The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-20
MORGAN COMPLETE
MASTER OF AFFAIRS
Amazing Story of His Domino
tion in New Haven Matters
Related by Mellen.
GIVES TESTIMONY WILLINGLY
Most Extraordinary Chapter Yet
Unfolded in Inquiry Into Ex-
ploitation of Railroad.

Washington. May ia story OF the
lato j. Pierpont Morgan's absolute
domination I'm affairs OF the New IIav-
cn Railroad, of the spending of mil
lions In awed and ignorant silence 1T
tho command of tho all powerful fin
ancial ruler. wua told TO the Inter
state Commerce Commission to-day BY
Charles s. Me!lcn, former president o!
the New Haven.
II was the most extraordinary chap
ter set unfolded In tho commissioning
inquiry into the alleged exploitation of
the great New England RailrOad and
disappearance OF fortunes from ita
treasury through acquisition at extra
VACANT prices Of subsidiary properties
There was not time IN = single day
in which 10 crowd details OF all the
incidents and events dealt with In the
witneas's testimony He barely touch
ed on some of the big things. paving
the way for exhaustive questioning
tha, will continue tomorrow.
Members OF the commission. counsel
and interested spectators fairly hung
IN every word ot MT. Mellcns today
3s hts story developed dramatically
andcr the examination by Chief Coun-
sci Folk. Everybody listened w!th
absorbed attention and at times cvi-
dent atnaZcfn.nt a. he related how he
cause of his comprehensive grasp and
perfect prcsCicnce OF financial mat
tcrs; how he had consulted with Theo-
dore Roosevelt. then President OF the
United States. regarding the purchase
of the Boston and Maine Railroad;
how 40 had prevented the late L. IL
Hartman from acquiring the Boston
and Maine bv getting IL himself Tor
the New Haven. and how he had dealt
with the late Police Inspector Thomas
snk,. 81.
Wcstchestcr stock held 10y persons
whom he assumed TO bo connected
With Tammany Hall.
GIVES TESTIMONY WITH
APPARENT WILLINGNESS
AS "hcn on the stand last weef, Ar.
Aiellen gav. his testimony with ap-
parent willingness. answering every
question readily and ccucisc!y--that 49,
every question except one. He did try
To- avoid telling about Tie time whth
Mr.. Morgan humll!ated him by
,ruspuclv refusing 10 give him IN
formation concerning the Wcstchester
transaction. 10 which be thought, rs
president OF the New Haven. hc was
entitled.
when he snally related TIE Incident
his face was drawn into hard lines;
and he c!asped his hands over ti" table
in font OF him almost convu!sivcly.
His voice indicated no signs OF emo
tion. however. continuing clear. distinct
ana resonant.
Later, no even gave the story "a
touch OF humor. When Directors
Hemingway ana skinner. OF the New
Haven. demanded OF him WHY the raad
was expendins sIl.ooo.0o0 on the West
chester purchase. lie said he Offered 10
appoint each OF them committee OF
one to lind out; ;hat he had barhed his
shins In futile cndeavor TO obtain in
formation from Mr.. Morgan: and that
;hcy could try ii they desired.
They duck concluded Mr.. Mel
len. grimly, and there was :. ripple ui
laughter
Particular interest WAS aroused by
Mr. Mellen's account OF his conference
with the then President, Colonel EoOse-
Welt, respecting tho acquisition OF tho
Boston and Maine. lie explained that
lie was q great admiror OF Colonel
Roosevelt. and finally conferred with
him about important questions. Colo
mel Roosevelt said TO him ut that con-
ference. according to the testimony.
that he was not a lawyer and was not
prepared TO advise what he should do
about tho proposed purchase, Dut on
Mr.. Mcllen's statement OF the situation
lie thought there night be nothing oh
iectionabie in II. Mr nIcllcn added
that the President said he could coun-
tcnhnce no illegal action In the matter.
and suggested that ho confer with Com
missioner Lane. OF the Interstate Com
m"rce Commission. From Mr.. Lane. he
said, he got no expression OF opinion.
LETTER FROM WHITNEY
SUBMITTED ny FOIt&
y letter WAS submitted by Mr. Folk
written on May II. 1907. by Henry w.
Whitney 10 Mr.. Mellen. suggesting that
he cay something at an early day
touching the Boston and Maine mat
ter; that "a largo public ts still to be
rcckoncd with; and concluding with
this paragraph
hny ,tpt ct
tie Father at Washington might like
70 get his finger into the pie in which
case, If II should happen before the
public should become rcconcilcd to
the change, might result In infinite
harm to all your interests"
Mr.. Folk then offered in evidence
the reply to that letter made the fol-
lowing day. In which Mr.. Mellcn wrote:
"It has been thought advisable by
all concerned that just us little Off
cial information should get out TO the
newspapers regarding the Boston and
Maine matter as is absolutely ncccs-
sary. This was agreed upon by Mr..
Lcdyard. Mr. Tuttle and myself and
we arc acting on this theory 1T the
present time. The Washington situa-
tion ! have, think, completely cared
for One never knows for a certainty
ground has been carefully plowed and
every chance for trouble considered,
and. ] think, successfully eliminated"
Mr.. Mellen told of his relations with
John L. Billiard and OF the transactions
between the New Haven and tho Bill
lard Company. He intimated with a
smile that Mr.. Billiard WAS 4 shrowd
trader. saying that. when he was con.
Quoting with him any business he
never looked anywhere except straight
into his eyes"
ACQUISITION OF NEW HAVEN
Of THE BOSTON AND MAINE
MIR. Mcllen told OF tho transactions
leading to the acquisition by the New
Haven OF tho Boston and Maine. lie
said he learned that the American En-
press Company wanted to sell its hold
ings In the Boston and Maine. and that
aome OF the other largo stockholders
would do the same.