The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume], May 13, 1914, Image 1

About The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917

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VOL. 50 NO. 114
BRIDGEPORT CONN WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1914
PRICE TWO CENTS
MOST PUISSANT ,
GRAND MASTER IS
BRIDGEPORT MAN
V
i
$2,000 Suit For Loss Of
Tortoise On Slow IV. H.
Train Drags To Trial
HI '
IBEETA PLANS;F0R;
CARTER
MELLEN TO '
i!
p
f
(I
HAS FORTIFIED
PUEBLO FOR A
FINAL BATTLE
Provisional President Real-
izes Hi Regime Is Near
. "Its Fall
PLANSVTO GO OUT IN
ALL GLORY POSSIBLE
Heavy -Firing at Tampico
Believed, to Presage
Rebel Victory )
Washington, May 13 That
General Huerta, preparing for
a crisis in his dictatorship,, has
long been planning to. leave
3fexico City with his troops and
make a last stand at Puebla.
midway between Mexico City
and Vera Cruz was understood
today to have been tblcf Presi
dent Wilson last night by Nel
son , O'Shaughnessy, . former
charge of the American enibasr-
ey ii the. Mexican capital, v V
Heavy firing .t Tampico wa&
resumed at midnight , and ! the
' constitutionalists gay that they
expect to capture TanipmoL to
day, according to r a despatch
. received at the . navy ' depart
ment,' from Admiral Mayo. ' He
reported that "the general im
pression seems to be" that -the
' expectations of ."the constitu
tionalists will be realized.
.The President. It is said today, was
informed that Huerta. . had picked
, '!Puetla for his last refuge in case- refo
, el assailants get too' close to Mexico
and that late . developments ' in thu
revolution had caused him already to
begin " fortifying ... and provisioning
"Iiiebla. f
Mr. O'Shaughnessy Is said to have
told the President that Huerta had
no intention of resigning but realized
-Chat his regime could not stand long.
. 'At Tuebla, according, to plans said
;to have been determined upon
months ago, he. would fight rather
j than consent to elimination.
''HX7ERTAS FORE EXAGGERATED
Realizing that he eventually must
. ;te deposed, Huerta, it is said, desires
i to acquire as much glory as possible
rbef ore tne inevitable happens.
Mr. O'Shaughnessy Is said further
,o have told the President that ' the
number of troops Huerta has at his
command is greatly exaggerated-and
..- - . t hat, as a matter of fact, they num
ber only 4,000 to 6,000 men. , Neither
. Zapata, nor Villa would .have any dif
ficulty In taking the , city,: is under
stood to be the view Mr. O'Shaugh
aiessy expressed. - '
His information is along the line
jof other reports reaching the govern
ment within the last few weeks. Fur
ther information from these sources
Is that Huerta has been - shipping
Wold abroad in . contemplation of his
Lltimate exit.
Mexico City Refuses
-To Forward Mail Bags
Washington, May 13 The state
. department today . received further
a-eports from Vera Cruz stating that
the Mexican authorities refuse to de
liver mail from Mexico City and that
tow 250 sacks are lying scattered
Along, the -tracks from 'Te jar a, k
Silliman Is Safe - '
Under Soldier Guard
Washington, May 13 The French
Jpmbassy today received advices from
the. French legation: in Mexico City
that tJnited States Vice-Consul John
R. Silliman, who had .been held by
"federal authorities in Saltillo, w,as on
4ila way -to . Mexico City under guard.
I- At Mexico City, Silliman will be
turned over to the Brazilian minister
t.nd allowed .to proceed to Vera Cruz.
!AKLT KESPOXSE URGED
TO G. A. It. INV1TATIOX
The 'committee of Elias Howe, Jr.
;3Post, No. 3, G. A. R., having in charge,
lth arrangements for Memorial Day
lobservances have extended invitations
h.o all tha, marching organizations that
Iliad in previous years participated in
fthe Memorial Day services and also
.other societies and organizations, it
-!being the desire of the committee to
Iznake this year the 'banner year in the
jdisplay of appreciation to the veteran
etoldlers and sailors of tha war of 'pi
65. ' "
A ntomber of these, organizations
liave not as yet responded and it is
desired that all that have, not replied
.notify the committee at the earliest
date possible in order that the pro
Brtm may bs completed. ,
ROYAL AND SELECT
MASONIC MASTERS
- ELECT OFFICERS
Two , Bridgeporters Are
' Given High Places In , . ;
' v Grand Council v
Hartford, . May 13. Masons of hlgi
defgree from all over Connecticut
gathered at Masonic Temple today for
attendance--on the 06.th7annual' assem
bly, of the, grand council, Royal .and
Select Misters ; ff Connecticut. '. The
23 subordinate .-Councils ' were repre
sented by delegates and. there were
also several grand officers present.
