The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-18
MORSE HAVING
PECK OF TROUBLE
Third Indictment Found While
Promoter Was Being
, Arraigned.
THIS TIME FOR PERJURY
TWO SUITS OVER STOCK TRANS
ACTIONS SOME TIME AGO.

New York. Feb. 1.-THE legal entan-
clements of Charles w. Morse, former
banker and promoter, are multiplying.
A third indictment, alleging perjury
by Mr.. Morse during an examination be-
fore the grand jury, was found by the
special grand jury today, short time
after he had appeared in court to an
swer the two indictments found against
him last week, charging MIN with grand
larceny. Arrangements were made to-
night to have him appear tmorrow be-
fore Justice Victor j. Bowling of the
criminal branch of the supreme court,
to plead to the perjury Indictment An
other turn in the case today was the
serving on Philip j. Britt, counsel for
Mr. Morse. of summonses in two ac-
tons brought against the former bank
er. The complaints in these suits have
not yet been filed. but it was explained
that they relate to stock transactions
which occurred some time ago. When
arraigned before Justice Bowling,
Morse pleaded not guilty. Judge Dow
ling set next Monday as the date for
further hearing.
Statement of Attorney.
After his return to his office. Mr..
MOrse's attorney, Philip Britt. made a
statement concerning the transaction
upon which the larceny indictments
rest He said:
The statement that there was a writ
ten agreement between Mr.. Morse and
Mr.. O'Brien that the notes should not
be discOunted is false. There was an
agreement that the notes should be re-
neWed for a period of three years but
there was no agreement that the notes
should not be discounted. II the notes
were to be continued for a period of
three years and were not to be discount
ed during that period, it would prdc-
tiCally make them worthless as secur-
ity to be converted in case of need dur
ing that time.
What Mr.. Morse did make himself
responsible for was that if the notes
passed out of his hands during the
period in which he said that the notes
should be renewed, he would be respon-
sible To see that they should be re-
newed, no matter in whose hands they
happened to be at that time. With this
understanding of the agreement, there
can be no question as to the fairness Of
Mr. Morse's action in getting the notes
discounted.
Check in O'Brien's Name.
IF the check with which the discount
ed note was paid was made out in the
name of Mr.. O'Brien, to whom was the
money due? To Mr.. Morse, of course.
1t was in payment for stock delivered
by Mr.. Morse that the notes were made.
So if the check I'm payment for the note
was made out technically in the name
of Mr.. O'Brien, whose name was on
the note, it was really meant for Mr..
Morse, to whom the note had been as
signed. There are lot of facts I'm con-
Il,
yet come out. and which will put an en-
tireIy different aspect on it than has
so far appeared from what has been
published about it."
Mr.. Britt said he did not yet know
whether he would interpose a demurrer
to the indictments. His legal action
would depend on d study of the grand
jury minutes, for which he intended to
apply.
After leaving the courtroom, Mr..
Morse went to his office and was soOa
in consultation with former business al
lies regarding his tangled affairs. Ii
was while so engaged that news was
brought To him that another indictment
alleging perjury had been found For
the moment he had no comment to-
make. 1t was arranged that he should
appear in court tomorrow morning to
answer the new charge. This course
was decided on because Mr.. Morse is
already under $4,000 bonds and he sig
nified his willingness to appear when
ever wanted.
Corrected His Testimony.
The perjury indictment, it was
learned. is based upon d loan obtained
last September by E. r. Thomas from
the Bank of North America, of which
Morse was then vice president. In tes-
tifying before the special grand jury,
ThknTas told about the loan. which was
oneNof $4,000. Alfred H. Curtis, then
president of the bank, also testified to
the fact that the loan was made.
Mi. Morse, who had been before the |
grand jury. was recalled and asked if
such a loan had been made. It is al |
legged that he denied that the money |
mad beer loaned to Thomas. Thomas
was again summoned and this time. it'll
IS further alleged. produced letter |
which Morse wrote recommending the |
loan. Later Mr.. Morse again appeared |
before the grand jury at his own re-
quest and, it is said. explained that he /
wished to correct his testimony. This
he is said to have done, and the testi- |
mony is said to have squared with what |
had been learned from other wit |
nesses
It is pointed out, however, that the /
c,,ob fhof rorrontaJ