Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-17
MORSE IS ARRESTED
Former Ice King Taken Into Gus tody on Arrival From Europe.
RELEASED ON A $2O,O00 BOND
Declares He Went Abroad to Sell Property In England and to Take Fortnight's Rest-Pleads Not Guilty to Grand Larceny Indictments.

New York, Feb. IT. Charles W. Morse, financier and promoter of many large combinations, including the ice trust and a merger of nearly all of the coastwise steamship lines, appeared in Justice Dowling's court today and pleaded not guilty to two indictments charging grand larceny and involving the sum of $100000. MT. Morse was arrested in his state | room when the steamer Etruria reach l ed quarantine in the lower bay, held in custody until the ship was docked and then whirled away in an automo- bile to the home of Justice Bowling, where he gave bonds in the sum of $20, 900 in connection with the indict- ments reported.
 Mir. Morse was released and went immediately to his Fifth avenue home, where he gave out statement assert ing his innocence and asking the pub lie to suspend judgment until he has had the opportunity of facing his ac' cusers in court.
 Surety Company Gives Bonds.
 Mir. Morse had received word by wireless telegraphy that two indict- ments had been found against him, but he did not know he was to suffer physical arrest. The appearance of three detectives from Distrid Attor- ney Jerome's office at his stateroom took him completely by surprise. The officers, armed with a warrant, had gone down the bay on revenue cut ter. They were accompanied by Al. bert B. Boardman and Philip J. Britt, attorneys, and by Benjamin W. Morse, a son of the financier. Mrs. Morse met her husband at the pier, and it was in her automobile that the journey with one of the detectives was made to Justice Dowling's house.
 Justice Bowling held an informal court session in his library, Assistant District Attorney Kresel representing the prosecution. The bonds were sign ed by a surety company.
 The charge against Mir. Morse grows out of note for S100,000 given to him by former Chief Justice Morgan J. O'Brien of the court of appeals.
 Says He Isn't Worried.
 Mir. Morse declared that he was feeling fine" and after he had con- suited with his counsel exclaimed:
 Well, if that's the worst they have got on me am not worried.
 'I had two purposes in going to Flu rope. I thought that I might be able to sell in England property to which I had a large interest and thus in crease my ability to meet the claims oi my creditors and I greatly needed 8 fortnight's rest.
 My business purpose was of course defeated by the publication in the English papers that I was regarded in New York as a fugitive from justice. I had straightened out my financial affairs when left New York, so that there were no actions pending against me except one brought by creditor to whom had given valuable collateral securities. and I was informed by my counsel that he had arranged with this creditor not to press his suit against me.
 AS I had no obligations maturing for three weeks from which I antici- pated any trouble. saw no reason from the standpoint of my obligations to creditors why should not take a fortnight's rest.
 No Criminal Intent.
 "I had no knowledge that District Attorney Jerome contemplated taking any proceedings against me, and therefore did not communicate with him on this subject. About six weeks before I left New York. hearing that United States District Attorney Stim- son was considering the evidence fn certain transactions between the Ma tional Bank of North America and my. self with view of the possible presen. tation thereof to the federal grand jury. asked him on the telephone that he given an opportunity to ex. plain these transactions before any in. dictment was found against me. I sub seduently wrote to the United States district attorney to the same effect.
 Not having heard from Mir. Stimson fin reply to my request for several weeks. naturally reached the conclu- sion that he had completed his exami- nation and had found nothing against me. therefore saw no objection to my short European trip based upon the possibility of criminal proceedings against me. either in the state or fed eral courts.
 Asks For Suspension of Judgment.
 "I did not sail in the Campania un- der an assumed name and made no eff. fort to conceal my identity. The sug. gestIon has been made that assumed the name of C. NJ. Moore My sig nature looks as much like C. M- Moore as 1t does like C. W. Morse
 T assert my innocence of any crim' inal act. and I ask the public to sus- pend judgment in my case until have had an opportunity to meet my ac- cusers in court. I use the word 'ac. cusers.' although 90 far as concerns the Jerome indictments I am informed that there were no faccusers' and that Judge o'Brien asked the grand jury to