Most Fuirnt. Grand t Master Burton
H. Strickland, of New Haven, presid
ed.. . '.' :- ' ' ' ' "" .' .
Grand Master .Strickland, in his ad
dress, reviewed the work-of the year
and Tref erred to the" death; of Rev. Dr.
Isaac F". Stidhani-iarid Edmund .Twee
dy, pastpuissant grand and .past most
puissant grand masters; He gave a
summary, of visitations, saying he had
risited everyr co-uncil in the state dur
ing ' the ' four years now ending in
which he ' has served as official vis
itor. " ' '. . - I-"'-. " '
Deputy . Grand , Master William Ci
Twombly of Norwalk, reviewed the
six official visits made toy him. . Simi
lar reorts"; were made- by Thrice Il
lustrious t Grand Master William O.
Shelley, of Hartford, and Grand ITin
cipal Conductor of Work S3. A- Bil
well, of . Jiforwicjh. The report of Grand
Treasurer 1 Isaiah Baker, Jr., of; Hart
ford, showed expenses of J1.033 and a
balance of $f,191. on hand. - . .
Grand Recorder- James. MCormick,
of Hartford, reported S36 members re
ceived, four .admitted and reinstated
an-d 105 deaths. " The net gain for the
ypar was. 214 and . th' "present 'mem
berjhp.;in.lth rta; 5,897. Thfe report
of tfie. grand , trustees 'shows invested
funds of $306. ': -n,""'T ' . :. r-.'V:.-.. '
Officers fleeted were: Most puis
sant grand master, William C Twom-
bly, Norwalk ; : deputy puissant grand
master, William O. Shelley, Hartford;
thrice illustrious grand master, ipX Al
len Bid well, Norwich; illustrious prin
cipal -conductor of work, Thomas jM.
Barnes, "Bridgeport -grand treasurer,
Isaiah Baker, Jr., Hartford ;"graii.d re
corder . James MteOormick, Hartford;
grand captain of guard, Henry H.
Bradley, New Haven ; grand conduct
tor,. BX , W. Ward, re itlyn, Eanbury;
grand' trustee, four years, Stephen
Goodsell, Winsted. v .
Appointmetns made were:
Grand chaplain, the Rev... Charles
W. 1 Boylston, Riverside; 'grand stew
ard, Wilbert Ij. JBabcock, : Wfcterbury ;
grand ' sentinel, William ' A. . Durant,
New 'Haven, t,' '. ,-., ; -., ;. ; i:
LIQUOR AflO VOTES
FOR WOMEH BILL
WILL BE DELAYED
; - - . :.:-v;-- --i i
(By our Special Correspondent.) V,
Washington, May 13 There will-be
no suffrage or- prohibition- legislation
this session..,. Leader Underwood - told
the party caucus last night that the
President ? wanted" the anti-trust bills
passed .this term and' it was agreed
to give them the right of way. . If
the Senate does not p.ass the, anti-trust
bills .by the 'middle of July, it is said
to be' agreeable- to the President- that
Mr.' iUnderwood shall introducea res
olution to adjorn.
The measures affecting rum and wo
men cannot, get a look ; iir from the
rules committee. : They could get on
the calender for .Wednesday if the
filibuster of Donovan1 of Connecticut
and ..Bartlett of Georgia, a few' weeks
ago had not resulted- in the bill for
the codification of the laws getting
on the.-calendar Sot that hour, y
The hill is so long that it wdl'prob
ably. use,-of - all of the Wednesdays
of this session , as well as some 6f
next. " . - .
HOUSE PLANS FOR
PASSING WILSON'S
ANTI TRUST BILLS
Washington, Maya 3 The House to
day began -adjusting itself to the new
legislative program of ' concentration
on anti-trust .bills and appropriation
measures with adjournment in con
templation possi'bly by July 10.
House leaders, , under the program
(.adopted at be expressed wish, of
President -Wilson will insist that the
Covington anti-trust bill, the Clayton-anti-trust
bill and the Rayburn bill
for federal . regulation of railroad
stocks and bonds 'be passed in the or
der named or at least voted upon and
sent over to the Senate.
