The morning journal-courier., 1908-10-30
HORSE ON STAND
 'PLEADS IGNORANCE
estless Witness, in Barely Au-
 dible Voice, Tells How Lit tie Ho Knows About Banking,
NEW NO LEGAL LIMITS
oman Secretary Kept His Bank Ac- count traight---DireCtors "Ncry Much Pleased" Over Car
 roll Deal.

|INew York, Oct. 29.-Charles w. orse, who, with Alfred IT. Curtis rmer president of the National bank North America, Is on trial In the |lminal brancheof the United States -cuit court on a charge of conspiracy Ma violation of the national banking fws, took the stand in his own de- nse to-day
 |All during the tedious days of the Hal Mir Morse has sat Inside the |lling nervously awaiting the mo- mt when 1t would become neces- ry for him to take the witness chair d undergo the ordeal of cross ex- linatlon that he knew was In store him. When his name was called e to-day he sprang from his chair though greatly startled, looked in- iringly at his counsel and when the
 ter nodded his head affirmatively Ie financier hurried to the witness nd beside Judge Hough's bench and Dyed about restlessly in his seat He the lawyers were framing ques-
 'ns to ask him
 In a voice so low as to be inaudible
 the jury, Mir, Morse gave his birth ce as Bath, Me, said he had grad | ted from Bowdoin college and that
 coming to New York he engaged
 the shipping and later the fee
 siness. After these preliminary
 errogations the lawyers for the
 Eernment volleyed questions at MT. | lrse so rapidly that the fnancier's
 Ice failed him when he endeavored
 |answer them.
 Mr. Morse was kept on the stand Itil an adjournment had been taken.
 related how he came to have an 4hrest In the National Bank of
 .rth America saying that he secured
 interest in the consolidation in
 ff2 The accused banker said that
 had had no experience In the rou-
 se of banking.
 NSpeak louder so the jury can hear"
 M the inquisltor repeatedly as the
 fmer bankers voice dropped almost
 3 whisper.
 5iilr Morse said that he was not tlnried officer of the bank and knew
 shing of the legal exactions cover I0 national banking. He explained |sat after 1905 he had accepted an IYfe In the directors rooms in the 'lg bank building.
 fhe financier then told of forming the Lfpaintance of Mir. Curtis and Mir. ] @e. T had confidence in them and 5etl my influence to have them made
 Bident and cashier of the bank.
 MT. Morse. Mir. Morse testified
 he knew nothing of the banks ftshod of bookkeeping, and admitted 19 he saw the banks loan sheets
 Mr al few times each year. .a9ly secretary, Kate A. Wilson. and Zf9former secretary. Arthur Braun, at-
 #ed to my personal and private af- s,'ss," said the witness. Miss Wilson
 fE my bank account straight" 3ljTr. Morse's counsel then asked a lNber of questions regarding the con 5Etion of Mir. Morse with the American ilf company, MT. Morse said he had
 9,h conneRed witch that company
 fe it's formation fin 1898 or 1S9a.n Ea company was then paying divi- +tfis witness testified, and dealt prln- |t1lly in natural ice. A difference in
 ,Idemand came in 1902, he said, and
 IfEicial ice was all the market wanted. NsN effected a change In the business IL.'hc company.
 yNB this line of questioning was con Esled 1t finally led up to the point of 1 loans made to John F. Carroll by | q National Bank of North America, . Bunting to $195,000 at one time. &l.e was such a maze of figures that Morse confessed his inability to E,Hw the questions without the aid |gR memorandum. He was given the fssary data and constantly referred +ltt when he answered questions. EaR explaining the Carroll loans, he RGl& they were secured by 10000 shares .qrsAe stock. MT, Morse told of plan tapuy half of the Carroll stock at ftIh share and give the bank the prof I'pst the deal Then he purchased ,% shares of fee stock, he said, at share for Mrs. Gelshenen. became of the profit of SlO q &s2ase?" asked Mrs, Morses lawyer. {tid gave 1t to the bank" answered ,Nfnancier.
 fsge loans madet Leslie Whiting, i 5alneteen year old clerk in broker s f3ip, were then taken up, and MT |liiihe said that the first loan of $S0,000 |tlIhe youth was made at his (Morse's s) t,itlest and 'was an accommodation f,h'Pw."
 Sl.is Morse added that the directors ! akle bank were very much pleased l idA he gave the profits of the deal to IliIibank