Evening journal., 1914-05-22
MELLEN Says HE
Protected MORGAN
Willing He Declares, to Ac-
cept Indictment to Save
Railroad Magnate
THEN FIRED" FOR
HIS SACRIFICE
By JOHN EDWIN REvM.
United Press Staf Correspondent

WASHINGTON, May 22.-Because he
realized that if the man really respon-
sible the late Js Pierpont Morgan, was
held responsible and indicted, it would
have meant his death, Charles s. Mellen
concealed the truth and accepted his
own indictment. In repayment for his
self-sacrifce he was practically fired"
from his position as head Of the New
Haven by the son of the man he saved,
MeIlen claims.
In remarkable statement embody- |
ing this contention, Mellen completed |
his testimony before the Interstate
Commerce Commission. In giving the |
innermost details of the deal between
the Grand Trunk railway system Of
Canada and the New Haven, Mellen
completed his immunity bath. The in
dictment on record against him accus-
ing him of violating the Sherman anti
trust law in New York city is now be-
lieved to be null and void. Having
given his evidence at the orders of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, Mel
len cannot now be prosecuted under
this indictment, it is thought.
The final setting of the Mellen story,
admittedly the most remarkable ever
unfolded by the Interstate Commerce
Commission, was most sensational. At
torney Folk had carried the witness
through three hours of talk, the mater
iality of which as evidence was open to
doubt Then he took up the deal with
the Grand Trunk. Mellen explained
that he had filed with the commission
a complete and technical report of the
entire transaction that had resulted in
his indictment.
"But that is not all of it." he said.
did the late ]. P. Morgan take any
part in this transaction" aswed At
torney Folk.
"He did" was the emphatic reply.
81 did not know that Mr. Morgan had
any knowledge of the fact that | was
endeavoring to arrange for an ex-
change of business with the officials
of the Grand Trunk until he came 10
my Office at a time when | had con-
ference on with the officials OF the
Canadian system. He told them very
emphatically that the Grand Trunk
had agreed long ago to turn over 70
him for the New Haven the New Lon
don and Northern system. He told
them very plainly that there woulu
never be any permanent peace be-
tween the two systems until that
promise was kept. He left the room
and / told these officials that ! knew
nothing about this matter. told
them that the New Haven was ready
10 fight the Grand Trunk for business
And l told them we were in shape Z
make the fight a costly one and tina
hoped they would go ahead and con
struct their line to Providence.
/ 1T was on that basis that we part
ed In a week or so / learned to my
utter amazement that the grand jury
in New York was investigating and
that IL was the intention of the dis
g., trict attorney to cause my indictment
for violating the antitrust law. Ther
, came the news of the indictment. II
was a distinct shock to me, as was
, not the man to blame
"You issued a statement dealing
, with the matter, however, did yo'
not?" asked Folk.
'Yes. sir, a statement was issue'
J, bearing my name. But it was no
prepared by me- It was completed
nv Lewis Cass Ledyard and Mr.. Ed
S ward S. Robbins, New York attor
neys.
j, 81 want to say right here and nov
that I almost killed everybody In m
p office and associated with me IN m
!. efforts to shoulder all of the blam
r at that time. | knew that the ma
+ they we're after was Mr.. Morgan.
3, realized the condition of his healt
lust then. / knew positively that
J. he we're to have been indicted tht
Il would have killed him. There wa
Z. nothing / would not have done
T. have aided Mr.. Morgan
Mellen's voice had broken for II
first time in the trying ordeal. Thel
were real tears in his eyes. he wa
very plainly overcome by his emf
tions.
II "Did you ever tell Mr.. Morgan
son about this?" interrupted FOLK.
Eyes sir, did" was the answer
Now there was a very distinct trace
It anger in the dethroned railroad king
: manner.
ID "When he came to me and told n
ID that he believed II would be for q
N best for me to leave the New Have
system I told him that ! did not thiI
IS this a proper reward for what | hi
D. done in accepting disgrace to save h
4 father. He felt badly about it and a
sured me in a broken voice that If h
= father had been indicted at this tin
II would have killed him. But he a
cepted my resignation"
This ended Mellen's story, and
was excused.
IN Attorney Folk announced that /
quartette of next important witnes
ii es. William Rockefeller. George NJ
Culloch Miller. Samuel Morehou
=. and II. NJ. Kochersperger had all fill
=. physicians certificates that th'
- lives would be endangered II IN
were forced to testify.
y "But Mr.. Rockefeller was able to
~ tend a New Haven meeting in NJ
York yesterday" said Commission
10 McChord.
+, Mellen broke in to explain u
~ Rockefeller's condition was such Il
% he could not answer dozen qul
be tions consecutively without a co
no plete breakdown. He declared Il
Iv. Miller and Kochersberger we're a
nd very Ill. Commissioner McChord
nally adjourned the proceedings un
zee next Tuesday. in order that an inv
10. tigation may be made to find the
by act state of health of the four men