The Washington herald., 1914-05-23

MELLEN SWEARS
HE SAVEDMORGAN
Former. New Haven Magnate
Ends Four Da, Comics
sion Before |. c. c.
WHY HE WAS INDICTED
Admits Money Was Spent Freely and
Passes Given with Abandon
to Hundreds.
WHY HE WAS INDICTED

Charles 8. Mellen. former president OF
the New Haven Railroad. ended his four
days confession before the Interstate
Commerce Commission yesterday with
the statement that he had subjected him
self to indictment under the Sherman
anti-trust law to shield the late J. p.
Morgan. This was in the so-called Grand
Trunk conspiracy on account Of which
Mr.. Mellen still stands under indict-
ment.
Mr.. Mellen asserted that he wrote a
letter to the District Attorney in New
York assuming entire responsibility for
the so-called Grand Trunk deal because
he realized that Mr.. Morgan's health was
rpreearious and that to subject him to
the grand jury proceedings probably
would have resulted In his death.
Asked Him to Quit.
Mr MeIlen disclosed that ]. p. Morgan.
jr.. was the New Haven director. who
after the death of the elder Morgan.
suggested that 1t was advisable for Mr..
Nellen to retire from the New Haven.
Mr.. Mellen said that he told the
younger Mr.. Morgan then that he had
suffered the humiliation of an indict-
ment for his fathers sake. and that
]. p. Morgan, jr., turned TO him and
acknowledged that his fathers health
at that time was such that 1t would
have killed him
These remarkable statements by Mr.
Melien constituted the climax to his
four days of testimony. His utter
ances were delivered under impressive
circumstances and he gave evidence
Of being deeply affected.
The Grand Trunk agreement refer
red to by Mr.. Mellen was the traffic
arrangement entered into between
that line and the New Haven. which II
was charged resulted in the discon-
tinuance of work on the Canadian
roads extension into Rhode Island.
The letter which Mr.. Mellen says he
wrote to shield Mr.. Morgan and to pro-
tect him from Indictment. was as fol-
lows:
II understand that a Federal grand
jury. sitting within your district. Is in
vestigating the relations betyeen the
Grand Trunk Railway OF Canada, and
the New York. New Haven and Hart
ford Railroad Company.
las all the negotiations between these
two companies have been conducted on
the part of the New Haven Railroad by
myself, and as 1 am the only person
connected with the New Haven who had
anything to do with these negotiations.
or was present while they were going
on. and am therefore, the only one con-
nected with the New Haven Road who
has personal knowledge of the facts, /,
desire to be allowed to testify regarding
this matter before this grand jury.
'T wish 1t distinctly understood that
waive all claims that might have for
immunity from criminal prosecution on
account Of my testifying concerning this
matter before the grand jury. =
II have to ask Of you that my request
as embodied in this letter be laid before
the grand jury for its action thereon"
This letter was written on December
I, 1872, and the indictment against Mr..
Mellen was returned on Christmas morn
ing.
Mr.. Mellen's final day on the witness
stand brought forth further interesting
in regard to his dealings
with New England politicians, and his
method of handling so-called strike leg
islation.
In regard to some Of these transactions
he acknowledged that when racking his
brains for details he often rolled over tnj
bed with a sigh, glad, however, that he
could not recall them.
Mr.. Mellen also told how the New
Haven put up the money for the distri-
button of certain prayers from the
hills" the same being advertising matter
In the interest of the New Haven's ac-
QUESTION Of New Ensland's trolleys.
He acknowledged that the New Haven
VIZ often Obliged to resort to methods
for quickening the body polite and the
honest yeomanry in favor of the road
Also, the New Haven was not particular
1t favored Democrats or Re-
publicans.
I'VE always liked to get under the
best umbrella In the case Of a Storm"
said Mr.. Mellen.
Mr.. Mellen acknowledged that a Har-
yard professor was employed by the New
Haven in its process of tanning public
sentiment. This professor was Bruce
Wyman. The former president Of the
New Haven acknowledged that in the
lays OF free passes he scattered them
about like falling leaves in the autumn,
Ind that he had given millions Of dollars