The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1908-02-21
Law Has a Surprise for c. w
Morse When He Reaches
New York.
DIDN'T WAIT FOR HIM TO LAND
Taken on Board Ship Down the Bay,
to His Surprise.
Promptly Arraigned and Put Under
$4,000 Bonds for Alleged Grand
Larceny Indicted by
Grand Jury.

Chales w. Morse. fi"ancier and pro
mOter Of many large combinations. in
Guiding the so-called lice trust and a
merger of nearly all of the coastwise
steamship lines, returned to New York
Monday from his brief trip to Eu-
rope, and was arrested in his state
room when the steamerEtruria reached
quarantine in the lower bay, held i'll
custody until the ship Was locked, ana
then Whirled away in an automobile to
the home of Justice Victor Bowling.
of the supreme court, where he gave
bonds in the sum of $4,000 to answer
to two indictments charging grand la
ceny and involving the sum of $1OO,,
600
Asks Suspension of Judgment.
Morse was released and went imme-
diateIy to his Fifth avenue home.
where he gave out a statement assert
ing his innocence and asking the pub
lie to suspend judgment until he has
had the opportunity OF facing his ac-
cuserS in court. Morse had received
word by wireless telegraphy that two
indictments had been found against
him, but he did not know he was TO
suffer physical arrest. The appearance
of three detectives from District At
torney Jerome's Office at his stateroom
door took him completely by surprise.
Mrs. Morse met her husband at the
pier, and it was in her automobile that
the journey with one of the detectives
was made to Justice Dowling's house.
Basis of the Indictment
The charge against Morse grows out
of note given to him by ex-Chief JUS
tice Morgan G. O'Brien. Judge
O'Brien is said to have deposited three
notes for 100000 each with 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, accord
ing 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. It is alleged that
Morse discounted one of these notes at
the Mercantile National bank, in which
he formerly was a director, and that
he represented to the bank that he was
authorized to receive it's check for the
amount of the loan.
Theory of the Prosecution.
1t is further alleged that the check
given to Morse was made payable to
Judge OBrien and was cashed by
Morse at the National Bank of North
America, Morse signing Judge
O'Brien's name. per c. W. Morse
1t is the theory of the Indictment that
the check never having passed into the
hands Of O'Brien or his authorized
agents it's use by Morse constituted
grand larceny from the Mercantile Ma
from that institution.
Morse Pleads Not Guilty.
Morse was arraigned before Justice
Bowling OH two charges of grand
larceny and misrepresentation of funds
of the Mercantile National bank
Through his counsel he pleaded not
guilty and asked for a pOstpOnement
of two weeks with permission to
change his plea if desired. The court
fixed the hearing for next Monday.
Morse was indicted by the grand
jury later i'll the day on a charge of
perjury alleged to have been com
mitted when Morse testified before
former grand jury.