The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-10-30
He Merely Identifies Sigma
lures to the Documents
Shown Him
"PARALYZED"
AT THEIR CONTENTS
Wonders That He Lived
So Long Near
Them

New York, Oct. 30.--At the outset
of yesterdays session of the trial of the
eleven former directors Of the New York
New Haven & Hartford railroad under
the Sherman antitrust law, Charles 5
Mellen obtained permission to make a
statement in regard to the documentary
testimony introduced by the govern
ment Thursday relative to the political
activities entered into in behalf of the
road by John NJ. Hall, former vice pres
ident. This was in the form OF Letters
written to Hall, Il want it to be
known" Mr.. Meilen said, that / merely
identified the signatures to these let
tiers. had not the remotest idea OF
their existence until yesterday. / was
paralyzed to discover that ] had been
for ten years within reaching distance OF
these letter press copy books and was
not blown up. | had no connection with
these matters, direct or indirect"
@And did you ever hear" asked R. v.
Lindabury, of counsel for the defence
"of their coming to the knowledge OF any
director?"
II never had occasion to refer to them
nor do | know of any officer or director
that did," Mr.. Mellen replied when OBJ
lection by the government had been over
ruled.
The alleged activities of Hall had to do
with preventing trolley competition with
the New Haven through action by the
legislatures of Connecticut and Rhode
Island. Mr.. Mellen, who had been on
the stand for seven days, was then tenn
porarily excused, the defence announcing
that they would not cross examine him
at this time. He was asked, however,
by the attorneys for the government
to remain in the court room for possible
of other documentary evil
dence.
The government then proceeded to
read more letters from Hall, taken from
a copy book previously admitted in evil
denee. In one, dated April 20, 1897, Hall
wrote to Judge William F. Helmey, a
Hartford attorney, asking him TO OPP
pose a proposition by the Connecticut
Western railroad to issue bonds. Hall
wanted Helmey 10 appear before com
mittee of the legislature where the APP
plication Of the road was TO be heard.
~ wish you'd undertake TO appear
against this scheme of building" the
letter read. 81 desire 10 beat this bill
il possible. Please confer with Robbins
and concoct the best scheme possible"
Hall advised that Heimey get local wit.
nesses TO testify against the undesira.
bility OF the bond issue which was 70 pro-
vide for the construction Of competl-
ave branch line. 81 don't desire TO show
our hand openly" the letter added.
In May, 1897, Hall wrote TO Henry c.
Robinson Of Hartford, then a director Of
the New Haven, who according 10 let
ters introduced Thursday, had charge
Of matters around the capital" The let
ter revealed that Heimy's efforts had
been fruitless. Hall sug-
gested means whereby the construction
Of the line could nevertheless be de.
feated. He thought an appeal in the
courts could be taken (which would be
useful in delaying proceedings" He
pointed out that il might be finally TAX
en- 10 the supreme court. The missiye
pointed out that the proposed line would
connect with the Boston a Maine and
divert business from our line" Hall
advised against the appearance Of Ed
ward ID. Robbins in the matter on behalf
Of the New Haven. 1T does not seem
wise OF prudent 10 have a director APP
pear in this matter" he wrote.