Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-10-31
DENIES LOOTING BANK
Former Ice King Says He Always
Acted in It's Interests.
QUOTES COMPTROLLER RIDGELY
Says Former Ohieial Approved His
TransactiOns-This MIR. RIdseIy
Denies in Written State
ment.

NEW YORK, Oct. SO.-Charles w. Morse,
the financier. testifylng in his own behalf
today in the United States court, where he
is on trial with A. II. Curtis on charges of
violation of the national banking laws,
flatly contradicted the statement alleged
to have been made to him by his CO.
defendant that he had busted" the Ma
tional Bank of North America. Curtis
never said anything OF the kind to me-"
said Mr.. Morse, when his counsel ques-
toned him with reference to this state
ment, which was made by a witness for
the prosecution. THE bank never was
busted" he was continuing when the
prosecution objected. His counsel protested
that the witness should be permitted TO
continue and show that the bank continued
in operation until January 81, that it was
then closed for liquidation only, that all
depositors have been paid in full, and that
several million dollars of real estate and
securities remain for stockholders Judge
Hough sustained the objection of the
prosecution. Morse spent the larger part
OF today in explaining his acts in connec-
ton with the National Bank OF North
America, and maintained that everything
he did was done in the full light and in
the banks interest.
Acknowledges Dummy Loans,
Mr.. Morse went to the witness stand to
continue his testimony Immediately after
the trial was resumed today. He said ne
accepted full responsibility for the so-called
dummy loans made in the name of Leslie
B, Whiting, a 19-year-old office boy The
loans were made by Mr.. Curtis and Mr.
| Wire as officials Of the National Bank of
| North America, said Mr.. Morse, but IN
making them they had acted at his requs st
and he considered himself responsible for
/ the loans. If the loans were not reported
TO the comptroller of the currency, how
ever the omission was not due to any re-
quest made by him and the act OF omission
was without his knowledge. Coming to
the loan made by Wesley NJ. Oler. prssi-
dent OF the American Life company. on
], 600 shares Of ice stock, Morse said he
had been assured OF lasting gratitude by
Oler because Of his action in that instancs,
/ He said that when he Informed Oler that
he would permit him to make a loan on
the ice stock the president Of the ice COM
pany appeared to be immensely pleased
He repeatedly thanked me-" said MIR.
Morse >'even to the extent of saying that
his wife and children would remember me
in their prayers He told me l had put
him on his feet and given him a chsnce nc
one else ever had given him. A.,
! When his attention was called 10 the
testimony of Mr oler in the present trial
to the effect that he had tipped Morse tC
sell the 1000 shares of ice when the stock
was selling at 90. but that Morse had re-
fused to sell saying that 1t would go tc
1lO, Morse said:
"If he had wanted to sell that Ice al
90, he could have done so. II was his Owl
stock, not mine. l never refused TO sell
It, The statement is wrong"
Morse then told OF various properties tn,
American Ice company owned, Of the water
rights, permitting ice 10 be cut at various
places and the actual Investment in outfits
etc. the company owned in New York
| Washington, Baltimore and other cities