Norwich bulletin., 1914-07-15
N. H. Directors
 Are Not Liable
TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION FOR
 FAULTY FINANCE.
ONLY FOR CONSPIRACY
In Restraint of Trade-sueh Action Will Not be Taken Until After Dis solution of the Present System.

Washington, July 14.-F1nal deter imitation of the question of whether criminal indictments shall be sought by the department of justice against directors of the New Haven railroad probably will not be reached until the conclusion of the negotiations for a peaceful dissolution of that system- The fate of these negotiations is said to depend largely upon the action of the New Haven board at a meeting to be held in New York Thursday.
 Cannot Reach Directors.
 The department cannot reach the New Haven directors for any of the financial transactions which brought down upon their heads the condemna- ton of the Interstate Commerce Com mission It can act only through the antitrust act, which has a section making 1t a criminal offense to enter in a conspiracy in restraint of trade. Past experience with this section of the act has not encouraged law ofi- cials of the government to ask inddcf- ments for directors or other officials of alleged combinations which it sought to dissolve Jur1es have been loath to render verdicts of guilty and judges have not been disposed to i'm pose prison sentences However, the widespread publicity given to the New Haven case and the unqualified asser- tion of the Interstate Commerce Com
 
 Haven knew that they were acquiring and combining competing properties may put a different aspect on this case.
 Possesses Vast Amount of information The commissions statements are not evidence, but its concfusionz may raise the question of how this information will appeal to the grand jury. It has been known for months that the de- partment of justice is in possession of a vast amount of iuformAtiou con- cerning the New Haven, much oc which is in accord with the inforzna- ton secured by the commimion. but some of which is said to contradict testimony given by prominent witness es before the commissions NeW Haven | investigation. This contradictory ewS- dencs offered to the commission at this time of the investigation was not accepted, but if indictments are | Jury for the purpose Of settling the | question of whether immunity hai | been gwen witnesses who helped the commission. If a contradiction is shown clearly somA. officials believe | that immunity might not be granted 1 It was recalled here tonight that at the time the commission proposed to 1 subpoena Charles & Mel1en and other directors of the New Haven, Attorney l General McReynolds made public a I discussed the effect of thefr appear ance upon any criminal prosecution which the government may oekra hereafter to institute" Mr. McRey- holds said he had noticed that the commission intended to summon Charles s. Mellen. Wfliiam Rockefener, George McCulloch Miller, Charles F, Brooker, Edwin Mflner, Lewis Csss Ledyard. George B. Baker and Edwazd D. Robbins
 Attorney General Retseeok.
 Before this letter was made pubf3s 1 the attorney general was in conferencs with Senators Kern and Norris. Com- missioner AcChord and Chief Counsel Folk of the Interstate Commerce Com- mission and refused to say whether he contemplated criunna1 prosecutions of these men or other New Haven di- rectors. It was understood that he did not-ca to take the slightest chance Of having his plans made public | It has been well understood in ad- ministration circles that the depart ment is anxious to get the civil disso- lution of the New Haven out of the way before it takes up any other phas< ment theory of the matter the Nev Haven grip on the traneportat1uu oi New England Is absolute and it fl more imperative that it be broker than that few indictments be asked for which could not in any way re- store competition to that section IT the negotiations with New Haven ofn. cia1s and lawyers for a peaceful dis solution it has been thoroughly un- derstood that the question o6 crfm- inal indictments was not involved anc the way is open for the department ts proceed 1t deemed wise and it k believed there is evidence Co obtair convictions