The sun., 1915-11-10


weeks Of trial the Government intro
ducsd evidence yesterday showing the
entire eleven defendants on trial charged
with conspiring to monopolise the trans
portstion facilities Of New England a.
directors Of the New York. New Haven
and Hartford Railroad when formal ac-
tion was taksn which It Ia alleged cons.
tituted = conspiracy.
II showed that on March 81. 1919.
within tho statute Of limitations. zen Of
the eleven msn had been directors at tho
time the board considered q track lease
Of the New York and New England Rail-
road right OF way from Hopeweil to
Danbury 10 the Central New England
Railroad.
The effect of all this was not alto
Eethsr unsatisfactory to the defendants.
because Charles 8. Meilen. ex-president
OF the road and star witness for the
Government. said the lease, which was
never executed. was for the benent Of
New England. lnasmuch as the New
Haven then owned both roads. or con-
trolled them. II was not compelled to do
anything. but 1t took the action or was
to take the action 20 there could be no
, protests or trouble.
william Rockefeller. Charles F.
Brooker. directors, and Edward -. Rob-
bins. attorney. had appeared In esti-
mony before yesterday, but when Frank
NJ. Swacker and X. L. Bats started on
the history OF the Central New England
and it's acquisition by the New Haven
| they continued right on up to the end
and read minutes OF directors meetings
showing the presence at the meet
ings Of Robert w. Taft, u. Newton Bar-
ney. James \. Hemingway. Lewis Cass
l-edyaYd. Charles NJ. Pratt. A. Heaton
Robertson, Frederick r. brewster and
Henry X. McHarg with men who have
obtained separate trials and men who
have received immunity.
To Amend Biii OF Particulars.
At the close Of the day the Gov-
ernment announced that II would
amend Its supplemental bill Of particu-
| lars In order to make one stephenson
Taylor appear AZ u coconspirator A
recent discovery Of letters. according to
the Government, shows that Mr.. Taylor,
| in buying control OF the sound steam
ship lines for persons acquiring the
same for tie New Haven. The proceed
| ing WAS necessary In order to Introduce
| the letters.
The Government kept on the subject
| Of the Central New England RailroAu
when court opened in the morning This
| was the Poughkeepsie Bridge route
which Chester W. Chaplin sold at proft
IIax tn,
More letters OF John NJ Hall. then
president Of the New Haven, were read
! in evidence. One letter disclosed that the
owner of the Montague farm. which
made all the trouble at springfield, was
one Fred c. Wagner The New Haven
had agreed to pay him "for his SET
vices" In keeping the Central New Eng
land from getting across the narrow
tract. Mr. Hall wrote 10 Wagner ask
| ing for bill. He got 1t and wrote a
| few days later saying he was SURPRISED
at the size Of It," but would refer Il
| to the secretary of the company.
Mr.. Mellen was allowed to Identify n
letter written by his secretary to tho
late Charles +. Choate Of Boston OH
| January so, 1904, when Mr.. Mellen had
| become president Of 1.-The New Haven.
| Mr.. Choate was told that the New Haven
directors had authorized Mr.. Mellen 70
! purchase the Central New England and
Mr.. Choate's opinion was asked.
Mr.. Choate replied directly to Mr.. Mel
len, stating that he did not know about
the properties In question, but that IN
view Of the fact that the Northern Sc
curities case was pending In the United
| States Supreme Court he would advise
against doing anything that might be a
violation Of the Sherman antitrust law"
| But you know more about the situ-
alton than do" the letter concluded.
| Wrote to Rockefeller.
| Mr.. Mellen evidently did not fear tnat
any decision would affect his plans. for
soon after he wrote to William Rocke-
Teller that he had purchased the Pough-
keepsie Bridge system. He recommended
that 'young Mr. Miller" son Of Qaorge
NacCulloch Miller, be made general
| manager and that II continue to run "as
an independent road for a time at least
on account Of the minority interest still
outstanding"
Mr.. Rockefeller replied. congratulating
the president. but he did not favor
| young Mr.. Miller very much. He Is
utterly unfit TO have the management
Of men," the hnancier wrote. Suggestion
was made that Mr.. Mellen consult j. p.
Morgan and President Thomas OF the
| Lehigh Valley before acting.