Norwich bulletin., 1914-05-23

WasnIngton, May 22-A dramatic | climax marked the close of the sen- len, former president of the Neg Ha- ven road, before the Interstate com merce commission today when with evidence of deep emotion, MT. Mellen declared that the late J. Pierpont Nor gan was cognizant of the Grand Trunk negotiations on which Mellen was l criminally indicted for violation of the Sherman Antitrust ect and that he
 took the indictment that belonged to him (Morgan), believing it would have killed the aged financier if he had been indicted.
 Mir. MeIlen spoke with intense feel ! ings as he reclted his efforts to shield l the elder Morgan. This turned quick | ly to a show of resentment however, as he told now the present J. sPierpont I Morgan had suggested "Change in the, presidency or the New Haven at which suggestion, MT. Afclien declar- ed with emphasis: T called his attention to the fact that l had teen suftetiGg under the 1 huIni iation of an urdesg<yed indict- mens 10 protect his father
 l The crowded court room listened with . intense interest as li:iS c.osIHs recit-1 1; al WAS gwen. Taxing up tae Grand Trunk transaciol on Mfie4a s1elien's indictment was returned 5y 1i.e grand jury of New York Governor iEosk. chief counsel of the coInni s=ion asn sneu. ! Did MT Morgan have anything, to
 do with this negotiation for tne ex- 1 change of the Ontario and Western with the Grand Trunk?'
 He did,
 "Whaty'
 He took very active part in the negotiations
 What part. can you tell. if you J know 2s' asked Mr. Folk. ss-sss s I s T did not know That aIr Morgan
 knew there w<ss a Deepf.1tIo.is until be
 came into my office wne1i had an ap-
 pointment with MT. Smithers and Mir.
 Chamberlain, and he told them what
 he thought they ought to do in or
 der to have peace between the New
 Heven and the Grand Trunk interest
 He told or previous negotiations which l he said extended over a period of
 twenty years, (that is the term he
 used; suppost 1t was d general term) and that ne had bought steamship
 line of them on the understanding he
 was to have the New London Northern for the New Haven road, and that they never had carried out their agree
 MT. Smitners' predecessor. Sir Charles
 ment.
 This negotiation he said, was with
 MT. Smithers' predecessor, Sir Charles
 Rivers Wilson. lie thought It was
 a great mistake; that they had not kept faith with him, and ne was quite
 emphatic as he was, you know. once | in a very great whlle-he was quite
 emphatic in thinking they had not
 done as they said 1; had not kept faith with him and he told them they should Il give up the New London Northern
 road; he did not care for anything fur
 ther and that would be the only thing in his judgment that would ever result
 in permanent peace between the two
 properties. Then he retired from the room. l think E. C. Smith was present
 during part of that interview.
 Mr. Morgan retired and left Mir.
 Chamberlain and MT. Smithers and
 myself to continue the conference. told MT. Chamberlain and Mrs. Smith , CTS that we would continue the con-
 ference on the basis that they should give no further attention to the Ques-
 tion of surrendering the New London
 Northern road. they might do as they
 pleased with it; l did not care. The worst punishment 1 wished to see in- ficted upon them was the completion
 of their line into Providence, If they
 felt that there was enough in the sit uation to warrant making a traffic | agreement with us for the interchange lines along the Connecticut river be- tween Windsor and White River June tion and between Windsor and Brat l tIebsFe-and we had nearly cemplet- ed eur own line between BrattleeePo land South VeTnen-that l was to do
 it, :. the form of proposition or contract. which did; it was submitted to them. and within a week the grand jury proceedings commenced in New York
 and was indicted"
 "Did you write a letter to the dis , trict attorney taking the responsibfii- i tyT' asked MT. Folk.
 !, sI did and did it for the sole pur- pose of shielding MT. Morgan" 7 At whose instance did you write
 that letter."
 T wrote that letter at the instance of Mir. Lewis Cass Ledyard and MT. Edward D. Robbins"
 Who dictated it s' "I dictated a letter which was re- , drafted by Mir. Robbins and corrected ! by MT. Ledyard- I singned it in their presence and sent it to the United
 killed everybody in the effiice 10 keep | Mir. Morgan's name out of it.. : ITO keep MT. Morsan's name cut of l whatE' asked Mir. Folk.
 -i Out of the whole proceedings" Had Mir. Morgan been spbponenaetl : in that matter ?"
 T have learned through my counsel
 -I did not know it at the time that
 he was subpoenaed and his subpoena
 was quashed or nolled whatever your legal term is for that action"
 Did you have any conversation with
 the past director of the road, Mfr. J
 P Morgan, Jr..' querried Mir Folk. =. "The present director?
 ~Yes. sire
 t Tells of Meeting With Younger Nor gan.
 "At the time Afr. Morgan called upon : me and thought the change in th< presidency was desirable I called his . attention te the fact that I had beer r suffering under the humiliation of an : kundeserved indictment to protect his : father. He seemed quite affected: he 8 ..turned to the window to compose hii r feelings. and returned to the conver- !, oatien with the remark that hH C: