad opposed Mr.. Morgan, that
the board meetings were we'll attended
n that generally all the directors took
part in the proceedings.
Mr.. Ledyard's testimony was enliv-
ened by. a lively clash with Mr.. Folk in
Ing questions in his own way and APP
pealed to Commissioner Daniels to sus-
tain him.
Washington. June 5.-Lewis Cass
Ledyard. a director of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford railroad con-
c]uded his statement today before the
Interstate Commerce commission in
the New Haven inquiry.
j. w. III. Grim, attorney for former
President Mellen read into the record
Mr. Mellen's much discussed letter to
former United States Attorney Wise, at
New York, assuming responsibility for
the Grand Trunk deal under which MI.
Mellen was indicted. Mellen testified
he took the responsibility to shield the
late j. Pierpont Morgan.
Mr.. Ledyard yesterday vigorously
c~ontradicted that contention. Mr.. Grim
merely read the letter and asked Mr..
Ledyard If 1t accorded with his recol-
lection and Mr.. Ledyard replied it did.
Mr.. Ledyard told of Mr.. Mellen tell
ing him he had heard of some con-
ferences Mr.. Morgan had with officials
of the Grand Trunk n asked him to
inquire of Mr.. Morgan If he was
worried about Grand Trunk matters.
Morgan Not Worried.
II asked Mr.. Morgan if he was
worripG nNor Gro nd Tr,,rIr n ffoir, o~j
he said Not a Bit"
did Mellen send the letter the same
day he wrote it?"
"NIy impression is that he said he
was sending it right along by mes
senger."
"Do you understad anything you say
may be used against you?" asked MI.
Folk.
ooh. yes"
Your relations with Morgan were
quite intimate. You made yachting
trips with him and o drew his will
THAT is correct"
MIR. Ledyard said he often opposed
Mr.. Morgan and had lone so in the
New Haven board.
Did o oppose him enough to make
him mad"
II never hesitated to tell him plain
ly what l thought"
Mr.. Folk asked Mr.. Ledyard about a
small dividend in connection with an
underwriting syndicate which Mr..
Morgan had urged him to accept, al
though he had said he did not want to
take it.
We'll you finally took it?"
Yes. as 1 have said before, I too it
and gave it 20 a charity in which Mr..
Morgan was Interested"
SO he had his way after all?" =.
HI had his way and l had mine.''
refOYfn6 NV I,n1vord f
You did not fuss with him very
hard?"
II refuse to answer. that question"
Personalities Of Directors.
Were the Connecticut directors
largely dummies?" Mr.. Folk asked.
7 should not say that" Mr.. Led
yard replied. MI. Mellen certainly
was not. Mr.. Brush was a most ag-
gressive n obstinate old man. Mr..
Whlttenlore was an able mar of large
interests. Mr.. Frank Brewster was a
young. energetic man. who asked many
question. Henry K. McHarg was a
mar of large interests"
Mr.. Folk asked about Lawrence Mi
not.
H was a typical Boston trustee"
Mr.. Ledyard replied. H was careful
and conservative"
"How about James S. Elton?"
III was a worthy and respectable
a who never impressed me as hav-
ing a great knowledge of railroad af-
fairs"
'How about Edward Milligan?"
HI made a good impression on ms
n when he first became a member OF
the board he showed a desire to know
about things that were going on and
hesitated to speak out in meet
ings. This was rather unusual in a
Connecticut director"
e o PENNY
y~