New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-30
BOATS BROKEN UP
BY NEW HAVEN
TO END RIVALRY
Minutes Read to Show
Purchase of Lines and
Destruction of Vessels.
WELLEN "PARALYZED"
BY LETTERS, HE SAYS
F>plairs he Didn't Know Cor
tents Of Papers limiting at B7jc
orv. Which dc-ilai Identified.

crv. Which dc-}Ia1 Identified.
Following testimony as 90 tho meth
,.-of .hc New Ha-oa n absorbing rival
,.r,s4s and snothcrirg corret.'ion
,-m 'ceal electrical lines, The govern
,.e.. attorneys IN the trial o. former
"a Haven directors began yesterday
., Introduce matter showing how. a
..ey contend. he monopoly Of all New
rne'snd transportation facilities was
,orrlc.cd by the acquisition Of com
re..rg steamboat lines and the destruc-
..o- q some OF their boats.
Charles $ Nelicr. former president
- the New Haven. was excused tenn
,orar.ly as :he governments witness.
Before retiring from the stand he
ssked pe~mission 20 make p statement.
Aopsrently he had worried about ev'-
6ence produced the day before tending
% show that bribery was resorted TO
ty legislative agents 20 forward bills
g, which the New Haven was inter
e.,ed
OF was shocked" Mr. Mellen said. "to
End that in the records Of yesterday
vas used 20 identify document, and
...rers Of John VI. Hail read nere yes
.erday had 10 personal knowledge
directly OF indirectly, Of those letters
or their contents
II cannot rest easy n the belief that
Gil IMPRESSION should get out even TO
,-e r-.ri.iated that ] knew anything
about those letters. am paralyzed
- learn that for ten years ] was WITHIN
reaching distance Of the cases contain
no chose letters and was not blown
4 Surprise TO Him.
.Yoc did not know Of those letters ''
ss,ed X. Y. Lindabury, o. counsel for
che defence. DO you know whether
7rv Of the defendants knew abou, those
l.-tcrs and their contents ~
OF don't believe any Of them knew
,-og. them" Mr. Mellen Sold. 81 do
DOM they were complete surprise TO
--"
On this the defendants counsel
ought 10 have the letters stricken out
hr- as the only function which McHen
lad served in the introduction or mem
Us evidence was IN tho formal identln-
cation Of the signatures. they were al,
lowed 20 remain, as his ignorance OF
ne contents did not affect hif ability
On recognize tho signatures.
FROM the same railroad archives
I~ank u Swacker, Of government coun-
sol. continued TO read INTO me record
.-r.1cr letters from John " Hall The
.cawbcat buying activities began ~
300. whom Ir. Hall had been elevated
go .rc Off Of president o. the New
-rr.cu. Minutes Of the standing com
irt-cc OF the board Of directors were
,ead showing the authorization Of the
,..rrhase % the New Haven Steamboat
COMPANY for the purpose OF its phys
i.oI destruction.
Further minutes were read showing
shat after u had been bought, the Mar
-ausett Day Line. Of the company
r-. been discontinued and q resolution
r..eed providing for the sale or break
u. uu Of It's steamboats,, the Prorl-
cccce. the Narragansett and the Con
t.rertGl. "to insure that they should
not be used further FOR steamboat
purposes"
Destruction Of Boats Ordered.
4 later letter from Mr.. Hall 20 the
r,er superintendent was read, contain
M orders 20 him 20 carry out this
work o. destroying the three boats.
During these years. according 20 the
prosecution. the efforts TO crush cleo
nc traction competition continued. A
letter dated February 10, 1899. from
Mr Hal 90 Edward D. Robbins, OF
counsel for the New Haven. one OF the
rresent defendants, read:
we have been having some very
expensive and interesting litigation
with the Fair Haven & Westville com
p,ny concerning their tight TO cross
our tracks az Belle Dock. The case
LAS been 20 the Supreme Court once
and guess is on its way there sec
ond time Henry Stoddard, OF New
Haven. is representing Us IN the case
I'VE desire that nothing shall be got
through the Legislature In any way IN
'srferlag with our rights in this mat
Ter OF confirming their rights under the
New Haven street railway, or giving
them any rights whatever in our htl-
cation with them; and ! desire 20 call
your especial attention 70 the heces
sity OF watching the Fair Haven &
Wsstille Company in legislative mat
'srs. and would like 10 get copies OF
ne bills as soon as you ascertain JUST
What they seek.
hid Not Wish To BE Caught Mapping.
This matter is very important, and
!, would be well 20 watch general
legislation as well as special matters
sssed for BY them. as ! mistrust that
hey will attempt in some sly way to
accomplish their fendish designs. and
We Go not wish 10 be caught mapping
Two years later Mr.. Hall wrote an
other letter which was put in evidence
showing his faith ia the Legislat as
an adjunct 10 practical railroad opera
ion. lie wrote 20 William d. Bishop
la regard 20 a drawbridge benefit de
sre6 for the company, saying;
-. e.yaral 0uSyfpra