The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-05
Financier Had Nothing to
Do With Grand Trunk
Affair.
KNEW LITTLE OF DEAL
UNTIL 1T WAS MADE
Witness Says Ex-President,
Alarmed, Proposed Going
Before Jury.
CONTRADICTS BIG POINTS
IN MELLEN'S TESTIMONY
Gives New Versions of Billiard,
B. & NJ. and Westches-
ter Transactions.

JuHb f.-1nHrleS . MOI.
lens account OF his martyrdom in New
Haven railroad affairs was fatty contra
dicted to-day by Lewis Cass Ledyard. who
appeared In the witness chair before the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Mr.. Ledyard gave a detailed account
from his standpoint OF Incidents leading
up to Mr.. Mellen's Indictment in the So
called Grand Trunk case. His testimony
not only contradicted Mr.. Mellen's state
ments on the stand, but was designed
to show that Mr.. Mellen and not the late
J. p. Morgan was responsible for the
traffic arrangement with the Grand Trunk
which resulted in criminal prosecution
under the Sherman law against Mr..
Mellen. Referring to the Grand Trunk
case Mr.. Ledyard said:
IL want to say in the most emphatic
terms that Mr. Mellen did not go forward
and offer himself as a vicarious sscrincs
and take on himself the full RESPONSE
bility in order to shield Mr.. Morgan. There
was nothing like that.
Mellen Wrote Letter.
mr.. Mellen wrote hts letters assuming
responsibility at his own suggestion. He
asked me II thought 1t not a wise thing
to do and ! told him thought 1t was
The only things done that made any one
subject to indictment. II they did. wers
done by Mr.. Mellen. and on his own show
Ing Mr. Morgan had done nothing"
Mr.. Ledyards statement In regard DO
the Grand Trunk case came at the END
of an interesting recital OF his expert
ences as a director OF the New Haven
road. In the course OF his testimony
there were many other statements directly
contradicting those made by sro.iv..
Mr.. Ledyard expressed the opinion that
Mellen dominated the New Haven board
as much as any one and he characterized
as false statements made by Mr.. Mellen
in connection with the extension by tho
Boston and Maine Railroad of a contract
It had with the American Express Com
pany.
Mr.. Ledyard In appearing before the
commission offered to be sworn and waive
immunity. The commission had cancelled
Mr.. Ledyards subpoena, apparently In
Difference to representations made by the
Department of Justice, but had informed
him that he could appear and make .
voluntary statement He was not sworn
as q witness.
willing to Take Oath.
Mr.. Ledyard discussed the affairs q
the New Haven with the utmost frank.
ness and said he was willing to make all
his statements under oath.
In connection with the Grand Trunk
matter Mr.. Ledyard said he went to Eu-
rope some time after the Titanic disaster
in May. 1912. and came back for a short
business trip In September. 1913.
TN the few days that 1 was in New
York." said Mr. Ledyard, II saw Mr..
Morgan. I very rarely had talk about
New Haven matters with Mr.. Morgan out
side OF the board. He did not seem to
take much interest in talking about them
outside OF the board. but THIS time hs
begged me to stay over for the next New
Haven meeting.
He said: Mr.. Melen has got some
thing that he is going to lay before the
board about the Grand Trunk ] asked
HIM what and he replied: 4 do not
know
"What is the nature OF mis- PROPOSE.
| tiong l asked Mr.. Morgan replied: I
do not know what II is. He has boon
having some negotiations with the Grand
Trunk people l said to him: I don't
think, commodore. that can wait. Now
let me urge upon you II that thing comes
before tho New Haven BOARD that you In
sist on getting the independent advice Of
outside counsel who knows that situation
and whose advice will carry weight
susgests OIney for Counsel.
"who would you suggest Mr.. Nor
gan asked. I said Richard olney. He
knows all these subjects. Let me beg OF
you that before the New Haven has COM
United itself or anything Is done, get
Mr.. Olney's advice in the matter My i'm
preston is that one OF his partners Mr..
Dawson. was present at the time,
II went back to Europe" continued Mr..
| Ledyard. land returned from there In
| December to hnd conflagIation all around
the New Haven road. Mr.. Melen In proc
| ess OF being indicted by the Grand Jury.
the Rhode Island papers creating a great
| agitation In respect to the suspension Of
| the Grand Trunk extension into New
England and general agitation throughout
New England.
II saw Mr.. Mellen and ] asked him
what had been going on. He told me his
story. am bound to say that he told II
pretty much as he told 1t here. He said
that after the death Of President Hays
Of the Grand Trunk he had taken the