Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-20


ident?"
Not on this matter"
did he on other occasions?"
Yes"
Mr.. Folk read a letter written to
Henry w. Whitney in which Mellen
said he had cared for the Washing
ton situation, that he had "plowed the
ground and l think every chance for
trouble had been carefully eliminated
Mr.. Mellen told of efforts made by
the late e. H. Hartman to get the
stock of the Boston & Maine before
It was acquired for the New Haven.
He said he had held discussions with
Hartman and that but one price, 5000
a share, had ever been mentioned.
You speak in a letter of saving New
England from Hartman Why was
that?'
81 was using Hartman as a bogie.
I wanted to get the Boston Maine
stock. If we had not gotten it, it
would have goneto Hartman.
HE was sort of accelerator them
suggested Mr.. Folk.
II like that word. I think l VIII
adopt It," said Mr.. Mellen.
The Billiard Co.
Taking up Billiard Co. affairs, Mr..
Folk asked
Did you suggest forming the Bill
ard Coz"
No"
who organized the company"
Mr.. Billiard and his assistants"
Did E. s. Robbins have anything to
do with forming the company"
II have no doubt he had something to
do with it,
Who granted the charter
THE Connecticut Legislature
1.-THE bill was pending long time.
Don't you know they had to spend lot
of money to get 1t through"
You don't have to spend much money
in Connecticut. They are not that kind
of people"
Didn't you tell Mr.. Gardner and my
self last night that they spent s15,o00?'
That was legitimate.
Mr.. Mellen denied there had been a
private wire between his office and Mr..
Billiards..
What kind of business man is Mr..
BHlard?''
"If am trading with him l do not look
elsewhere than right in his eyes" an
swered Mr.. Mellen.
Would you turn over O994S shares of
stock to a man of whom you thus
spoke?"
II would turn over the shares to any
man to whom the directors had instruct
ed me to deliver them. We got five points
more per share from Mr.. Billiard than he
first offered to pay. He would agree at
first to pay only 12o but we got 125.''
Mr. Folk called Mr. Mellen's attention
to report made TO the board of dtrec-
tors concerning the Billiard transaction
in which it was stated that the New Ha-
yen had made a profit of 81, $4,000 out of
the Billiard deal.
THAT is wholly erroneous" declar-
ed Mr.. Mellen. In all probability it
was mistake of the secretary of the
board"
How did the Billiard Co. get Her
aid bonds?'
They got them in the re-organiza-
ton of the Boston Herald. You will
recall certain sealed envelope which
has been mentioned" continued Mr..
Mellen. We'll, that envelope contain
ed certain notes of Mr. Haskell, who
owned One-tniTu OF the boStoH 1lei
aid. l persuaded or induced Mr.. Bill
ard to purchase the contents of that
envelope for 1903, 900. or 100000, for
get which, and he has held them since
that time as a part of the assets of
the Billiard Co.
How did you acquire the Haskell
notes." asked Mr.. Folk.
THE New England Navigation co.
had loaned him money. / had known
him a long time, and when he wanted
to borrow some money the finance
committee of our board decided to
make the loan
Were you engaged in the banking
business at that timer
THE Navigation Co. had perfect
right to make this loan"
why did you want to loan Haskell
$500, 900? Was it because he was an
owner of the Boston Herald?"
THAT was no disadvantage" replied
Mr. Mellen.
- Wasn't it the real reason?' urged
Mr. Folk.
We'll, you are intimating that" re-
sponded Mr. Mellen
An adjournment was taken at this
point until tomorrow.