Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1908-02-17
MORSE SAYS
NOT GUILTY
Was Arranged In Court Before
Justice Bowling Today-BaiI
Fixed at $4,000.
ALL WILL Be RIGHT
Was Arrested When His Vessel
Reached Quarantine Yesterday
Taken 10 Justices House.

NEW YORK, Feb. 17.-Charles W
Morse, financier and promoter of many
large combinations, including the &c
called ice trust and merger of nearly
all Of the coastwise steamship lines
returning from his brief trip to Eu.
rope, was arrested In his stateroom
when the steamer Etruria reached
quarantine in the lower bay, held in
custody until the ship was docked
and then was whirled away In an au.
tomobile to the home of Justice Victor
Dowling Of the supreme court, where
he gave bond in the sum of $4,000 to
answer to two indictments charging
grand larceny and involving the sum
Of 100000.
Mr.. Morse today appeared before
Justice Bowling in open court and
pleaded not guilty to the indictments.
He denied that his trip to Europe
was flight" He said he had gone
abroad to sell stock In large interest
and to secure fortnight's rest Both
purposes were spoiled by the publica-
ton Of reports that he was fugitive
from justice, he declared.
The financier based his defense upon
the claim that there was no criminal
intent In the act for which he was IN
dicted.
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
physical arrest. The appearance Of
three detectives from District Attor-
ney Jerome's Office at his stateroom
took him completely by surprise.
The charge against Mr. Morse grows
out Of a note for 100000 given to
him by former Chief Justice Morgan
]. O'Brien of the court of appeals.
Mr.. Morse declared that he was
feeling fine" and after he had con-
suited with his counsel exclaimed:
We'll, If that's the worst they have
got on me am not worried"
Mr.. Morse laughed heartily when one
Of the newspaper men told him It was
reported that on the way over he had
capitalized an iceberg, had sold the
bonds to the captain, taken notes in
payment discounted them with the
purser, had bought the Etruria and
started on cruise around the world.
Mr.. Morse said:
II had two purposes in going to Eu-
rope. I thought that l might be able
to sell in England property to which
/ had large interest and thus IN
crease my ability to meet the claims Of
my creditors, and I greatly needed
fortnight's rest.
'fBy business purpose was Of course
defeated by the publication in the
English papers that was regarded in
New York as fugitive from justice.
I had Strengthened out my financial
affairs when left New York, SO that
there were no actions pending against
me except one brought by creditor to
whom had given valuable collateral
and was informed by my
that he had arranged with
this creditor not to press his suit
against me.
II had no knowledge that District
Attorney Jerome contemplated taking
any proceedings against me, and I
therefore did not communicate with
him on this subject About six weeks
before left New York, hearing that
United States District Attorney Stim.
son was considering the evidence IN
certain transactions between the Ma
tional Bank Of North America and
myself with view Of the possible
thereof to the federal
grand jury, / asked him on the tele-
phone that be given an opportunity
to explain. these transactions before
any indictment was found against me.
I subsequently wrote to the United
States district attorney to the same
effect.
mot having heard from Mr.. Stimson
In reply to my request for several
weeks, naturally reached the conclu-
sion that he had completed his ex-
animation and had found nothing
against me. I therefore saw no OBJ
lection to my short European trip
based upon the possibility of criminal
against me, either in the
state or federal courts.
II did not sail in the Campania un-
Ter an assumed name and made no
effort to conceal my identity. The sug-
yestion has been made that I assumed
The name of C. NJ. Moore My sig
nature looks as much like C. NJ. Moore
is it does like C. w. Morse
"On Friday decided to sail in the
Jampania and sailed at about Z o'clock
morning Until read in the
English papers that was travelling
lnder an assumed name / did not
know that. my name was not correctly
the shin'c ~o~istrv. 1t was