OPEN AIR MEETING
TO BEAT BIG DEBT
- Representative Lynn W. Wilson ad
dressed some 400 persons, against
heavy bonding, in an. open air meet
ing opposite the center gate of the
American Graphophone Co's plant.
Railroad avenue at noon, today. (Ho
was accompanied by Rep. John- Hi
MeMurray, . - -
. Boston,. May 13 -After a delay
of thirteen years, a suit for. 92,000
damages for the loss of tea FCua
dorean tortoises, which died while
being shipped from. San iVancisco
to Boston, is on trial today , v .
The taking of depositions, from
witnesses in various- parts of the
world bad cactsed nnmeroua post
ponements, '
'". ;The snit was brought toy F. ' S.
Webster, a taxidermist, against the
Sew l?oi-k, New Haven and Hart
ford Railroad on the ground that
the deptt h of the tortoises was due
to their detention in a freight car
...
dnring.an excessively warm day., .
CIVIC BUYING
AGENT HILL BE
NEW $3,500 JOB
Mayor Wilson Plans to
AboUsh feoard of Con-,
' tract and Supply
NINTH DISTRICT MAN
TO SUCCEED CATUN
Ordinances to Bring : About
-Change May Go to Com
' mon Council Monday
Af t i - Vat job is to be created by
the n itration, i There is a plan
un.dit- ft Aeration by Mayor. Wilson
now i i e abolishment of the board
of cot tr.tct and supply and the creation
of the office of purchasing agent . with
a salary of, $3,500.- "Mayor Wilson, has
not namedf, a successor to William r.-
Kirfe, -who recwntW, iesignod, from tne
contract b03rd'. It ;.i reported! he,
wtll not name a successor to-Mr. Kirk
$nd that within a Short tinje he will
submit to the common council tne
draft -of an ordinance to permit the
plan outlined above. v in fact, it was
rumored about city hall today that
Mayor Wilson had this draft ready
and that he , would present it at the
meeting of the Common ; Council,
Monday hignt. -'-Vr , ,
When asked, about the matter today
Mayor Wilson denied that he -as pre
paring such an ordinance. . . He in
dicated ' that he favored 1 the abolish
ment of the eontract,board and the
creation of a purchasing agent.
"I, have always tried to . make" It
plain that I am in favor of a single
headed , commissions," V declared the
mayor. "It- expedites matters to Jiav
departments . conducted ; by one man.
I think the board of contract and
supply has amply justified the reasons
for. creating it. .A purchasing agent
could simplify the work now " done by
the board." : .!..' :
. The mayor would not 'admit that he
contemplated, abolishing the -board nor
would he deny it.; . Itvis well known
that William E. SeVley, who. is a mem- .1
ber of the board, favors the plan for
the purchasing - agent. ' The work" of
the board . claims so much of 'the time
of its members that Mayor; Wilson has
had considerable .difficulty" in '; getting
men; to serve on that ; body. ; It is
reported that there i is i-jfriction be
tween -Mr." Seeley and' Norman Leeds,
who is", the other member of the, board
and this is one refison; why; .the mayor
wants to put the board out of com
nHssion. . . . .. '-, -.
iT.t is understood that if the board, is
abolished and a purchasing agent ap
pointed, 'the agent will not be George"
u, catlm, the present clerk of the
ooaro. wnose salary is sz.400 per year.
Mr. Catlin's methods of securing bids
Lon city workand supplies have brought
numerous complaints to Mayor Wilson
and the - members - of , the contract
board. So loud and persistent have
these claims been that Mayor Wilson
has decided it will be forthe best in
terest of his administration to get rid
oi Mr, Catlin.
The man said to be picked for pur-"
chasing agent Is a prCminent" Republi
can worker in the Ninth district. He
has never had any experience in that
work but his sponsors claim he will
make good if given the-place.
;With the salaries of the two. clerks
now employed ; in the office the in
cidental expenses, etc., it is pointed out
that the' expense of maintaining ; this
department will be about $7,000. . Tax
paye js 'are' una'ble to see where- the
board of. contract and supply or the
.purchasing agent can save the , city
enough to pay the expenses of the de
partment let alone save anything for
the city. ., .
YOUNG BURGLARS
UT ON PROBATION
'Judge Gager in the criminal su
perior court this morning, passed sen
tence in a number of local cases. Fred
Clinton charged with breaking ; into
Jacob B. Zettman's store on Stratford
avenue was sentenced to jail for six
months. He was charged with taking
$23 in cash and some goods.
