The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-15
100000 WORDS
BY MELLEN ENDED
New Haven Testimony Shows
Marvellous Memory Of the
Former President.
A.. LAWRENCE on STAND

Charles s. Mellen stepped own yes
teriay from the witness stand in the case
Of the eleven former directors Of the
New Haven road. charged with con-
spiracy. after thirty-nvc days Of Ques-
tions and During that time
! either as the chief witness for the Gov
| eminent or the chief witness for the
defence-being both at the same time
his testimony written and spoken assre-
gated a little more than one million
! words. according TO the photographers.
Throughout the multitude Of ques-
tons involving in detail matters ended
years ago. not more han fifty times was
ber.' Court attendants as we'll as u
sci pronounced his testimony the great
est feat Of memory In their experience.
Mr.. Mellen concluded his long session
by reiterating that instead Of monopoliz-
| ing traffic the New Haven opened New
| England to the railroads OF the entire
country on equal terms. The Grand
| Trunk had the same opportunity to do
business that all other lines did and
New England benefited by better service
and lower rates.
lItlhUI d. - NbN VI ~, ~
Gen. Samuel Lawrence of Medford.
| Mass, was such a willing witness that
ne got several packages OF papers mixed
up and spent the greater part or his
time on the stand looking for docu-
ments. Gen. Lawrence was the largest
individual stakeholder OF the Boston ana
Maine Railroad and his son was clerk OF
the corporation or secretary OF the board
AZ II would be In any other State ex-
cept Massachusetts.
1t was not exactly apparent why the
Government called Mr.. Lawrence. but
as near as could be ascertained he was
clerk Of the board In 1907. when news
papers reported that the New Haven was
after the Boston and Maine and that
he and his father asked Lewis Cass Led
yard to see about II. Mr.. Ledyard being
the representative OF the American Ex-
press Company stock.
There was some discussion about the
situation at a meeting on May Is. 1907.
and the minutes Of that meeting con-
tained this statement r facilitate
certain operations referred TO in the
+! public press and at present no doubt III
the minds OF the directors. but which he
would not specifically allude to. so that
in fact II put on the witness stand he
could say under oath that the subject
had not been discussed" This. Mr.. Law
renee swore. was put In at the ~instigation
Of Mr.. Ledyard.
Mr.. Lawrence admitted that at a sub
sequent meeting Mr.. 1Rdyard had pro-
tested that he had made no such state
ment that the matter was Improperly
on the record and that the board by vote
asked him for his resignation. which he
refused to give. Richard Olney. ex-
Secretary Of state. was one or the d.
rectors present.
Mr.. Lawrence testified before the In
terstate Commission and he
had been charged with having retained
Louis Rrandeis TO prevent the deal OF
1907, which was done. II was Thought
that this might be developed on cross
examination. hut when that time came
the defence smilingly bade Mr.. Law
renee good afternoon.
Everoy NJ. Davis. a lawyer. testified to
a visit Of Gov. Hin Of Maine. in which
the Governor asked him to find out "
the Metropolitan Steamship Line was
for sale. The trial will 70 on to-day.