The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-10
ords so far as they relate to the lieu
fnna nt,S fairs

ords so far as they relate to the lieu
tenants affairs.
Il will seek to show in my defense"
said Lieut.. MorfCrd, that it was not
extravaganza and high living that
brought this trouble upon me, but that
it all resulted from an honest endeav-
or on my part to meet old debts which
l contracted before l entered the army
service. 1t was case throughout OF
borrowing from John to pay Jim with
what CT my pay each month [ could
save over my actual living expenses
Had these charges been withheld, by
this time, with the assistance Of my
father-in-law and my uncle, l could
have prorated among my creditors
about 500 a month. AS the matter
now stands, with the charges in court,
all of my plans are temporarily dor
mant. However, during the last two
and a half years l have succeeded in
reducing my Indebtedness nearly ST.
500, which in itself ought to be suffi-
cient to show that fraud never entered
any of my private financial transac-
lions. I shall bring all this out when
my defense begins, together with other
evidence that l deem strong enough
to offset anything that the prosecu-
ton has thus far brought out against
me-
Speaking of his "old debts, the lieu
tenant recounted something of his
earlier career. He was a son of George
V. Morford, who was prominent rail
road official until about two years
prior tc his death. He first came into
prominence in the railroad world about
twenty years ago as superintendent
Of the elevated street railway system
of New York city, which position he
finally resigned to accept similar Of
flee with the Chicago, Milwaukee &
o. ;1,.00 nv nh
time until 1884 Mr.. MorfOrd's head
quarters were in this city He next
became superintendent of the Missouri
Pacific system, and shortly afterwards
Mr. Morford was moving spirit in an
enterprise to construct railroad
which was known as the Salina, Lin
coin & Decatur line. Lieut.. Morford
said that this enterprise wrecked his
father physically and financially. The
panic of 1888 struck the country, and.
being unable to float more loans for
his road, Mr.. Morford was compelled
to abandon the project. One day the
lieutenant's father was found lying
on the street in Chicago In an uncon-
scious condition. The physicians pro-
nounced it a case Of paralysis OF the
brain caused by over work. Mr.. Nor
ford was sent to the Illinois state asy
lum for the insane, where, about two
wears afterwards he died, never having
again been restored to sound mental
condition.
During all the time that my father
retained his health said the heuten-
ant. 81 had all the money | needed,
and lived accordingly. The result
was that 1 contracted extravagant
ideas which followed me through the
subsequent years that I followed the
pursuits of civilian. became involved
in debt. but, as I had expected to OBJ
tain money from what remained of
nv fathers estate, including life in
surance, which thought he possessed.
1 was not worried.
81 enlisted in the regular army at
Fort Sidney, Neb., for an officers COM
mission. Jan. 20, 1889, and that cost me
considerable money Prior to that
J time had been trusted clerk in the