The Washington herald., 1915-01-03
THREE FACE CRIMINAL TRIALS.
Former New Haven Directors Pleas
OverruIed by Judge.

New York, Jan. John L. Billiard,
James S. Elton and William Skinner,
formerly directors of the New York,
New Haven and Hartford Railroad,
must face trial on indictments by the
Federal grand jury on the charge of con-
nection with the recent dissolved New
Haven combine.
Judge William I. Grubb. of the crimi
nal branch of the United States Federal
Court. today overruled the pleas of i'm
munity interposed in the interest of Bill
lard. Elton and Skinner, to the indict-
ments. The maximum penalty if they
are convicted of violating the Sherman
antitrust act is one years Imprisonment
and a fine of $500.
The mel. are three of twcnty-One of
the ''old guard" OF the directors. whom
the Interstate Commerce Commission
recommended be held personally respOn-
sible for the losses suffered by the New
Haven. 1t was charged they held office
during those orgies of high finance
which brought the New Haven. the BOs-
ton and Maine, the New England in
vestors. and the New England travelling
pubic 10 lllt vel &c VI hiScASN'A-
sends Decision in Letter.
Judge Grubb heard the arguments on
the pleas Of Billiard, Elton and Skinner.
Word of the overruling of the immunity
pleas and the sustaining of the govern
ment demurrers arrived today by letter
to William Leary, clerk Of the United
States District Court, from Judge Grubb,
who is spending the holidays at his
home in Birmingham, Ala.
Judge Grubb stated that his opinion
giving his reasons for denying the pleas
would be sent later.
William skinner and James Elton assert
ed in their pleas that they were entitled
to immunity from prosecution because
of the testimony they gave regarding the
affairs of the New Haven company as
witnesses before the Interstate Commerce
Commission at its hearings into the
wrecking of the railroad, which was
held in Washington.
To the charges that they criminally
conspired to monopolize interstate COM
merce, Skinner and Elton answered:
That the names of the grand jurors
who heard the evidence and charged them
with criminal violations Of the law were
drawn by a deputy clerk instead of
the clerk of the court:
said Term Had Expired.
That the deputy clerk lives out Of the
Federal district-New Jersey;
That two stenogTaphers were unlaw-
fully present in the grand jury room dur
ing the hearing of the case;
That the term of the indicting grand
Jury had expired and should not have
been convicted.
Billiard rested his claims to immunity
on the ground that he testified before
the Interstate Commerce Commission at
its investigation of the affairs Of the
New Haven.
Much of the testimony given by former
President Meilen, Of the New Haven,
caused the Indictment of the three men.
who now must face trial. OF the men
and their dealings, Mr.. Mellen said:
JOHN L. BILLIARD.
O-Do you know why the board of
directors of the New Haven permitted
Mr.. Billiard to refund his obligations on
a 4 per cent basis instead of a per
cent?
wanted Interest Reduced.
A-You would have to know Mr.. Bill
lard to answer that. Mr.. Billiard was
always boning me to reduce the rate OF
interest. He wanted to make just as
much money as he could. That Is Mr..
Billiard. He never paid any more In
terest than he was Obliged. He was
looking, out for Mr.. Billiard all the time.
JAMES S. ELTON.
Mr.. MeIlen was asked II the New
Haven bought some Waterbury Gas