The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-17
Promoter Taken in Charge by
Officers When Steamer
Reached Quarantine.
ASKS PUBLIC TO
SUSPEND JUDGMENT
Financier Declares That He Went
Abroad for Rest, and That He
Was Not Attempting to
Escape-The Charge
Against Him Is
Grand Larceny.
7 Ew YORK. February 1s..-Charles
w. Morse, financier and pro-

n = EW YORK, February 16..-Charles
N w. Morse, financier and pro-
motor of many large combina-
tions including the so-oalloA
Ice Trust, and merger of nearly
all OF the coastwise steamship lines.
to Europe. was arrested In his state-
room when the steamer Etruria
reached Quarantine. in the lower bay.
held in custody until the ship waa
docked and was then whirled away In
an automobile to the home OF Justice
Victor Bowling. OF tho Supreme Court.
where he gave bond In the sum OF s2o,-
charging grand larceny and involving
the sum of 100000. Mr.. Morse was
released and went Immediately to HIS
Fifth Avenue home, where tonight he
gave out statement asserting his
Innocence. and asking the public to
suspend Judgment until he has had
in court.
Denies That He Fled.
Tomorrow Mr.. Morse will APPEAR
before Justice Dowling In open court
and plead not guilty to the indict-
ments. He denied that his trip to
Europe was flight" He said he
had gone abroad to sell stock In q
large interest and to secure q fort-
nights rest. Both purposes were spoil
ed by the publication of reports that
he was a fugitive from justice. he de-
clared.
Mr.. 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 ply
steal arrest. The appearance OF three
detectives from District Attorney Je-
rome's Office at his stateroom door took
him completely by surprise. The off,
GERS. armed with warrant, had gone
down the bay on revenue cutter.
They were accompanied by Albert B.
Boardman and Phillip j. Britt, attor-
neys. and by Benjamin j. Morse. a son
of the nnancier. Mrs. Morse met her
husband at the pier. 1t was in her
automobile that the journey with one
of the detectives was made to Justice
Dowling's house, where Morse gave
bond.
Charge Is Grand Larceny.
The charge&against Mr. Morse grows
out of a note given to him by former
Chief Justice Morgan j. O'Brien, Of
the Appellate Division of the SUI
preme Court who Is said to have
deposited three notes for 100000
each with Mr.. Morse, In payment
for block of 1000 shares Of
stock in the National Bank of North
America. The notes We're to be held
three years, and not discounted, accord
ing to Judge O'Brien, and at the end
of the three years he was to have the
privilege of consummating or with
drawing from the bargain for the pur-
chase of stock.
1t is charged that Mr.. Morse dis-
counted one OF these notes at the Mer-
camille National Bank: the check given
to Mr.. Morse was made payable to
Judge O'Brien, and was cashed by Mr..
Morse at the National Bank of North
America. Morse signing Judge O'Brien's
name, ..per C. w. Morse" It is the
tn cory of the indictment that as the
check had never passed into the hands
of O'Brien, it's use by Mr.. Morse con- 9
stituted grand larceny from the Mer-
camille National Bank, the title never
having passed from that institution.