Putnam patriot., 1915-11-19
MELEEH ADMITS
He is TWISTED
IntriCasies of New Haven Di-
rectoFs' Trial Multiply
CASE CALLED BEF0GGED
Issue cloudsds Declares counsel--@or-
esn's Opposition 70 Taxing over
Metronoiitan Lire Described
Near Break Over Deal

New Haven and Hartford railroad. On
the charge 81 violating the Sherman
antitrust law. which has been marked
by the c0mpiexity OF the transactions
placed before the jury b. the govern
meut. reached climax IN that partic-
uiar Judge Hunt announced his in
ability 10 understand the nature OF
certain Of tae transactions and called
upon counsel, after they had made
a futile attempt 10 explain them oral.
~. to submit a written statement OF
their history The transaction had
10 20 with the Metropolitan steam
ship deals whereby the government al
leges the New Haven acquired control
OF that eompany's four freight boats
and had its two passenger boats trans
ferred to the Pacific coast. These four
vessels turned up eventually in the
possession Of the Eastern Steamship
Corporation IN which the New Haven
had q stock interest.
Tire governments testimony in
yolred the Metropolitan steamship
company of Maine. No. 1. the Metro
politan Steamship company. Of Maine,
No. 2. the metropolitan Steamship
company Of New Jersey. the Pacific
Navigation company the Pacific COM
pany. the Billiard company. the New
England Securities company the
Eastern Steamship Company aud the
Eastern Steamship corporation and
threatened 10 bring more into the list
y - Judge Hunt called a halt with
bis reaaest for aa explanation.
Tremendous"
"The magnitude Of this case Is
tremendous" he remarked. cts in
tricacies seem to multiply"
Charles s. Hellen. who was on the
stand admitted he was "twistede"
and counsel for the defense accused
the government of "befogging the
case"
The government dropped the sub
ject temporarily, but precipitated an
other tangle when it began TO delye
into financial transactions between
the Hartford & New York Transports
ton company, the New England Navi-
cation company. and the Eastern
Steamship corporation.
Judge Hunt called another halt with
an inquiry as to the thetimony. Upon
Attorney Bats explanation that it
led up to evidence of the Offering Of
rebates the court ruled 1t out on
the ground that It was merely eumu-
lative.
Must Curtail Case
I'VE must curtaf this case" hee
warned
Mr. Mellen testified that just before
the Metropolitan line went into the
hands OF a receiver. in 1909. Morse
made an offer To him Of one-half the
capital stock OF the line II the New
Haven would take off its Merchants
and Miners line from Boston.
Mellen said he took the matter to
Mr. Morgan. who was so violently OPP
posed to e that the offer was rejected.
81 said" continued the witness,
"'Why, Mr. Morgan, he offers one
half of the capital stock
Wouldn't Take II AS Gift.
| At wouldn't take it as a gift said
/ Mr.. Morgan 4 won't have anything
I to do with him. He was very vio-
| lent about the matter, and said I'd
either have to break with Morse or
| break with him"
Mr. Mellen, was. however, later In
negotiating with Calvin Austin, re-
| ceiver of the line, and of the AS
! sets Realization company, organized
/ 10 rehabilitate IT, il was brought out
/ The witness testified that he favored
| the purchase of the lines freight boats
and that John w ,MeKennon and II,
| w Goodall of the Assets company,
! offered the boats for 81 500 600
"They wanted me first to sign a
! paper showing our intention 10 pur-
/ chase the boats. so they could raise
money on It." said the witness.
Ledyard Called In.
Mr.. Mellen said the called in Lewis
Cass Ledyard and Edward d. Robbins
general counsel for advice.
Mr. Ledyard was opposed TO the
proposition" he continued. MIR. Rob.
bins sal dhe wanted to look into il
I very carefully.
did YOU send a letter TO Mr. Good
all which Mr. Robbins dietated?"
a don't remember; have no doubt
1 didfi for | signed many letters writ.
ten to me by other officers, if there
was no objection"
This letter. 1t was brought out, re-
jected the offer
1--WE are going to show" said At
torney Bats. that this letter was a
4 deception
The government then put into the
record an exchange of correspondence
/ between Mellen and Jacob II. SehiH
inquired in September, 1870
who controls the destinies of the
Metropolitan steamship company Is
there any truth in the report that the
steamers Yale and Harvard are to
bo sent 10 the Pacific eoast?"
Il was some time before a reply to
, this letter was received, as Mellen was
away on vacation Finally the an,
swer came.