New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-17
c. W. MORSE SUED
FOR $l,O5O,OOO
Manhattan Navigation Co
Alleges Conspiracy"
in Rates.

Charles w. Morse. whose wealth
was thought to have evaporated in his
losing fight to keep out of the At
lanta penitentiary. and whose release
from prison followed statements that
he had only a few months to live
was made q defendant in a Sl,050,0
suit yesterday.
A Sherman law combination and con
spiracy was started in the Federal
Court by the Manhattan Navigation
Company. which has for years operated
steamboats, on the Hudson River
II is maintained that the Hudson
Navigation Company, by operating two
boats at loss, has tried to cause the
plaintiff corporations financial ruin
The Manhattan company estimates its
losses at S350,000, and under the Sher-
man law asks for threefold damages.
Grim e. Wemple, of 30 Broad ST.. are
attorneys for the plaintiff. W. II. Grim
of the firm is also counsel for Charles
6. Mellen. The defendant corpora
ton has until November Is to file an
answer to the suit.
The complaint explains that the
Manhattan company has been in bust
ness since 1909, running boats between
New York and Albany, and having ar
rangements for continuous through
traffic with the New York Central, the
Delaware and Hudson, Baltimore and
Ohio. Mallory Steamship Company and
the Southern Pacific and Clyde line
The Hudson company has been in eX
istence since 1902, and since 1905 with
Charles W. Morse, the complainant
states. as stakeholder. director or pres
do - al or IL q l.
legged that this company combined in
1905 with the New Jersey Steamboa,
COMPANY. the Citizens Steamboat Com
pany and the Murray Line to monopo-
lie passenger and freight business on
the Hudson.
II is further alleged that this com
bination has been continuously main
tanned for the purpose Of destroying
competition and to exact eXtortiOnate
rates for persons and property. At the
same time the plaintiff says it's rates
have been reasonable, and further con
tends:
"To destroy the interstate business
&C the Manhattan Navigation Company
and for the purpose of bringing about
it's financial ruin, the Hudson Naviga-
ton Company. for the four years last
tween the cities Of New York and Al
bany over the waters Of the Hudson
River. and charged rates for the trans
portation of persons and property
much less than the cost of such trans
portation to the Hudson Navigation
Company.
Said steamboats, sail from the cities
last aforesaid at or about the same
hours the steamboats, of the Manhat-
tan Navigation Company are advertised
to sail and transport persons and
property at rates much less than that
Of the rates Of the Manhattan Naviga-
ton Company
Charles W. Morse is specifically
charged with having stated TO officers
directors and employees Of the PLAIN
tiff corporation that he would see that
the Hudson company ran the two boats
until the opposition had been put out
of business by sale to the Morse com
pany. Stockholders had thus been
frightened the complaint alleges, into
selling their stock to Morse.
Morse was deposed from the pres
.dency of the Hudson Navigation Com
panv in 1910, John W. McKinnon, OF
the Assets Realization Company. sue
ceeding him. Mr. McKinnon and ms
mariner. G. +. Shaw, together with
Ladenburg. Thalmann 4 Co., George K
Sheldon and their associates. acquired
10000 shares Last year, when the
stock was selling az SIS, Morse Of
fered McKinnon SOS and got the stock
The Morse family owned $4,000 shares