Jacob Shurin, who stole goods worth
$475 from the Main street jewelry store
of Max Boas, was, sentenced to the
State reformatory for one year..
, . William Doyt and Walter Phillipson,
two youngsters who .burglarized a
store in the West End, were sentenced
to the reformatory but Judge Gager
suspended sentence and placed them
on probation until February, 1915. -
Robert Suckley and Robert .Thomp
son, two old offenders who burglarized
a North Main street store; were ach
sent to jail for 30 days.
FORGE
Acting State's Attorney No
Party to Hush Conspiracy
. In pe Martiho Case ,
"WHO SAYS POLICE
HAD NO EVIDENCE?"
Capt. of Detectives Arnold
Makes Puzzling State
ment and Stops
- . .
More or less sensational ' disclosures
were made today. -iy ' those connected
with the Siemon-DeMartino case when
the confession of. Slemon, published
elsewhere In the Farmer, disclosed the
fact that this case had been placed
before t the prosecutor and . police at
least a year - agOi ' and possibly even
before that time. s -.' '
it - was denmteiy ascertain mi
the-, cause of the.' present rlvival was
forced by Assistant States Attorney
Galen Carter, - to whom - information
concerning those culpable was"brought
less than 'a , week ago and . who at
onx;e demanded that an. investigation
of the facts be made in a. public man.
ner rather than in star-chamber
hearings which had already been stag
ed and which It had been hoped would
foreyer close the doors- of public in
vestigation. . " ;. . V
- The status of the case today 18 sum
marifled as follows: Carl F. Siemon,
head of' the Siemon Hard Rubber cor-,
poration, ' prominent in cluh circles,
ahd living on Clinton avenue, was re
turning from a. foot-ball game at New-
Haven on the night of October 29, -1810. :
In the ear with . him" "rere Elmer ts.
Thrall, purchasing agent of-' the Bry
ant Electric Company of 67 .Lenox ave
nue, James Neilson, formerly master
mechanic of the , Bryant jUlectric -Co.,
now a resident, of -New York .and
Clarenice A. Bates, living at-1343 Fair
flld s.vemm .f
- A-- they -sped. upainel avennemv
a large touring -car, they - approached
Grove treet, where Angelo- DeMar
tino," a. barber's supply salesman, evi
dently stepped from the .curb and was
struck by" the" car. V - - ' :
According .to testimony given by-R.
Bertram Van Ness ,a witness, to offi
cials investigating the case at the time
he was - struck " by the front of the
machine, . tossed away from the ma
chine", which caught him- again and
tosed him to the curb as it sped on.
There was an electric light almost -directly
over4 the spot ' where he was
struck, r J His skull was crushed and
his legs horribly mansed and broken.
Siemon and .- his party conspired, to
keep the facts secret; because his wife
was seriously ill . in' Bridgeport hos
pital. r The others, apparently, for un
known reasons. ' - ; - , :: .-
Detective' Sergeant Edward Cronan
was detailed - to , investigate and his
search for the guilty parties led him
to Hamilton, N.. Y., where it was be
lieved . a party of Colgate " students
might throw ; light '.upon, the affair.
The case dragged., on for months with
out progress. " -' ' '. ' x
' Sometime in the .early; part of 1913,.
over - a year after the, accident, Carl
F. . Siemon is supposed to' have felt,
the qualms of -conscience and to have
appealed to his attorneys,. Shannon ,&
Wilder, for advice." 1 1 rr- -r
. Attorney Frank L. Wilder, "a deputy
judge of the' eity court;;' is believed
to have advised that he give himself
tip to the authorities. . Attorney. Shan
non', is known to have approached the
authorities with a'corrfession fromSle-
mon to the. effecf . that hi was , pro
ceeding about 15 miles per hour and
had seen a man standing-in the street,
but believed .that he had missed him
and without looking further proceeded'
to his home. -'V This statement was
corroborated by Clarence A. . Bates and
Elmer. G. Thrall. . ' ; f
The prosecuting official-... asked the
police what they had ascertained and
was told "THERE? WAS NOT
ENOUGH CRIMINAL EVIDENCE
UPON WHICH A CONVICTION
COULD' BE BASED." 'The matter, was
apparently ' dropped. ' - - , ' ;
Attorneys Shannon & Wilder then
began to effect a. settlement e with the
DeMartino widow, to- whom it is alleg
ed $1,000 was voluntarily given by Sie
mon. This statement . though corrob
orated by. paid- checks in the posses
sion of the attorneys, apparently ' en
dorsed by v the woman herself, is dis
puted by - Mrs; DeMartino.
