The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-06-06
Ledyard Gives Billiard Re-
turn This Charac-
terization
MORGAN WAS
JUST A HUMAN
People Set Him on a Ped
estal Because Of His
Power

Washington, D. c., June 6.-The late
~. P. Morgan was just human being
and the practice of setting him on
pedestal and worshiping his magic
power" was not due HIM, Morgan's old
"crony," Lewis Cass Ledyard, told the
interstate commerce commission yester-
day in the New Haven investigation
Yesterdays session was marked by
frequent spirited tits between Ledyard
and Counselor Folk.
"I'm not being treated fairly, and
won't stand for it," Ledyard shouted
once.
Prolonged examination of Ledyard
failed to shed any more light on New
Haven transactions. Ledyard told the
commission express companies would
have to quit business on account Of the
parcel post and the new zone application
Of rates, unless the railroads give the
companies more equitable share Of the
revenues.
Ledyard often opposed j. Pierpont
Morgan, he said, and he pooh poohed'
the worship" of Morgan by many OF
his business associates.
MANY people seem to have an undue
appreciation Of the magic of Morgan,
said Ledyard. They set Morgan up on
a pedestal because of his power
At the outset J. w. Il. Grim, attorney
for former President Mellen, read into
the record Mr.. Mellen's much-discussed
letter to former United States Attorney
Wise at New York, assuming RESPONSE
bility for the Grand Trunk deal under
which Mellen was indicted Mellen had
testified he took the responsibility to
shield the late j. Pierpont Morgan. MIR.
Ledyard Thursday vigorously contra
dicted that contention.
Mr.. Grim merely read the letter and
asked Mr.. Ledyard if it accorded with
his recollection, and Mr.. Ledyard re-
piled that 1t did.
Mr.. Ledyard told Of Mr.. Mellen telling
him that he had heard of some confer
ences Mr. Morgan had with officials Of
the Grand Trunk, and asked him to
inquire of Mr.. Morgan If he was wor-
ried about Grand Trunk matters.
81 asked Mr.. Morgan If he was wor-
ried over Grand Trunk affairs, and he
said, Not Bit
ibid Mr.. Mellen send the letter the
same day he wrote itf"
MY impression is he called in the
stenographer, dictated the letter, and
that the stenographer brought it back
and Mr.. Mellen made few correc.
tions."
II believe he said he was sending it
right along by messenger"
do you know of any conferences as
TO the propriety of sending the letter'"
None, except what / have men
toned"
did you have anything TO do with
Mr.. Mellen's defense. or advise him any
further"
81 did not"
"Soon after the sending of the letter,
the proceedings of the grand jury termi-
mated with the Indictment of Mr.. Mellen,
did they not'"~
Eyes; and between the sending of the
letter and that time Mr.. Mellen ex-
pressed wonder if his request to the dis
trict attorney would be granted"
"The last occasion ! had reason TO
know anything about the Grand Trunk
matter" said Mr.. Ledyard, twas when
the Lackawanna situation about differ
entails was being considered, and Mr..
Mellen said Mr.. Hays was prosecuting
him. Mr.. Hays denied such persecution
and said he cared nothing about New
England territory and was interested
only in western territory. The talk
came to nothing, but was merely an as
surance on the part of Mr.. Hays that
he was not personally hostile to Mr..
Mellen."
Mr.. Ledyard said he often opposed
Morgan and had done SO in the New
Haven board.
did you oppose him enough to make
him mad ~
81 never hesitated to tell him plainly
what thought Mr.. Ledyard did not
think the Connecticut directors of the
New Haven were largely dummies.
The profit of John L. Billiard in the
Boston & Maine transaction, Mr.. Led
yard said he had considered "out-
rageous" and he had so told Mr.. Mellen.
Under questioning by Chief Counsel Folk
for the commission, Mr.. Ledyard re.
fused to testify that one of the entries
in the New Haven minutes relating to
a Billiard company transaction was
false" but said it did not represent