New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-05
LAWYER Declares New
Haven's Head Didn't Have
to Save" Morgan.
DISPUTES STORIES
OF EX-PRESIDENT
Witness Testifes Mellen
Dominated Directors
with Firm Hand"
BILLIARD co. DEAL
MANAGED BY HIM
Commerce Commission Hears
That Banker Was Angry When
Told of Transaction.

From The Tribune Bureau.l
Washington, June 4.-With the em-
phatic declaration that Charles s. Mel
len. formerly president OF the New
Haven Railroad, had made no sacrifice
for the late J. p. Morgan when he ac-
cepted the burden OF an indictment in
the Grand Trunk case, Lewis Cass
Ledyard, Of New York, formerly New
Haven director, asserted at the hear-
ing to-day that Mr.. Morgan knew
practically nothing about the Grand
Trunk negotiations.
Mr.. Melen testified last week that he
had made the sacrifice TO save Mr..
Morgan. who was not in good health.
II want to say in tie most unquali-
fed manner Mr.. Ledyard declared,
that Mr. Mellen did not make vicari-
Gus sacrifice by going and offering him.
self for Mr.. Morgan"
Mr.. Morgan, Mr.. Ledyard added. had
no fear of indictment for the part he
had taken in the Grand Trunk negotia-
tions. Mellen. he said. seemed greatly
worried about Mr. Morgan, but when
Mr.. Ledyard told the fnancier that
Mellen thought he was worried he re-
piled:
Not a bit of it. There is nothing
for me to worry about
Morgan Asked Him to Stay.
Mr.. Ledyard said that the first no
knew about the Grand Trunk negotla"
tions was in the summer OF l9l2' When
he returned from abroad for few
davs and saw Mr. Morgan, who asked
him TO remain for meeting or tne
New Haven directors. Morgan. the
witness said told him that something
he did not know much about was TO
come up; that Mellen was going 10
present something about the Grand
Trunk.
Mr.. Ledyard told Mr.. Morgan that
he could not stay, but he insisted that
before taking any action Mr.. Morgan
should obtain the advice Of outside
counsel. and suggested Richard Olney.
Mr.. Dawson, one Of Mr.. Morgani
partners, was present at the con-
ference.
When Ledyard returned to this coun-
try in December, 1912, he testified. he
found a great deal of agitation against
t:~ New Haven because Of its part IN
the Grand Trunk deal. The news
papers of Rhode Island were up IN
arms over the stopping Of the con-
struction of the Southern New Eng
land Railroad. and he found Mellen In
the process Of being indicted by the
federal grand jury.
II saw Mr. Mellen," Ledyard said,
"and he told about the same story as
he has told at this investigation. He
said he had negotiations, after Mr..
Hayes's death, with Mr.. Chamberlain
and Mr.. Smithers relating TO a traffic
agreement between the Grand Trunk
and the New Haven. He explained
that he had never discussed the taking
over Of the New London Northern, and
had never had a conversation regard
ing the stopping of construction on the
Southern New England road. He was
very much agitated and felt very much
alarmed.
"Mr. Mellen said that Mr.. Morgan
had come into his Office one day by
chance, when he was comforting with
Messrs. Chamberlain and Smithers, and
had asked them what they were talk.
ing about, and when they told -.
Morgan he said in his usual bluff man.
ner. that there would not be any peace
until the Grand Trunk gave up tho
New London Northern"
Mr. Ledyard declared that no grand
Jury would indict Mellen II he told the
truth when he said that there had been
no talk about stopping construction on
the Southern New England Railroad
and the acquisition of the New London
Northern.
Wanted to Go to Grand Jury.
Mr.. Ledyard said he had told Melen
that the other arrangements he had
discussed were perfectly proper Mr..
Mellen had told him that he would like
TO waive immunity and tell his story
10 the grand jury.
Mr.. Robbins came in about this timc
Ledyard testified. and Mellen dictated
letter saying that he alone was re-
sponsible for the negotiations with the
Grand Trunk.
He wrote that letter on his own
initiative" Mr.. Ledyard asserted. "On
his own showing he did IL himself. II
was the letter OF man claiming limos
cence. He was the one Who did every-
thing and wanted to appear. Before
that letter was written and approved