New Britain herald., 1914-05-28
HAD NO KNOWLEDGE , ROAD OWNED STOCK
New Haven System Not Interested in Metropolitan Steamship Co.
CLAIM OF CHARLES s. MELLEN

Deposition for Defense. in Suit o1 Miss Jennie Morse to Have Receiver Nor Line Appointed, Taken at New
 Haven. May 2S.-Charles S.
 former president of the New
 New Haven and Hartford rail- esU. gave a deposition today oe- ! fore special master in the actlon of Miss Jennie R. Morse, sister or Charles w. Morse, in behalf Of stock holders of the Metropolitan Steam ship company of New Jersey to trace the assets of that company. MT. Mellen's appearance was because or reports made that at one time the New Haven road was negotiating for purchase of the steamers Yale ana Harvard. then used by the Metro politan on the so-called outside line, which steamers later went to the Pacific coast In the course of his testimony MT. Mellen denied absolute ly that he had had any desire to pur- > chase those steamers, and as posi- lively that he knew anything about the affairs of either of the Metro politan Steamship companies.
 The hearing was continuation Of one which had been in progress in New York for some time. The special master was Jesse R. Salmon of New Jersey. The direct testi- mony given by MT. Mellen was for the respondents in this action. the7Metro- politan Steamship company and the Pacific Navigation company. To questions put by F. J. FNaulkes ap- a1I tered flat denials of knowing any thing about the affairs of the Met ropolitan company. As to the steamers Yale and Harvard he said that propositions were made to him for their purchase by the New Ha- X ven road and also for purchase of some other physical property in Bos- ton, but they came to nothing and he had dismissed the matters from his mind.
 The only documentary evidence put in bearing upon this was let ter he had written as president of the New Haven road declining to purchase the two steamers.
 Questioned by Littleton.
 The most interesting part of MT Mellens testimony came when he was cross-examined by Martin w .~Littleton for Miss Morse. He was
 eadr-u upon to describe as closely as
 E1c1c he assd, him the details o1
 tan ,sany/and later Wps-Th Thomas
 tain GaalT Twho wanted him to t1ftas fAash
 the t. Passenger steamers to tl A Pacifcoast and who wanted M Melleto buy some freight steam
 CTS.
 Tn Mr. Littleton led MT. Melle
 to ge so far as possible details a
 the ansactions in Boston by whic,
 prolrty of the Metropolitan Steam shiI company there now belongs f.
 theEastern Steamship company.
 IT. Mellen said he did not knoy ho' this property went to the Main Stamshlp company, a subsidiary O th New Haven. When asked who dd know about the transa -dons he rsplied: "Mr. Robbins" who was MT. Mellens general counsel. -.. ''Who else?'' a-6ed MT. Littleton.
 The Lord ~4dy knows was the reply
 "Bet,.een the Providence of God snd the wiles of MT. Robbins. or vice versa, can you tell how the Maine Steamship company got the wharves of the Metropolitan Steamship conn., pany in Boston? D.
 Pool Their Information.
 'I cannot" said MT. Mellen. He added that the records ought to tell the facts. He also remarked to MT Littleton that he had heard so much about the Metropolitan's affairs sine. this case was begun that he was trying to find out something about them himself MT. Littleton sue- gested that they pool their informa- tion. -
 MT. Mellen had not completed his deposition at recess.
 There were present as counsel for MT. Mellen, J. W. H. Grim, and for the plaintiffs, Martin w Littleton. chief counsel, and Owen T Brown. E. Gill Wyle and Conover English.
 For the defense, various interests were represented by members of sev- eral law firms in New York and New Jersey among them being M. E. Join- CT and w. M Ward for the Pacific Coast Navigation company, and F. J. Faulkes and Douglas Nichols for the steamship company.
 Held at Hotel Taft.
 e. The hearing was held in the small blue room in the Hotel Taft, and a number of spectators were present. MT. Mellen and MT. Robbins arrived early. The late arrival of several at- torneys delayed the opening of the hearing.
 MT. Mellen was the first witness, and he was seated at the head of a long table around which also sat a dozen attorneys. MT. Grim stated to Commissioner Salmon that he would represent MT. Mellen so far as he needed personal counsel, but he did kS Ewss@ cn ThirteeeeM N~-~ \