The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-28
SECRET PURCHASE OF. RIVAL BY NEW HAVEN OFFICIAL IS EXPOSED
Judge Heat0n Robertson Is Alleged to Have Held Se- cret Control Rival Line
 For Two Years

New York. October 27-Activities oi Judge Heaton Robertson of New Haven one of the Il former directors of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad on trial for alleged violation of the sherman antitrust law, figured today in the presentation of the government s case. He was represented ca having pur- chased secretly for the New Haven, the Meriden. Waterbury and Connecticut River railroad. line which John M. Hall, then vice president of the New Haven, thought should be swept off the face of the earth"
 Judge Robertson was said to have kept it for more than two years, turn ing Its rolling stock over to the New Haven meanwhile and finally the road itself under lease. This, it was stated, was after the patrons of the road had been complaining that it was no. op- erated and the New Haven management feared the real ownership would become known and make possible trouble in the Connecticut legislature unless the road were operated.
 Robbins Figures In Transaction
 '-N otN Ds lhODDiDS, Oiit OI Ile ueIenQ- ants, then attorney for the Meriden Waterbury and Connecticut River, figured In the transaction. The road had gone into the hands of receiver and Judge Robertson bought it in at the receivers sale in 1893. Hall wrote to Robbins asking him in whose name the check should be made.
 T would like to have it arranged SO that payment of the check should not be disclosed" he wrote; I don't see why Judge Robertson can't pay the cneck right to you.''
 Two years later Hall wrote to Henry c. Robinson, one of the then directors of the New Haven, asking his advice as to what to do with the Meriden road
 The question he wrote, involves one Of policy which it seems to me important to settle before it drifts into politics and gets us into position to do us possibly considerable harm in the next legislature Judge Robertson was the nominal purchaser and to a certain extent the public believes that he is the owner or represents a syndicate. This position however, can't continue long and the actual ownership will have to be revealed before great while either in the courts or in the legislature. I am confident if something is not done we shall find in the next legislature trouble on account of this matter and steps will be taken to force somebody to operate it or its charter will be forefeited.
 Roads Valuation
 sIt seems also to have a value for cleo trical purposes. It does not seem as if the New Haven can afford to give this property over to electrical competition. It seefns to me that we could open 1t with a very light and infrequent service without costing us a great deal and still retain ownership"
 The fact that 1t subsequently was leased by the New Haven was shown by the introduction of a minute of the board of directors.
 The disclosure that Louis Brandeis was attorney for the plaintiffs in the so-called Goldsmith suit which resulted in the New York and New England going into fore closure In 1885, was made to the jury to- day. The government alleged that this suit was prosecuted secretly at the behest of the New Haven. Additional testi- rmony indicating the New Haven's com- plicity was introduced with the reading of Guarantee of Identification made to Austin Corbin. the original instigator of the suit. by directors of the New Haven.
 We are informed" it read. ''that there Is ya proceedine or suit in Connecticut
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