The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-10-30
TAKES STAND ON
HIS OWN BEHALF
Charles w. Morse Startled
When His Name Was
Called in Court.
QUESTIONS FIRED AT HIM
FINANcIER's VOICE FAILED AS
HE ENDEAVoRED TO REPLY.

New York, Oct 29.-Charles W.
Morse, who with Alfred H. Curtis, for
uner president OF the National Bank of
North America, is on trial in the Grim
inal branch of the United States cir
cult court on a charge of conspiracy
and violation Of the national banking
laws. took the stand in his own defense
today.
When his name was called late today
he sprang from his chair as though
grektiy startled, looked inquirinely at
HIS counsel. and, when the Slatter
nodded his head afirmatively. hurried
TO the witness stand beside Judge
Hocgh's bench. and moved restlessly
I'm hts seat while the lawyers were
framing questions to ask him.
After preliminary interrogations the
lawyers for the government yolleyed
questions at Morse so rapidly that the
financiers voice failed him when he
fndehvored TO answer them
Mr.. Morse was kept on the stand IN
III adjournment He related how he
Caae to have an interest in the Ma
t;onai Bank Of North America, saying
that he secured it in the consolidation
of 1902
No Experience in Banking.
He said that he had no experience
iitrthe routine of banking. Mr. Morse
also said he was not a salaried officer
of the bank. and knew nothing of the
legal exactions covering national bank
ing. he explained that after 1905 he
had accepted an Office in the directors
rooms In the new bank building.
The financier then told of forming
the acquaintance Of Mr.. Curtis and
Mr.. Wire. II had confidence in them
and used my influence 20 have them
made president apd cashier OF the
hank" he said.
He testified that ne knew nothing of
the banks method Of bookkeeping, and
admitted that he saw the 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 Wilson kept my bank account
straight"
Connection With Ice Company.
Mr.. Morse's counsel then asked a
number of questions regarding the
connection OF Mr.. Morse with the
American Ice company since it's forma-
ton in 1898 or 1900. The company was
then paying dividends, he testified, and
dealt principally In natural ice. "A diff
ference in the demand came in 1902,
he said, and artificial lee was all the
in the business Of the company.
: AS this line of questioning was con-
tnded 1t finally led up to the loans
made 20 John :. Carroll by the Nation
al Bank of North America, amounting
Z to s1S5.000 at one time. In explaining
the Carroll loans, he said they were
secsred by 10000 shares of ice stock.
Mr.. Morse told of a plan to buy half
OF the Carroll stock at $50 a share and
give the bank the profit of the deal.
Then he purchased 1000 shares Of ice
stock he said, at $40 a share for Mrs.
Gelshenen.
Bank Got the Profit.
What became of the profit of so
share?" asked Morse's lawyer.
Il gave il TO the bank" answered the
financior.
The loans made to Leslie Whiting,
the 19-year-old clerk in a brokers' Of
nee, was then taken up. and Morse said
that the first loan of 10000 to the
youth was made at his (Morses). re-
quest. and was an accommodation bor-
row.
Mr.. Morse told of how the loan made
20 Whiting had been used to take up
1000 shares of Carroll ice stock. The
second Whiting loan of $4,000 was Sc
cured by 1000 shares of ice stock. be
ing one-half of the Carroll stock he
tMr. Morse) had purchased
Jduge Hough at this juneture ad-
journed court.
Before Mr.. Morse testified. Colonel
r. NJ. Thompson, a former director of
the National Bank of North America,
was on the stand. and District Attor-
ney Simpson asked him IL the holding
concpany for the American Ice COM
pany had been characterized as
trust"
Somebody Get Stung.
An evening newspaper has so char
acterized il, answered Colonel Thomp>
son.
Not until the attorney general was
caught short in the stock market and
vas stung," was the response.
After court had adjourned, Colonel
Thompson sought out the newspaper
men and said that his testimony re-
garding the attorney general had been
misunderstood. and that his answer TO
the question: Did not say the at
torney general Of the state so charac-
terized," and should have been entered
on the court records as follows:
Not until some politicians who were
acquaintance of the attorney general
were caught short in the stock market
and stung."
Colonel Thompson said that he had
no knowledge that the attorney general
had ever specialized in the stock mar
ket.
SOME PRISONERS LET GO.