The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-23
7. R.ADVISED
BUYING BE- NJ,
SAYS MELLEN
Feared Aliens Might Get
System From the New
Haven.
ROW OVER BILLIARD
ENDS 4 STORMY DAY

The Government virtually broke with
Charles =. Mellen. its chief witness
against the eleven former New Haven
directors. In the United states District
Court yesterday when K. l.. Bats. spe-
cial Assistant Attorney-General. threat
ened that II the witness did not take
back certain testimony other action
might be taken. The threat was not
finished. nor would any Government rep
resentative afterward amplify the re-
mark except to say that 1t would be
show that the witness had not testified
strictly according to the facts.
The incident came when the FIRST Ques-
tions as to the Billiard company had
been asked. Mr.. Bats had asserted
that the New Haven absolutely con-
trollcd that company, to which Mr.. Mel
len replied einphatically NO. NO."
II will make MIR. Mclleu himself con-
tradict that answer on the stand,' de-
clared Mr.. Bats. "or- the remainder
was lost In the hubbub of argument and
the hustle Of adjournment for the day.
The Billiard incident was only one of
many in a day of more action and
greater tension than any so far OF the
six weeks Of the trial. Jumping from
one subject to another the prosecution
had produced n mass of testimony, the
greater part of which was taken by the
defence as favorable to itself.
Told by Roosevelt to Buy.
Mr.. Mellen said he had been told BIS
President Roosevelt, with a certain res.
ervation. that in the case of the Boston
and Maine Railroad. II would buy 1T If
I were you" At that time there was
a strong governmental desire expressed
by Franklin Is. Lane. then chairman OF
the Interstate Commerce Commission
that the railroad. which was in the mar
ket. should not fail under control of the
Canadian Pacific, the Grand Trunk OF
n ALLEN corporation because of
its strategic advantage in case O,
trouble with Canada or England.
a letter put in evidence by the Gov.
written by Mr.. Mellen said
that II the New Haven had not taker
the Boston and Maine the New Yorl
Central would have done done so and I,
this were connected with the Boston auo
Albany it YOU compel the New Hayer
70 dispose of all it's interests TO TN,
rival corporation.
Judge Hunt shut Out all testimony a.
70 the Massachusetts legislative meth.
ods or the New Haven. This may NEAR
that the legislative methods i'm Rhod,
Island Will never see the light OF day
The Government asserted at one stag.
that II would prove that the New Iaycr
deliberately defied the Cole bill of Mas,
sachusetts which made inactive for T..
year the l09.0iN shares of Boston an,
Maine stock acquired by the New Haven
Later this assertion was amended tC
say that the Government would SHOW
that the road had made ready 10 def,
The bill.
Three Minute Witness Cost xlOO
Louis Bowman, steamboat man. nov
of Honolulu. once general manager o
the Enterprise Steamboat Company. wa,
4 brief witness when court opened II,
had come all the way from S-tttl. at
cost of about $500 10 the tioVernmen
and he was on the stand about tire,
minutes 10 say that his steamboat
could take cargo IN the side that IN
line was not such a loser and tina
"deadhead' carrying was profitable he
cause the free passengers spent liher
ally nj the bar and in the ~restauran,
He wasn't cross-examined.
Then Mr.. Mellen resumed his accus
toned place and Mr.. Bats turned L
the Boston X Maine. The Roosevelt in
ctdent came early. Immediately after IN
correspondence between Mr.. Mellen an,
Henry NJ Whitney. az RnSInn had ha.i
read. Mr.. Whitney wrote May 81. 1s0i
Just when the Boston and Maine dea
was under way:
II have also thought IL possible tina
me it'll. father in Washington migh
like to get his finger in the pie. in whic
ease. II II should happen before tn
public had been reconciled to the chang,