' Statements made today by the vari
ous -authorities and others connected
with the case are as follows:
Galen Carter.; "Information was
brought to me within a 'week' -which
disclosed who were in the car that
killed i DeMartino. I immediately
came to Bridgeport and laid the in
formation before the local authorities.
1 "I want it distinctly understood by
the - public that I had no previous
knowledge of the case and when 'in
formation was placed before me I did
not take a year or more to act."
. "I have not heard that- there was
Lany attempt" made at blackmail."
Prosecuting -Attorney Alexander
DeLaney: "I became acquainted with
this case about a year ago. "The po
lice declared that they did not have
sufficient information of a criminal
nature upon which to convict. The
matter has, now been placed in the
hands "of Coroner Phelan for inves
tigation and nothing can be done un
til his finding is filed.' -'
Superintendent of Police Eugene
Birmingham: "IJiavo nothing to say
publicly at this time."
Chief of Detectives, Captain George
Arnold, when questioned about ' state
ments made to the' effect that there
was no evidence to convict: "Who
said the police did not have evidr
ence ?" Then "I have nothing what
soever to say about this matter."
Sheriff Antonio R. Abriola: "At-
CContinued on Page 2.)
.1
f
'::-tfe;;
WILLIAM O. TWOMIiLY
At N:he annual assemblage of the
most puissant grand council of Royal
and Select Masters of Connecticut
held to-day in Hartford at' the Ma
sonic Temple, William C. Twembly",
general Joreman at the Ashroft Mfg.
Company, living at Norwalk, Conn.,
was. elected most puissant grand
master. - - .
Mr. Twombly, who- was born in
Boston-,- in 1863 was made a master
'mason in Isaac Parker Lodge, Fv& A.
jvi.. waitnam, Mass,, on September 3,
1889, In which lodge he has always
retained, his membership. - In189T'he
became a. member of. ' Rittenho"use
Chapter,.' R.' a. M.,, Stamford, and
was elevated to the ,"offlC8 of high
priest in 1906. . He previously had
been made a member of Washington
Council, Royal and Select Masons in
1897 in Stamford, successively filling
the office of T. I. Master during the
years , of 1963, 1904, 1905, 1906 and
1908. '? "- -.; r.Vv :-."'' - k -,- -...". .:; ;-'?,: i-'
In masonic circles he has ever heUl
an exalted position. He was first sent'
to the grand 1 council assemblage In
1903 and has attended".the grand body
ever" year" since. He -was .appointed
graiw -steward bjr Grand Master E. J.
Pooley and has been regularly:, ad
vanced. ;.;7-.--.;.ii-v.fv -i,- '- ...5 t;..i,j;;,
ryis ' tlie most "consistent, never hav
ing -failed at a masonic, appointment,
or in making a visitation. His elevar
tipn is not only the,reward of ser
vice but a great satisfaction to his
many friends throughout " the- state
not alone in Masonry .but in the var
rious other : orders") and walks of 15fe
with "which his; activities have been
identified. , -,:-'- ..-'-. " .
Besides being a mason of the. high
est standing, he is Past Grand of Rip
powam Lodge, I. O.- O. F., of Stam-'
ford,, and a; Past Exalted ' Ruler of
Stamford Lodge 899, B.. P. O. Elks
and vice president of the State Asso
ciation of Past Exalted Rulers. ; . ,- '
vIn private life he has followed the
profession of mechanic. ' Originally
I identified with locomotive construc
tion, later ne passed into the machine-tool
industry, thence into watch
construction and about ten years ns-j
before identifying himself with, the
Ashcrof t Manufacturing Company as
general foreman, was employed - iu
typewriter making. , ; . -
MR. SEELEY
HEADS BPT.
TRUST GO.
