The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-10-22
THE MORSE ARSON TRIAL
THE STATE CLOSED ITS CASE YES
 TERDAY IN SUPERIOR COURT.

Testimony of the Prosecntion-Mr. Morse Put On the Stand in His Own Defence
 Was in New York When He Heard of the
 Fire the Next Day After Its Occurrence
 MT. Morse's Actions After the Fire.
 The state closed its case in the trial of John Morse for arson in the superior prise was furnished because MT. Morse, who was a strong witness against her husband in the city court was not call ed. The trial opened yesterday morn ing with J. w. Sperry, civil engineer, on the stand, who presented maps of the premises James w. Hemingway, of the Security Insurance company, told how excited MT. Morse was when he called at the office of the company the day before the fire to renew the pol icy on the house.
 Other witnesses for the state were Le Roy Clark and Sergeant Cowles.
 George Rogers, the photographer, was the first witness for the defence, and he presented photographs of the house taken four years ago. John Curley, a neighbor, valued the Morse furniture at $2,50O, and thought $1,5OO might be raised on it on a forced sale. Edward c. Beecher, the real estate dealer, said the Morse house was worth about $1,O0o All this evidence was put in to show that the accused could not gain any thing by firing his house, as the loss would be greater than the insurance money.
 The witnesses following MT. Beecher were c. s. Smith, Rev. J. B, Smith, who accompanied Morse to New York; l.. c. Gilbert, Coroner Mix, R. R. Palmater and c. H. Ryder. The latter was put on to prove that MT. Morse was in his office at the time he was said by the state to be on George street. Attorney Chase took the stand and testified that he drew up the bill of losses and submitted it to MT Morse for his signature. Morse had no knowledge of the bill until he was asked to sign it.
 Morse was put on the stand in his own behalf. He said that on the date of the fire and prior to it he lived at 512 George street. He recalled the in- cidents of the day. He was at the of- fee on Center street in the afternoon and went to his house about o'clock, when he and his daughter Minnie, ate supper. He left the house with his daughter about o'clock and went to the office Witness stated that he was in his office until about 10 o'clock. He then went to the house to get some things that he needed the next day, as he was going out of town He was going to New York on a busi- ness trip.
 Had you had any correspondence with a MT. Hunt an insurance agent in New York city?" X
 Object" said the state attorney. The court sustained the objection.
 MT Chase then said Did you go to New York that night?"
 This question was answered adirma- lively and the witness was allowed to continue his testimony.
 He said II got back to the office about 1O:3o o'clock. MT. Ryder came in the office a few minutes after I arrived at the! office We conversed a short time and he went out in about ten min- utes. It was then between 16:3o and II o'clock. 7"
 What were you doing while MT. By der was there?''
 Talking to him." the witness replied.
 "No one else came in my office after MT. Ryder went out. As soon as he went out I got my things and started toward the boat"
 What do you mean by things?" asked Mir. Chase Wearing apparel or papers needed in your busness?"
 Both, answered the witness
 Where did you go from the officer" said the attorney
 "To the corner of Chapel and State streets'
 The witness said that he did not see anyone until he reached the car and there found the Rev J Balfour Smith They went to the boat together and witness bought a ticket and stateroom Witness took his things to the state room and then went out on the upper deck and leaned over the railing to watch the men load the freight. The witness said that the Rev. Mir Smith occupied the same stateroom. He left MT. Smith early Thursday morning on the boat MT. Morse could not tell what time MT. Smith went to bed.
 MT. Morse said that he heard of the fire about 10:30 o'clock Thursday morn ing in the office of Insurance Agent Hunt in Temple Court, New York city The witness said that he received a telegram stating that there had been a fire at his house. The state objected to evidence being admitted unless the telegram was produced.
 The court asked MT. Chase why he had not produced the telegram. The attorney stated that he had not been able to get it, but he wouid make motion to have the evidence allowed if he were able to get the telegram. which he then expected to do.
 MT. Morse said he left New York on the first express train that he could reach. When he arrived at his home witness said that he found two men there. He did not at the time know either of them. Had heard the name of one of them since.
 Going back to the evening of the day before, MT. Chase asked the witness if he was walking on the south side of Caorpa straat aho1It ii o'clocl.