New Britain herald., 1914-05-08
ROAD DIRECTORS ARE
 CALLED TO CAPITAL
New Haven System Heads to TeS-
 tify in BnIad Case.
MElLEN WILL BE SUMMONED

That He Was Merely Dummy"
 Director and Had No Knowledge
 of Its Business.
 Washington, May S.-William Rockefeller, George F. Baker and George Mccullough Miller. of New York, all directors of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad, have been called to testify next We'd nesday before the interstate com merce commission in it's investiga- tion of the New Haven road. Former President Mellen of the road, will be called later to tell of transactions between the railroad and the Billiard company.
 It is probable that Timothy F. Byrnes, one time assistant to former President Mellen will testify on Mon- day. F.. D. Robbins. chief counsel for the New Haven, who has been prom inently identified in the testimony with the affairs of the Billiard com pany is expected to take the stand Tuesday.
 The gathering together of loose ends of several minor transactions and the piecing together of testim ony characterized the hearing today be- fore the interstate commerce com mission in the investigation of the financial operations of the New York. New Haven and Hartford railroad and the Billiard company.
 Important Facts Developed.
 Two or three facts, regarded as of important bearing upon the matter under inquiry, were developed through the testimony yesterday of John l.. Billiard, promoter of the Billiard com pany They were that the Billiard company dealt broadly in other se- curities besides those of the New Haven and it's subsidiaries; that the Billiard company Practically was John l.. Billiard himself; that for reasons of his own, John l.. Billiard burned his personal books and papers which contained records of many transac- tions; and that. while he made a profit of approximately $2,70O,0OO on the deal in Boston and Maine stock, which represented substantially the profit of the Billiard company, the as- sets of the company, which now are in possession of Billiard himself, amount to trifie more than $2,000,-, 900, indicating depreciation of about $600,0O0.
 Birdsey Case, a lawyer of Hartford, explained to the commission his con- nection with the Metropolitan Steam ~l~l AnaS, rk{< ceeded Grover Cleveland Richards of Portland, Me-, as dummy" treasurer of the Metropolitan company.
 Linsley on Stand.
 Charles F. Linsley. a manufacturer, of Meriden, Conn.,, and a life long friend of John l.. Billiard, testified that, at the suggestion of Billiard, he had become one of the incorporators and a director of the Billiard company.
 "FIve shares of stock in the com pany were put in my name by Mr. Billiard" said the witness, "but never had any knowledge of its business. acted in the matter merely as a friend and neighbor of MT. Billiard, who really was the whole company"
 Was Dummy" Director.
 MT. Linsley said several meetings of the directors were held at some of which E. D. Robbins, chief counsel of the New Haven and attorney for Bill lard, was present. He could not re- me ember what propositions had been considered at the meetings or what he had voted upon as director.
 Did you know anything about the Billiard company asked MT. Folk
 "Not a thing"
 You were merely dummy direc- tor then?" suggested MT. Folk.
 Absolutely"
 MT. Linsley gave 1t as his "impres- sion" that the Billiard company was organized to take care of some of MT. Billiards business, which. he felt. ought to be put in permanent shape so that if anything happened to him it could be the more easily handled.
 Billiard Heavily Obligated.
 "Mr. Billiard said to me that he was getting old; that he was heavily obli- assumed that he desired to place some of his affairs in the Billiard company so that they might be safe guarded" said Mr. Linsley.
 Do you know that he put into the Billiard company only those things which related to New Haven?" asked MT. Folk.
 ''No, do not
 Robbins Employed Case.
 Birdsey E. Case, who followed MT. Linsley on the stand. said he is practicing attorney of Hartford. Conn. and succeeded Grover c. Richards as treasurer of the Metropolitan Steam ship company of Maine, at the in stance of E. D. Robbins. He said he had previously, at various times been employed by the legal department of the New Haven in connection With title research work and transportation matters.
 PohbioS saiI MT Case