The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-02-20
WAS ARRESTED IN
HIS SiATER0OM
Charles W. Morse hahhed as Steam.
ship Reaches Quarantine.
wHIRLED TO COURT IN AUTOMOBILE.
Justice Bowling Grants n Special
Sunday Hearing at His Home and
Morse Is Released In $40, 900 Bail
Grand Larceny Is the Charge
Against Him.

New York Especially Charles w.
Morse. financier and promoter of
many large combinations, including
the so-called Ice Trust and a merger
of nearly all of the coastwise steam
ship lines, returned Sunday from his
brief trip of Europe, 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 whirl-
cd away in an automobile to the
home of Justice Victor Bowling, 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 was released and went
Immediately to his Fifth Avenue
home, where tonight he gave out a
statement asserting his innocence and
asking the public to suspend judg-
ment until he has had the opportun-
ity of facing his accusers in court.
MIR. Morse will appear before JUS
tice Bowling in open court and plead
not guilty to the indictments. He
denied that his trip to Europe was a
flight. He said he had gone abroad
to sell stock in a large interest and
to secure q fortnight's rest. Both
purposes was spoiled by the publica-
tion of reports that he was a fugitive
from justice, he declared.
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 appear
ance of three detectives from District
Attorney Jerome's office at his state
room door took him completely by
surprise.
surprise.
Balicd by Surety Company.
The officers, armed with warrant,
had gone down the bay on a revenue
cutter They were accompanied by
Albert B. Boardman and Phillip j.
Britt, attorneys, and by Benjamin
w. Morse, a son of the financier.
Mrs. Morse met her husband at the
pier, and it was in her automobile
that the journey with one of the de-
tectives was made to Justice Dowl-
ing's house.
Justice Dowling held an informal
court session in his library, Assistant
District Attorney Kresel representing
the prosecution. The bonds, which
were signed by surety company,
had been prepared Saturday. Mr..
Morse was required to sign two obli-
cations of $4,000 each and, along
with the representatives of the bond
ing company, was put under oath to
appear at any time his presence may
be required.
Mr.. Britt stated that he had re-
quested Mr. Jerome to allow the at
torneys to produce Mr.. Morse in
court Monday, as he said had been
done in the cases of other we'll
known men under indictment, but
had been told that the public interest
demanded that the ex-banker be
placed under arrest as soon as the
ship reached New York waters.
The charge against Mr.. Morse
grows out of note given to him by
former Chief Justice Morgan j.
O'Brien, of the Court of Appeals.
Judge O'Brien Is said to have de-
posted three notes for 100000
each with Mr.. Morse in payment for
a block of 1000 shares of stock in
the National Bank of North America.
The notes were to be held three years
and not discounted. according to
Judge O'Brien, and at the end of
the three-year period he was TO have
the privilege of consummating or
withdrawing from the bargain for
the purchase of stock.