The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-17


passed from that institution
Judge OBFien, il is stated, refused
TO appear as compIainan against Mr.
Morse and in the grand jury room is
said To have had a sharp tilt with Dis
trict Attorney Jerome, when he told
the latter that an indictment foun ]
upon the transaction related would
not hold ---
4 used 10 have to take my law from
you, judge" Mr.. Jerome is said to have
replied, but now / will have 10 give il
to you
Both of the indictments against Mr..
Morse are said TO involve the one trans
action. They will not be made public
until tomorrow.
Statement of Morse.
The statement made by Mr.. Morse
tonight is as follows:
4 had two purposes in going to Eu-
rope. l thought that l might be able
to sell in England property in which
had large interest and thus increase
my ability to meet the claims of my
creditors, and 1 greatly needed a fort
nights rest. My business purpose was
of course defeated by the publication
i'm the English papers that / was re-
garded in New York as a fugitive from
justice. I'had Strengthened out my fl
nancial affairs when | left New York,
so that there were no actions pending
against me except one brought by a
creditor TO whom l had given valuable
collateral securities, and, was Informed
by my counsel that he had arranged
with this creditor not to press his suit
against me. AS l had no obligations
maturing for three weeks from which I
anticipated any trouble, | saw no rea-
son, from the standpoint of my obliga-
tions TO creditors. why should not take
a fortnight's rest.
Indictment Not Expected.
Il had no knowledge that District At
torney Jerome contemplated taking any
proceedings against me, and l. there
fore, did not communicate with him on
this subject. About six weeks before l
left New York hearing that United
States District Attorney Stimson was
considering the evidence in certain
transactions between the National Bank
of North America and myself with a
view to the possible presentation there
of to the federal grand jury. I asked
him on the telephone that | be given
an opportunity TO explain these trans
actions before any indictment was
found against us. l subsequently
wrote to the United States district at
tOTney to the same effect. Not having
heard from Mr.. Stimson in reply TO my
request for several weeks. l naturally
reached the conclusion that he had COM
pleted his examination and had found
nothing against me. 1 therefore saw no
objection to my short European trip
based upon the possibility of criminal
proceedings against me. either in the
state or federal courts.
IIn1Ar Lie n,.., Al
Il did not sail on the Campania I'M
der an assumed name. and made no eff
fort to conceal my identity. The sug-
gestion has been made that 1 assumed
the name of C. NJ. Moore Ny sigma
ture looks as much like C. NJ. Moore
as il does like C. w. Morse
ION Friday | decided to sail in the
Campania and sailed at about o'clock
Saturday morning. Until l read in the
English papers that l was travelling I'M
der an assumed name. l did not know
that my name was not correctly entered
on the ships register 1t was evidently
put on the register by some one who did
not know me. and with my signature
before him read it as &C. NJ. Moore
Il have been asked by the press to
answer a long list of questions about
my personal affairs. | have been asked
al ouboNahcC " AlAi iAfSil W lilt press d
statement of my assets and liabilities.
to contradict certain silly stories about
concealed millions, and to expose my
defense as to the charges that have re-
suited in indictments against me, but
also TO anticipate future indictments.
All these things l decline to do, and I
respectfully request TO be relea sed from
further opportunities on these lines
Asserts His Innocence.
Il assert my innocence of any Grim
inal act. and l ask the public to suspend
judgment in my case until l have had
an opportunity to meet my accusers in
court. | use the word 'accuSerS' al
though so far as concerns the Jerome
indictments l am Informed that there
We're no 'accusers' and that Judge
O'Brien asked the grand jury to refuse
to find indictments against me
THE present times are times of great
stress and popular excitement. Many
causes have conspired (for which | am
in no way responsibility to focus public
attention upon me and the various bust
ness overwhelmingly too nu-
merous and mpOrtant-with which
have been connected. | must suffer my
share of the financial losses which re-
suit from large business commitments
in time of panic. but l greatly mistake
the temper of the American people if
/ am not to have fair play. both at the
bar of Dubiic OpiuiOn and i'm the courts