St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-01
The Signatures Of Elisha
Morse on Mum 9pou5 Prom
issory Notes.
At Least $4,000 OF These
Notes Out--BuS ness Hen
Getting Anxious.
Second Ward Citizens Make 1t
Warm for the Street Rail-
way Company.
They Propose to Find Out
Whether Transfers Can BE
Denied Them.

people who have been talking most
about 'forgeries," and calling George
A. Morse forger, have inserted foot
in it as far up as the middle third of the
tibia. Morse has not been proven a
forgor yet. The only tangible fact in
connection with this case, of which so
much has been said, is that negotiable
paper, variously estimated at from
$50, 600 TO 100000 in amount, is in exist
ence, and that the genuineneSS of
part or all of it is questioned.
Traced down, the stories which have
been ahoat in print and in gossip do not
resolve themselves into authentic, we'll
founded charges of forgery. lnveStlga-
ton shows that a good many people
who have shouted forgery" have
jumped at conclusions. This case. SO
far as can be learned. has more elements
of doubt in it than the famous Collom
case. Whether this case is case OF
criminal forgery or case of hitch III
business transactions cannot be told UNI
til George a. Morse consents to be i'll
terviewed or his father. Elisha Morse.
the nan whose name is said to
have been forged, can be heard
from definitely. Meanwhile. it is
y
formation. The holders of the paper
have been, and are now, trying to effect
a settlement. They have held several
meetings with that end in view. Henry
w. Brown, cashier of the NicOlieL Ma
tional bank, assured the other holders
of the paper that a settlement could be
made ii the names OF persons interested
were kept out of the newspapers. All
the newspapers agreed t. observe the
wishes of these gentlemen. The Trlb-
une, however, broke faith. Now the
holders of the paper fear that relief can
come only through litigation. But they
still have hopes and their hoUeS make
them cautious about talking of the
affair.
This questionable paper has been
negotiated through various sources. AS
has been stated before, the Union Ma
tional bank handled between $4,000 and
5000 Of it, the NicOlet National bank
somewhat more, and the Metropolitan
bank a little. Besides these, Jonas
Brown, e. W. Herrick and E. K. Chad
bOurn have handled good deal of it.
1t would seem that If this were a plain
case of forgery the fact could be
learned. But it can't. On some notes
made by George A. Morse and Endorsed
by Elisha Morse, payment has been re-
fused. So far as can be learned, Elisha
Morse has not specifically declared
that the Endorsements were not made
by him or by his consent. AS matter
of fact, some OF the signatures now
called in question have been examined
closely and have been pronounced gen.
uine heretofore. George A. Morse will
not say one word for publication.
Elisha Morse has not been heard from
ri off Ia N
from California as soon as possible. A
report was current yesterday that he
had already arrived. but that was UNI
true.
Meanwhile many theories are being
promulgated by those who scout the idea
that fOrgerieS have been perpetrated.
One theory is that George Morse has been
trying to cover up errors in Judgment in
placing investments. Elisha Morse
made fortune in Minneapolis, prihci-
pally in real estate. When George came
out of college he went into business
with his father. They did all extensive
loan business. Morse, the elder, had
Away made it rule to give to each
Fisherman whose money he invested
in Minneapolis personal guarantythat
the investment was safe. George did
tie same. Gradually the old gentle
the business. 1t it possible that
the slump in Minneapolis real es-
tate few years ago left the firm
out of pocket. Rather than confess to
his father errors of judgment, George
may have sought to cover his mistakes
by taking up the original Endorsements
and renewing the loans on his own IN
dolsement. From such course as to
the present ENHANCEMENT would have
been easy. This is one theory advanced.
One story in circulation yesterday was
that George had authority to make use
of his fathers Endorsement up to GER
tain amount, and inadvertently exceed
ed the limit. With this story comes the
assertion that George even now holds
power of attorney from his father.
Some people say that the old gentleman
has taken steps to stop Georges vent
ureS along certain lines until he can
put his own hand to the wheel. and that
misunderstanding resulted in the pres
ent ENHANCEMENT.
Men who knew Elisha Morse well, as
a rather testy, irascible old gentleman,
say that he is Just the sort OF man to
reply to all abrupt business letter which
might ruffie him in terms capable of
miSconStructiOn.
w. F. Campbell, of Hill, Sons 81 Co..
makes a statement that may throw
light on the case. He says that the Esd
of September last there was presented
to that bank for negotiation note
bearing the names OF the two Morses,
Elisha as maker, and George as
indorser The bank wired Mr..
Morse ST., in California, describing
the note, and received the re-
ply that he knew nothing of such note.
The reply was made known to George,
and few days afterWard the bank re-
ceived a letter from Mr.. Morse, stating
that his Geographic answer was merely
to defeat the negotiation of the note,
which he had intended should be used
for specific purpose.
These are theories advanced by sew
eral persons in the absence of definite
statement from George OF Elisha Morse
Some of the holders of the paper IN
sist that the Endorsements are really
forgeries, though cleverly executed.
But no particular piece of paper has
yet been poin ted out on which the in
dorsement is declared by Elisha Morse
or any one else to be forgery.
Gossip said yesterday that George
Morse'a business troubles were caused
by his association in business with John
f. Travis: that he was involved with
Travis to the amount of $4,000. Mr..
Travis denies this unequivocally. He
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