New Britain herald., 1915-12-28
JUDGE HUNT DENIES MOTIONS TO DROP
 NEW HAVEN CASE
Also Refuses to Strike Out TeSti- mony Relating to Metro
 poitan Steamship Deals
IN WHICH EDWARD D.
 ROBBINS IS INVOLVED

ROBBINS IS INVOLVED Court Grants Motion to Strike From
 the Testimony a Letter Written tc the Defendant Charles F. Brooker
 by John M. Hall, Former New
 Haven President, in Alleged Sup
 pression of Trolley Lines.
 New York, Dec 2S.-Judge Hunt denied today the motions of the de- fense to dismiss the case against Will liam Rockefeller and ten other former directors of the New York, New Ha- ven and Hartford Railroad on trial charged with conspiracy to monopo- lize the transportation traffic of New England.
 Judge Hunt also denied the motion to strike out the testimon ony relating to the Metropolitan Steamship deals, which involved Edward D. Robbins.
 Denied Without Prejudice.
 The defendant, Robbins was for uCIly Scuc1dl COuLScl OI CIlS IN0W 11a- ven. In rendering his decision re- garding the Metropolitan testimony, the court said that the motion was de- nied without prejudice to it's being submitted again at later stage of the trial.
 The court granted a motion to strike from the testimony letter written to the defendant Charles F. Brooker by John M. Hall, former president of the New Haven in connection with the al- legged suppression of trolleys. The letter requested Brooker to make use of his political influence in Connecti- cut to prevent the construction of a trolley line.
 Trial Is Resumed.
 Judge Hunt rendered his decisions At the resumption of the trial today atfer spending the holidays in study ing the arguments on the motion made by both sides last week.
 The defense then began the presen- tation of it's side of the case, calling as it's first witness E. Dana Malone of Boston, attorney general of Massa- chusetts at the time of the Boston and Maine acquisition.
 No Opening Statement.
 The defense omitted the usual open ing statement to the jury. It was stated that the attorneys did not ex- pect to occupy more than two or three days in the presentation of their case.
 Malone testified that he was called into consultation by Governor Draper in connection with the Boston Rail- road Holding company bill which, when afterward enacted by the Mas legislature in 1909, gave legal sanction to the acquisition of the Boston and Maine by the New Haven.
 Malone Drew Up Bill.
 Malone said that he drew up the oill. Timothy F. Byrnes at that time vice president and legislative agent of he New Haven, came to the witness office on one occasion, Malone testified, md made some suggestions in writing on the bill. Some of them, the wit ness said, he adopted. He could not recall precisely what they were but said the notifications that resulted were slight. He consulted with no other persons connected with the New Haven, he said.
 The witness denied on cross exam nation that he had consulted with Governor Draper or anybody else as o who would be president of the Boston and Maine, if the bill were enacted.
 Identifies Minutes. Arthur P Russell, of counsel for the 1 New Haven and formerly connected 1 with the old New York and New Eng | and Railroad when the latter road l vas independent, identified directors | minutes of the New York and New England dateing, back in 1881, and of James Fl. Wilson. president of the New England at that ime.
 By this documentary testimony it vas revealed that the New York and New England sought to lease the New Haven and that negotiations therefor were in progress until 1886. This is he road by the acquisition of which n 1894, the government charges the Jew Haven with suppressing it's com 'etition.
 Ledyard Takes Stand.
 Lewis Cass Ledyard then took the tand in his own defense. He de- cribed his bart in the acquisition by he New Haven of the Boston and 1aine. At the time the New Haven rst acquired Boston and Maine stock n 1907, Ledyard said he was direct r of the Boston and Maine, repre- enting 109,OOO shares controlled by he American Express Co.
 The nrst suggestion which came to i'm for the sale of the stock to the lew Haven was from Richard Olney, ormer secretary of state, he said then