The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-05
LEDYARD FLATLY DENIES
MELlEN'S TESTIMONY
Did Not Offer Himself M Vicnrioun
Sacrifice for j. Plerpont
Morgan.
LAWYER is VOLUNTARY WITNESS
with His Statement UncompIcted, Com
mission AdJOurns New Haven In
qufry Until To-day.

Washington, June 4.-Charlcs S. Mel
lens recent testimony that he. as presi :
dent OF tho New York. New Haven and
Hartford Railroad, allowed himself TO
be indicted in the Grand Trunk case to
shield the late j. Pierpont Morgan. was
natly denied before the Interstate Com
mcrce Commission to-day by Lewis
Cass Lcdyard. of Now York, New
Haven director ut tho time.
Il want 10 say in tho most unquali-
fiod terms" MIR. Lcdyard declared, that
MIR. Mellen did not offer himself as Il
vicarlous sacrifice for Mr. Morgan"
Telling of the letter in regard to tho
Grand Trunk investigation to the
United states district attorney at New
York, written by Mr.. Mcllen in the
presence Of L. d. Robbins, counsel for
the New Haven and himself. Mr. Led
yard said:
That letter was not the letter of u
man accepting responsibility. 1t was
the letter Of n man claiming innocence"
Mr.. Lcdyard took the stand as vol
untary witness in the commissions In
vcstigation into the New Havcn's
financial affairs. and was not sworn
The subpoena issued for him some time
ago had been withdrawn. but he urged
that he be allowed to make n state
ncnt.
SKINNER COMPLETES
his TESTIMONY IN CASE
Earlier In the day William Skinner
completed his testimony begun yestcr-
dag. lie said he could not recall any
instance In which Mr. Morgan had
tried To dominate the board OF drec-
tors.
Mr.. Ledyard said that when he be-
gan to take an active part In the ar
fairs of tho New Haven, about sl3..
100000 already had been expended fot
n iSI. Of H. .,.I,., 49,,
road. He declared he knew nothing Of
any transaction with former Police
Inspector Thomas T.. Ryrnc, of New
York. or of any negotiations with poll
ticians.
Taking up Billiard Company matters.
Mr.. Lcdyard said:
while l was In Europe in 1905. the
BOSTON and Maine stock was sold to
Mr. Billiard. and after my return l
asked Mr.. Mcllen If the sale were out
right or Il dummy" transaction. lie
told me the sale was made outright.
The following January the Massa-
chusetts Legislature asked the New
Haven board for certain information
regarding the Billiard matter. At the
meeting In January l again asked Mr.
Mcllcn AS to the sale 10 Billiard, and
hc told mo that H. was bona fdc
transaction
ANSWER TO LTGISI.ATURE
FOLLOWS SUGGESTION
II asked who Billiard was. and he
replied. lie is a wealthy Connecticut
man asked why the sale WAS made
Ia Mr.. billiard. and Mr.. Mellon replied
that II WAS because l!illard wac ~
friend Or tho New Haven interests
then Inquired why this was not ucu-
toned In the reply to the Nassachu-
sets Legislature. Mr.. Mcllcn became
excited. lie seemed to think | was
showing lack of condolences to him.
Later tho answer to the Nassachu-
sets Legislature was amended In &C
cordancc with my surcestion."
Referring to Mr. Mcllen's letter 10
the district attorney at New York. Mr..
Lcdyard said:
Il want 20 shy In most unqualified
terms that Mr.. Mcllen did not offer
himself as vicarious sacrifice for MIR
Morgan. II was Il letter not of a man
accepting responsibility; II was n let
ter of man claiming innocence. for
1t was letter TO the district attorney
stating that he was the only one
who conducted whatever the negotia-
lions were, as he was the only one
who knew what had been done there
fore, he desired to go before the grand
jury and tell his story of what those
negotiations were"
With Mr.. Ledyard's statement un-
completed the hearing was adjourned
until tomorrow.