The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1908-10-30
MORSE GOES ON
W|TNESSSTAND
Springs From Chair as Name is Call
ed-Nervous During
Ordeal.

New York, Oct. 30.-Charlcs w.
Morse, who, with Alfred II. Curtis.
former president of TIE National
Bank of North America, is on trial in
the criminal branch OF the United
States circuit court on a charge of
conspiracy and violation of the ma
tional banking laws, took the stand
in his own defense.
All during the tedious days Of trial
Mr.. Morse has sat inside the railing
nervously awaiting the moment when
II would become necessary for him
to take the witness chair and under
go the ordeal of cross-examination
that he knew was in store for him.
When his name was called he sprang
from his chair as though greatly star
tied, looked inquiringly at his coun-
sci, and when the latter nodded his
head affirmatively the financier hur-
rfed to the witness stand beside
Judge Hough's bench and moved
about restlessly in his seat while the
lawyers were framing questions to
ask him.
In voice so low as to be inaudible
to the jury, Mr.. Morse gave his birth
place as Bath, Me-; said he had grad
uated from Bodoin college and that
on coming to New York he engaged
in the shipping and later the ice bust
ness. After these preliminary inter
rogations the lawyers for me govern
ment volleyed questions at Mr.. Morse
so rapidly that the financier's voice
failed him when he endeavored to
answer them.
Mr.. Morse said he was not a sal
aried officer of the bank and knew
nothing of the legal exactions cover
ing national banking. The financier
then told of forming the acquaintance
of Mr.. Curtis and Wire. Il had con-
fidence in them and used my infiu-
ence 10 have them made president
and cashier of the bank" said Mr..
Morse. Mr.. Morse testified that he
knew nothing of the banks method
OF bookkeeping, and admitted that he
saw the ban>'s loan sheets only a
few times each year.
my secretary, Kate A. Wilson, and
my former secretary, Arthur Braun,
attended to my personal and private
affairs" said the witness. Miss Will
son kept by bank account straight"
Mr.. Morse's counsel then asked a
number Of questions regarding the
connection of Mr.. Morse with the
American Ice company. Mr.. Morse
said that he had been connected with
that company since its formation,
''in 1898 or 1899" The company was
then paying dividends, witness testi-
fed, and dealt principally in natural
ice. A difference in the demand came
in 1902, he said, and artificial ice was
all the market wanted. That effected
a change in the business of the con-
pany.
AS this line of questioning was con-
tinued it finally led up to the point
of the loans made to John F. Carroll
by the National Bank of North Amer
lea, amounting to $4,000 at one
time
In explaining the Carroll loans he
said they were secured by 10000
shares of ice stock. Mr.. Morse told
of plan to buy half of the Carroll
stock at $50 a share and give the
bank the profit CT the deal. Then he
purchased 1000 shares Of ice stock,
he said, at $40 share, for Mrs. Gel
shenen.
What becams Of the profit of $40
a shais?" asked Mr. Morse's lawyer
81 gave 1t to the bank" answered the
financi<.
The pans made to Leslie Whiting,
the 19year-old clerk in a brokers'
Office, were then taken up, and Mr..
Morse said that the first loan Of $780,
600 to the youth was made at his
(Mr. Morse's) request, and was an
accommodation borrow"
Mr.. Morse told Of how the loan
made to Whiting had been used to
take up 1000 shares of Carroll ice
stock. The second Whiting loan of
$4,000 was secured by 1000 shares
Of ice stock, being one-half of the
Carroll stock he (Mr. Morse) had
purchased.