At a meeting of the . directors of the
Bridgeport Trust Company this morn
ing, at the office of the company,
Charles G. Sanford resigned from the
presidency vof the company . and was
subsequently elected; as chaftman. of
i,he board. Barnum ..Seeley, a for
mer vice-prescident," was elected to-the
presidency to fill . the vacancy left by
Mr. Sanford. '" Mr. Sanford .lias ' been
very - instrumental in placing the
Bridgeport Trust Company on the high
position of prosperity it has attained
since its 1 alliance iwith the Federal
Trust Company over . a', year " ago. d-Barnum.-See.ley,
(the new president was
at one time vice-president of V the
PequonnockNational . Bank . and-has
i been prominent . in 'financial circles
for. many years. v v:
j" Police Commissioner George S., Hill
was elected a director to fill a vacancy
in the board. iMri .Hill, who is con
nected with the Warner Bros. Com
pany, of this city, is very popular in
business, political and: social circles
and his connections should be a valu
able asset .to the company.- i
The various reports submitted to the
directors showed the-Trust , company
to ibe advancing with rapid strides and
.bore out the prophesy that Bridgeport
was soon to be the home of one of the
foremost Trust companies in New Eng
land. The officers of the company as
they now stand are : C. Barnum Seeley,
president; Egbert Marsh, vice-president;
Edmund, H. Judson," treasurer;
Horace B. Merwin, secretary. The
board of directors is composed of the
following: Charles G. Sanford. chair
man,. J. Percy Bartram, Isaac W. Bird
seye, Henry A. Bishop,: Nathaniel W.
Bishop,. George P. Brett, Waldo C.
Bryant, Arthur W. Burritt, Andrew M.
Cooper, Franklin Farrell, Jr., George
S. Hill, Hobart E. French, Robert S.
Hincks, Charles E. Hoyt, Edmund H.
Judscta, William B. Leigh, Egbert
Marsh, William. J." Nichols, Charles A.
Paul, Bradford. D. Pierce, Jr., Andrew
Radel, C. Barnum Seeley, Hamilton S.
Shelton, Horace W. Smith, DeVer H.
Warner, D. Fairchild Wheeler, Dwight
C. Wheeler Hobart R. Wheeler and
Peter W. Wren. . ' , ..-
Representative WaJsh of New' Jer
sey introduced a resolution asking an
appropriation of $20,000 to install elec
tric voting machines in' the House. -
1 c
-
.. ..'is- - - '
Folk, Counsel For Commission, Leaves
Attorney General In A Temper,
Declaring Former President 7ill
Testify In Billard Case Probe To
- Continue, Immunity Or No Im
munity'1 . Washingloii.May 13 Charles S. Mellen, former president
of the New ; Vbik, Ncav Haven & Hartford Railroad, will testify
tomorrow beford the interstate comemrce commission in iLs -ia-(juiry
into the New Haven's affairs, notwithstanding earlirr'I
dieations that the inquiry might, be ended lest immunity Ly
given witnesses. vTliis was announced by Joseph. W. Vclz
chief counsel for the commission, after a stirring confer : :?
with Attorney General IVIcReynolds. ,
i Following -adjournment of the hearing early in the C
Prosecutor Folk and Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Chord went to the attorney general's offices where Sen a '
Kern of Indiana and Norris of Nebraska had preceded them,
U, 'Within a few minutes McChord and Folk left the confer : . '
showing evidences of excitement. - ;Y i
Askedy why he,left Counsel Folk replied:v
.; 'The conduetiof Mr. HIcReynolds was such that we did ne
care to remain." "'".'';:'-' - ' ,''
' - '- -. . .- -. ;- i r : - . -.-"'" -''"''-"'-'.,-.'" -,- '-, " '
- ' .' f."' ."'-'.-. ' : " -';-. i
r Washington,' May 13 "It is my present intention to put
Charles S Mellen on the witness stand and examine him," sa id
. . - - - ....
Joseph W. Folk, chief counsel of the interstate commerce Com
mission who. is conducting the inquiry into the financial opera
tions of the Sfew Hayen and the Billard Company.'
''f Thijs statement was. made today by Mr. Folk in face of th
hjetitions raised by Attorney General McReynoldiytbi th i
limonyTof tlte. dator'pf trie -'New Havelv- mighty 'rencier th . o
immune frorrr prosecution in the event such proceedings were
considered necessary." '. '-'", v Y ;
! ; Mr. Folk dictated the following statement: '
; " "It is not a question of immunity but of whether the truth
frhall !-'b'e suppressed! . Mellen, as a witness, telling the truth,
would be'a thousand times more valuable to the public than
Mellen could pcssibly be as a defendant, f - v , - .
' j "The situation is now as it has been from the . beginning.
