New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-08
HE TURNS ON N. II.
TO HELP BILLIARD
Ex-Road Chief Sees No
Reason for Naming
Him in Contest.
BITTER AT PRESENT
MANAGER OF LINE
Asserts B. & M. Contract Was
o. K.-Has Session with the
Federal Grand jury.

FEDERAL Grand Jury.
Charles S. Mellen came to the de-
fence of John L. Billiard yesterday with
a vigorous statement, in which he as
serted that the only ground on which
the New Haven suit could be brought
was that Billiard had acted as trustee.
IF that is So" ne added, 81 have
lied. my directors have lied and lot
Of other people have lied"
Mr.. Mellen was particularly vindic-
tive against the present management
Of the New Haven. He asserted that
he had been brought into the suit
through "the pure cussedness" of those
who instituted il.
Mr.. Mellen made his statement at
the entrance to the jury room in the
Federal Building. where for two hours
and half he had talked to the grand
jury of many things that had happened
when he was president of the road.
His seance appeared TO have been an
exciting one, because he remained in
consultation with a representative OF
the Attorney Generals department for
some time after the jurymen had left
the courtroom.
Mellen Is Confident.
To the reporters Mr.. Mellen was self
confident, and did not hesitate in an
swering when asked about the New
Haven suit against Mr. Billiard.
- II have not been subpenaed,r he
said, "and don't know that any Of my
property has been attached. | don't
know why | should be brought into it,
excepting through the pure cussedness
of those who brought the suit. never
had a share of stock nor a dollar in the
BilllJ company"
AT the Interstate Commerce Com
mission YOU testified that the Billiard
transaction was bona fde one. Don't
you expect to be a witness in this
suit >" he was asked.
eb, ne Ttpiltu. tAptNb ~ w n
witness. The only theory on which
this suit could be brought is that Mr..
Billiard acted as trustee. II that is so
| rave lied every member of my board
of directors has lied and whole lot of
other people have lied.
Maybe some of the new people have
found something we did not know.
New people, you know. sometimes have
a habit of finding things.
"Of course, that Boston & Maine
contract with Mr.. Billiard was bora fido
7 was authorized to make that contract
with Mr. Billiard. Three months after
il was drawn and executed the board
Of directors wanted to change II. Mr.
Billiard could not see it that way
Despite MIR. Mellen's assertion that
Mr.. Billiard had not acted as trustee,
n man close to the affairs OF the New
Haven SAID yesterday that lawyers for
the latter hoped to prove 70 the salts
faction of the court that nc did act
as trustee. One Of the important ar
guments that will be presented along
these lines, it is said, Is the fact that
tho 100. .948 shares of Boston d Maine
stock purchased by Mr.. Billiard never
loft the hands Of the New Haven Com
many. and that Mr.. Billiard had not
actually invested any of his own funds
in the transaction.
Facts Barred in L. 5. Probe.
These facts were brought out at the
ali m ortDn last
snrinP Thor il was disclosed that the
stock had been deposited by the treas
urer of the New Haven Railroad with
the National City Bank as security for
IN SIl. .000, 900 note given by Mr.. Billiard,
and that when the note came due II
was paid By a check signed BY the
treasurer Of the New Haven, the 1O9,-
948 shares of Boston & Maine stock
being returned TO the New Haven Com
pany.
The total profit to Mr.. Billiard in this
deal was S2,748, 900, and he declared at
the investigation that he considered
himself entitled to 1t all.
Mr.. Billiard is a coal dealer at Meri-
den, Conn, and investigators for the
Interstate Commerce Commission FOUND
that he was assessed on the tax books
as having property valued at $4,000,
the bulk Of which was his coal yard.
Notwithstanding this, Mr.. Billiard as
serted that he had kept the entire proht
of s2,74S,OOO which accrued from the
deal. He also said that he had con-
Quoted mis- negotiations with Mr.. Mel!en
when he bought the l09,94S shares OF
Boston & Maine at l25 and later sold
them to the Boston Railroad Holding
Company at $50.
He asserted this was legitimate profit
that if the value of the stock had
gone down he would have suffered the
loss.
Mr.. Mellen will go before the grand
Jury again this afternoon.
Just how long the investigation Will
last is problematical, as the representa-
tives Of the Attorney General are pre-
pairing for long stay.
by Telegraph TO The Tribune }
Hartford, Conn, Oct. 7.-Sherifs
Charles II. Latham and Charles t.
Lord. who are working on the $3.50
I47 suit of the New Haven road against
Continued on page 4, column