Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-04
SubpOenas Served

The government brought out that the
day before the New Haven directors
approved a report Of President Mellen
on the progress of the negotiations for
the traffic agreement. New Haven di-
nection with the grand jury investi-
cation into the dealings between the
Grand Trunk and the New Haven. This
meeting was held" Nov. 81. 1912, and
Mellen testified that he had been in
formed on Nov. go that the subpoenas
had been served.
Mellen also testified that when he
learned that the investigation was in
progress he wrote a letter to United
States District Attorney Wise of New
York, taking upon himself the re-
sponsibility for the Grand Trunk tran
sactions for the purpose of preventing
the late J. P. Morgan from becoming
involved. Although he made it clear
that Mr.. Morgan was not involved in
the matters directly under inquiry by
the grand jury-the traffic agreement
and the virtually simultaneous aband-
onment of the Grand Trunk extension
to Providence, r. l., and the New Ha-
ven's projected parallel line to the
Grand Trunks line on the Vermont
New Hampshire border, Mr.. Mellen
said he was afraid that Morgan had
done something"
Il didn't know what" he said, "and
l wanted to keep him out of the nasty
mess
Mr.. Morsan's Obsession
The witness said he referred to Mr.
Morgans "obsession'' that the New Ha-
ven should purchase the New London
Northern Railroad from the Grand Trunk
and to interview and correspondence the
financier had had with Edison ]. Cham
berlin and Alfred W. Smithers, Grand
Trunk executives. on the subject.
His letter to Wise, Mr.. Mellen testified,
had been prepared after a consultation
with Edward D. Robbins and Lewis Cass
Ledyard, defendants, and after an In
terview with Mr.. Morgan.
The government brought out further
that during the progress Of the grand
jury investigation. which resulted in the
indictment of Mellen, Smithers and
Chamberlin, it came to Mellen's ears that
the inquiry was to be enlarged so as to
include the question Of the alleged mo-
nopoly of the whole transportation sys-
TEN of New England. This, Mellen said,
resulted in efforts by the New Haven to
have it limited to the Grand Trunk mat
ter only. What steps were taken. the
government reserved for testimony at
later date, but elected from Mr.. Mellen
this statement:
I'VE the witness, Ledyard and Rob-
bins) had various conversations and felt
that everything should be done-every
influence brought to bear to limit it. We
didn't know what might happen
He added that such an inquiry would
have a serious effect upon the ability of
the New Haven to raise funds to meet
it's then financial necessities.
Ledyard's Tactics
The government expects to prove by
other testimony that Ledyard went to
Washington, saw Attorney General
wickersham and President Taft and rep
resented the effect the inquiry would have
nancal situation, with the result that
the investigation was dropped.
In connection with this testimony
which Will prODaD1y De documentary,
there is reason to believe that the de-
tense will call both Mr.. Taft himself
and Mr.. Wickersham. 1t was respon-
sibly reported in court today that Mr..
Taft had expressed a willingness to tes-
tify.
Frank NJ. Schwacker tried in vain
to get Mr.. Mellen to admit that Rob-
bins had told him that if the scope of
the investigation was enlarged so as to
include the question Of monopoly. the
New Haven didn't have leg to stand
on. He was allowed by the court to
ask the question on the theory that It
would elicit evidence against Robbins,
but not the other defendants.
Didn't ask you today If you hadn't
made that statement and didn't you say
Yes" asked the federal attorney.
II dca't recall that I made any state
ment to that effect" replied Mr.. Meilen.
The government virtually finished
with Mr.. Mellen today. There were still
left few minor matters which will be
(Continued on Pane SEco!. y