It is insisted that all witnesses having knowledge of the matters
under investigation be ,placed on ,the stand and they will b:
questioned without limitation as-to the . questions to be af,kch
The whole truth will be brought put if it is possible to do so n.
matter whom it hits. . ; . 1 '
1 ' :"The great question before the American people today is Id
secure honesty ,in the management of the railway systems of.th"
country! Tfe revelatioris already brought, to light inlhis inves
tigation and the further disclosures that Mr., Mellen and other
witnesses can make should be of immense value and resuit in
legislation that 'will cause it'to be just as grave acrime to plun
der the'public through a. corporation as it is now personally to
rob an individual." ' '
r At conference today with Attorney General McReynolds,
Mr. Folk pointed out that the-commission, in the pending pro
ceeding was operating under,a resolution, of the Senate direct
ing it to develop all possible facts concerning the financial oper
ations of .the New, Haven and that, manifestly, this direction
(ould not be "carried out' unless witnesses were examined who
were Conversant with the facts. ; -
:-."'': A final determination of the matter probaBly will be reach
ed later in the day. v ' V ' " -.J.CV-.When
'-'Examiner . Carl Gartner opened-the proceedings to
day he announced that all witnesses except 'Mr. Mellen, would
be excused until next Monday; Those excused included the di
rectors of the New Haven, Lewis Cass Ledyard, William Rocke
feller, George F, Baker and George "MacCulloch Miller and Sam
uel G Morehouse, attorney for the Billard Company. Mr. More
bouse is ill at his home in New Haven. - Mr. Ledyard, who was
present today, was given permission to appear next Tuesday in
stead of Monday. Word was received from Mr.-Baker that he
vas prepared to appear .whenever he was wanted.
, , An adiournment of the nearing was laKen unui tumun uw
At the outset of the conierence
which was ealjed to consider the ad
visability of -continuing the inquiry,
the attorney general declared that
the -whole matter was within control
of the commission. . Reference was
made to suggestions that had been
made that- the examination of Mellen
and' directors of the New Haven
might -give them. Immunity from ..pros
ecution as the result of an inveatiga
tion? being carried on by the depart
ment of justice. : , !
' ' aicReynolds Irotest.;
' Mr. McReynolds then, read a letter
sent : to the intterstate commerce com
mission yesterday in which he sug
gested that the commission consider
carefully the effect of the examina
tion of Mr. MeUen and. others in any
criminal prosecution which the gov
eminent might .desire hereafter to in
stitute. He then said his letter ex
pressd fully and clearly the position
in the ' matter he always had main
tained; that the question was in con
trol of the commission and that he
was content that it should determine
and pursue - ' whatever course it
thought would best serve the public
interest. . The letter referred to was as
follow: f .
. . "May 12, 1914
'interstate Commerce ' Commission,
Washington, I. C:
. ''Gentlemen: , On"- April 19 I wrote
you as follows: 'I am advised that
you have issued suppoena.ee for
Messrs. Charles S. Mellen, E. D. Rob
toins and perhaps others at some tlna
."ST0RY"0
. . , t i ....
M HAVEN BEAi
connected i with the New Torlt, New
Haven &, Hartford Railroad- company.
'"'I assum that you have in mind
possibility of examining them con
cerning the affairs of that railroad.
, "'In view of these, facts, it seems
riot inappropriate to suggest that you
consider very , carefully -the ' effect of
such' an examination upon ay crim
inal prosecution which the govern
ment may desire hereafter to insti
tute.' "Two or three dy ago I noticed is
the public press that you summoned
Messrs. Charles 9. ' MeUen, William
Rockefeller; George M'acCullach
ler, .Charles F. Brooker, EJdwin Mil
per, Lewis Cass - Iedyard, ieorgfc F.
Bake rand Edward T. Robbiua to '.ls
tify before ' you concerning matttia
relating to the affaire of tlie New
York, New Haven & "Hartford Rail
road company.
"Being temporarily .out of the q.ity,
I asked my assistants to call your at
tention to the possible unfortuna t'
effects of an examination of thr-S";
witnesses at- this time. Returning: to
my office this morning, I am informed
by them that they acted upon rriy in
structions and ji-dyisetl.with you -iu":y.
upon the subject;; '
"Of course, I have no desire to in
terfere with or to urge any objection
to the course you may deliberately de
cide upon;, but it seems my duty to
the government again to .suggest that'
you carefully consider along with -er
factors the effects which an
CContinued on Iag:e Iici