The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-03
U. S. SPECIFIES
ITS NEW HAVEN
CASE CHARGES
William Rockefeller and IL
Other Defendants Get
Particulars Bill.
PERSONAL PROFIT
LAID TO f. ID. ROBBINS

Rockefeller and twelve other defendants
in the New Haven prosecution filed by
Assistant United States Attorney Frank
M. Swacker in the Federal District Court
yesterday adds some interesting details
to the Governments story OF the New
York. New Haven and Hartford Rail-
road system operations which led to the
finding Of indictments against a ma
jority of the former directors.
The particulars were ordered by Judge
william H.. Hunt. who will preside at the
trial of the New Haven case in the
United states District Court here next
fall.
Through the bill of particulars Mr..
Rockefeller, George mccullough Miller,
Lewis Cass Ledyard, Charles +. BROKER.
d. Newton Barney. Robert w. Taft.
James $. Hemingway, Charles II. Pratt.
A Heaton Robertson. Frederick F.
Brewster, Henry X. McHarg, Alexander
Cochrane and Edward d Robbins are to
Be given a better opportunity thar was
provided in the original indictment of
preparing a defence against the Govern
ment's charges that they played an i'm
portant part in the acquisition Of the
various companies which have since been
divorced from the New Haven system
through court decree.
Ratification Alleged.
All Of the defendants named. the bill
states. actively and knowingly partici-
pated In the conspiracy and as directors
and officers Of the company adopted
resolutions and voted appropriations in
furtherance thereof. During their ser
<ice on the board OF directors. it is
alleged. they ratified without protest the
methods of competition through which
many Of the railroads. and especially the
water lines. were forced into the New
Haven system or given the alternative
Of bankruptcy.
Special stress is laid on the RESPONSE
bility OF the defendants named in the
deal whereby the Metropolitan Steam
ship Company of New Jersey was pur-
chased and its two biggest boats. the
Yale and Harvard. sent out to the Pa
ciic coast. The name Of Edward n.
Robbins. general counse for the New
Haven, figures prominently in this
tranSaction.
In a recent suit brought by Charles
". Morse, the founder of the Metropoli-
tan line. and at the hearing before the
Interstate Commerce Commission at
Washington. II was denied that the New.
Haven had anything to do with the
spiriting away OF the Yale and Harvard.
Tho bill of particulars. however. dis
tincty charges that Robbins caused the
boats to be sent out to the coast and
afterward transferred certain shares of
the stock in the Pacific operating COM
pany to his wife. Mrs. C. S. Robbins.
Made Purchase Possible.
The other defendant besides Mr.. Rob-
bins, 1t Is set forth, made possible the
purchase Of the Metropolitan Steamship
Company of New Jersey through APP
proving as directors a loan of $3,S00.0 900
negotiated by the New Haven from the
Farmers Loan and Trust Company in
1919 on short time notes.
In view of Mr.. Swacker's recent decla-
ration In open court that he intended to
prove that Robbins profted personally
through his work for the New Haven
especial significance Is attached to that
part of the bill which charges that dur
ing the three years prior TO the handing
down OF the indictments the New
Ravens lawyer deposited more than
5000, 900 in checks with J. p. Morgan 4
Co, the New York Trust Company. the
First National Bank of Boston. the Lin
coin National Bank, the City Bank OF
Hartford and the Old Colony Trust Com
pany of Boston.
The sums represented by these
checks, the bill charges. were a part OF
"the proceeds of certain transactions
whereby said Robbins procured control
or said metropolitan Steamship Compan
Of Jersey" The shares of stock In the
Pacific company which he transferred TO
his wife. II is charged. were also a part
Of the proceeds OF the same transactions.
The part played by Lewis Cass Led
yard In the acquisition OF the Boston
and Maine and the Rutland railroads
Is also taken up in the bill of partic-
ulars. Mr.. Ledyard, 1t is alleged. coun-
selled with J. Pierpont Morgan. Charles
these transactions and then tried
to conceal his part in the mat
ter through a letter which he
and E.. d. Robbins prevailed upon
Charles S. Mellen. then president of the
New Haven, to write to the United
States Attorney here In December. 1912.
The letter written by Mr.. Mellen at
their behest, 1t is charged. was 'ln-
tended and calculated to conceal the
relationship OF themselves and other
conspirators TO aid conspiracy and acts
IN furtherance thereof"
NelIen's Responsibility.
II was shortly after the penning OF
this letter hat Mr.. Mellen, assuming
full responsibility for the traffic agree
mcnt between the New Haven and the
Grand Trunk railroads. was indicted for
violating the Sherman law with Edison
N. Chamberlin. president Of the Grand
Trunk. and Alfred w. Smithers, chair
man of the board of directors of that
road.
Robbins, the bill charges, was also
responsible for the removal to Canada
or the assets, books and papers of the
Billiard Company. through the opera-
tons or which John A. Billiard is said
10 have made more than 81, 900, 900 in
the transfer OF the Boston and Maine
stock at a time when the New Haven
FOUND IL advisable to avoid any an.
pearance of exercising control over the
Boston and Maine. The books Of tbe
Billard Company were wanted by tho
Federal authorities as an important link
In the investigation of the New uaven,s
affairs. "'
The defendants as directors Of the
company, according to the bill ratiN.d
I number OF agreements with other rail.
ROADS and steamship companies whereby
me water line competitors of the New
haven were harassed and deprived of
freight ana carrying facilities. TIL most
important of these agreements, it is
stated, was that entered into with the
pennsylvania Railroad. in which the
PennsylTdnia was 10 do it's best to pre-
rent the Joy steamship Company and
The Philadelphia and New York Trans
portation Company from running vessels