The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-29

with Mellen, he said, was just before
Morse went TO Jail. That was not to buy
the steamers, but to acquire an Interest
In the company that owned both freight
and passenger ste lmers.
II took the matter up with my counsel.
There seemed to be possible legal COM
plications talked with f. ID. Robbins
and Lewis Cass Ledyard about II. Led
yard wouldn't think OF II at all. he never
was In favor OF 1t. Mr.. Robbins thought
IL OF doubtful legality"
Q. Were there any subsequent negotia.
tions?" A. No.
Mr.. Littleton then undertook the cross
examination OF Mr.. Mellen, and asked him
about the subsidiaries OF the New Haven,
OF which he admitted there we're about
ifty active, and about $50 both active and
dormant.
q. What variety OF business DID the
subsidiaries do?" A. Almost everythirg
but vote.
Mr.. Mellen testified that the New
Haven was interested in getting all tn
business 1t could from the New England
States. and that he was willing TO use
any feasible way to acquire water lines.
Mr.. Littleton explaining that by feasible
he meant ways that would not involve the
company with the Government
The witness than was led back TO the
conference with McGovern about the Met
'ppehNah SbtdHlsuiHS' anu promptly
came involved with Mr. Littleton In a way
that amused those In the room
y. Do you recall an interview with Nc
Govern at which Ledysrd. Robbins and
yourself were present. A. l don't rsmem-
Der.
Q. Do you remember that Mr.. Robbins
said he needed time TO look into the mat
ter? A. Mr.. Robbins Is a lawyer and
never saw lawyer that time had any
terror for
MelIen Doesn't Remember.
Q. That isn't answering my question:
A. Well. as / said. Mr.. Robbins Is a law
yer and think II very possible.
He remarked that lawyers also seemed
reluctant to go on record.
q. Do you not think that would be Q
good thing for some other persons? A.
We'll, perhaps. Mr.. Melien finally said
that he did not remember whether Mr..
Robbins made such a remark
Mr.. Mellen said that he often asked
Robbins about what was going on and
was told that Robbins was representing
an outside client and that II had nothing
TO do with the New Haven.
He admitted that the wharves and docks
finally wound up in the hands OF the
Eastern Steamship Corporation and that
the New Haven owned 80 or 40 per cent.
OF that companys stock. He would not
admit that ~ per cent would be a con-
trolling interest. even though the re-
mander OF the stock was scattering"
.. Can you tell how the freight boats
got into the hands OF the Eastern Steam
ship Corporation? A. I haven't an idea
I've puzzled and puzzled over that be-
cause naturally have wanted to get to
the bottom OF 1t. I have been paraiyzed
by the marching and counter marching OF
the last few days.
Compares with who stole Charlie Ross.
doesn't III" asked Littleton.
Well. | hope there will be a termina-
ton Of II some day" Meilen replied.
Mr.. Littleton then asked again II Mr..
Neilen could not refresh his memory
about the deal
"The Lord Only Knows"
THE Lord only knows about IT," said
Mr. Mellen. and He hasn't given me any
Information The ways Of me Lord are
very inscrutable and this certainly is"
q. Well. between the Lord and Robbins
and the New Haven railroad. have you
any idea how this occurred? A. II
found out that the Lord and Robbins were
working together In Boston or anywhere
else ! would give II up as a bad lob
@ Having a desire to acquire property
were you not Interested in Knowing into
whose hands the property fell? A Neve
had care. l used to be absorbed in
WHAT wanted 10 get, Out once II 10
away from me never thought about Il
again.
Mr.. Mellen was asked about the East.
ern Steamship Corporation. He said tina
he believed the corporation was organized
to take over the Eastern steamship Com
pany, the Metropolitan and the Maine
companies. and that when 1t took over the
Maine Steamship Company. owned by the
New Haven. the railroad took stock in
the Eastern Steamship Corporation In
payment for it's line.
Neither OF the outside lines to Bos-
ton, the Metropolitan, Morses line. or
the New Ravens line. was ever paying
investments. said Mr.. Mellen. He reiter-
ated his testimony given In Washington
that he had never believed in the line,
but that II was the policy of the road
and he carried 1t out. He said II was
only n question Of time AS to which line
should go under which could last the
longer.
The Bunker Hill. Old Colony and Mas
sachusetts OF the New Haven outside | ne
were built as freight boats which could be
readily converted into passenger boats,
and which were intended to be 90 con-
verted. said Mr.. Mellen. They were
not converted. however. until after the
Morse line went under and the Yale
and Harvard were sent to the Pacific
coast Then they began to do a pas
senger business.
Whau Enu,,.ss,sn- E-a-.