New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-03
LAST WORD FOR MORSE
"SYCOPH4NTS" DECRIED.
Littlefeld Bitter 4gaina Men Let
King 4ded-.SessiOn To-day.

re
.e-day to sum up for Charles W Morse IN the
,so-se Curtis trial before Judge Hough, in the
limited States District Court As soon as ne 'Iiu
finished ex-Judge William NJ h clcott began iIlS
rlea for Alfred H. Curtis. At o'clock ho"eNei'
Judge HouEA adjourned court until $50 p N 10
80 NH, NJ t,Icott about half through his ad-
dress From the present outlook the case VIII NOT
20 TO the jury until to morrow
The twelve Jurors viii be sent to the polls carry
This morning n charge OF deputy naTshals, anu
will then go back the Astor House Tor IurlcheoA
In converting court on Election Day preceoei''
vfu Re established by Judge Hough' as neither me
state nor federal records chronicle such an occur
renee After Mr.. Olcott finishes his summing up
for Nj Curtis. United States Attorney 0uIlsoh
viii close the case for the government Judge
F5ourh's charge 10 the Jury probably will be mace
on Wednesday morning.
When court opened yesterday Mr.. Olcott called
two witnesses in rebuttsl for Mr.. Curtis but 'heir
testimony va. without important bearing on the
case TIE attorneys and Judge Hough then re
tired for q consultation When they returned 10
the courtroom it was announced that TWO more
counts had been stricken from the indictments
These referred TO the discountng by MI. Morse
in the National Bank of North America OF note
for $4,000 made by Calvin Austin, president OF
che consolidated Steamship Lines Company They
formed part Of the governments charge OF mis-
appropriation. The defence argued that the nanh
not injured by the transaction. ana Judge
IIough sustained that view.
The courtroom was crowded when Nj Litueheid
began Mr.. Morse's final plea 10 the jury Of abso-
lutte innocence OF the governments charges OF over
certifcation misrepresentation and conspiracy IN
connection with his administration OF the affairs OF
the National Bank Of North America Of which ne
was formerly vice-president and practical dictator
Mrs Morse and Mrs. Curtis with several friends
and Miss Kate A Wilson, Mi Morse's secretary,
were in the courtroom Mrs. Morse was deeply af-
fected when Nj IittIeheld eXtollin= the
square deal qualities OF his client
Tsr-Iefield bitterly denounced the who
had shared the ice kings bounty, but when the
panic came last year turned upon him. These men
the lawyer characterized "sycophants who had
gathered about Mr.. Morse and shared in his pros
perity when times were good. but when dark days
came were ready 10 jump his back and at his
throat"
Nj Morse" said Mr.. Lhtleheld. is neither
xelsher nor coward. He is & OF mere than
ordinary business ability, and I would not stand
here ard plead the baby act for him. even to save
him from the doors Of prison. He was one Of
the few men who stood undismayed and unafraid
during those memorable days Of panic and imam
cia stress. He stood there. carrying out and MAX
inc good an agreement he had made He paid
the ove-drat note and there stands to-day against
him only the $4,000 note which IS in dispute
Mr. Iittlefeld condemned the Controller Of the
Currency for refusing open the records OF his
Office 10 the defendants while permitting the prose-
cution TO have free access TO them This may be
2 mart Of the square deal hear much about
but see 50 little Of Numbered the eE-Congress-
man The prosecution is trying TO catch COM
ing and going-on either horn Of the dilemma MI
Stinzsou, when he comes to the final argument,
Will through the behind him, play this judicial
shell game. It isn't. however, the ordinary gam
ber's shell game. There there three shells
and one pea but here in this game there are three
shells and pea."
Mr I1ttleheld made much Of the fact that the
books Of the National Bank Of North America at
no time showed erasures If the two defendants
mad. as early as 1906, decided through conspiracy
70 defraud the bank. the lawyer said. il was sin
grlar fact that the books should show not the
slightest erssure TO conceal or hide the improper
declaa ed the explanations made by Morse and Cur
ts, 10 the slightest detail. had been corroborated
h. the government illnesses. This was especially
50 h1 said. as 10 the 5oans exchanged between the
National bank of North America and the MeTCan-
tiI- National Bank
Are twelve men with red blood in their veins
going 10 convict this man. place him in prison for
five years because 4 cashier certified his s126.o0
Heinze check without mis- knowledge? And. gentle
men remember Morse paid that overdraft of $4,000
end paid II dollar for dollar, with interest. Re
member too all IF the deposFors Of the bank
got their money. dollar for dollar. with interest
the date Of payment Is that wrecking 4
bank" argued the lawyer.
Mr. OIcott opened ny outlining the case against
Mr.. Curtis. and saying that the actions Of the
former president compatible with The
guilt Of = intent upon defrauding or wreck
ing Al institution He argued that, in view OF
past transactions. Mr.. Curtis was justified in &C
oepting the verbal guarantee of Mr.. Morse
is there any evidence here that shows that
Curtis was engaged in any of these speculations-
that he had OF would have. directly or indirectly.
eny Interest IN the profits Of these transactions?
the attorney asked 'AH the evidence shows that
Curtis was justified in accepting the Morse guar
entee and having confidence in him
S-