El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-09-12
NOT GUILT"
MORSE VERDICT
Street Car Man, Attacked
By Mob, Acquitted On
Pistol Charge.

C. L Morse. one Of the street car
conductors who was arrested by the
police after being beaten up by mem
hers Of a mob on Labor Day, was ac-
quilted by a jury in the county court
Monday Of a charge Of having pistol
in his possession. The jury, in its
verdict, decided fine point of law,
in which the word reasonable" OF
trust suit fame. figured. and also up
held the contention that a street car
is the conductors place OF business
and that he has the legal right 10 arm
himself therein for his own protec-
ton.
Policeman Andy Shade. who arrested
Morse, told Of the street car riots on
Labor day and said that when he en-
tered Morse's car the latter had a
pistol in his hand and was struggling
with several men He said he arrested
Morse because Of having the pistol, but
that when he got the conductor to the
police station, the revolver had dis
appeared He said Morse told him that
someone got the gun"
Admits Buying Pistol
Morse, under the direction OF his
counses Frank Lotus and Dave Null
cahy, admitted that he had bought the
pistol the day before because he had
heard reports that the strikers were
10 attack the street car men following
the parade. He said he bought the
weapon to protect himself He then
described the attack.
The mob. some Of whom I recoS-
nized. attacked me-" he said 4 was
beaten over the heaq ana klekea' Whl-s
some Of the rest Of the crowd hurled
rocks at the car. broke the windows
and cut the trolley rope"
Under cross-examination by assist
N1~=HHH Il Nn
admitted that he had not told the po-
lice Of the reports of trouble he had
heard. Neither could he name any OF
the men from whom he had heard the
rumors that an attack was TO De MADE
on the car men
Asks for Dismissal.
Following MOrse's testimony, at
torney Lotus moved for the dismissal
Of the case on the ground that me
law holds a car is an employees place
of business and that he has rlgnI |
to arm himself therein The spectre |
case was that of a negro porter VINO
carried a pistol in his Pullman car,
Judge Adrian Pool denied the mo- |
ton TO dismiss, leaving the question |
Up to the jury, but read the statutes /
in the case and the law, that II thS |
jury held Morse had REASONABLE
grounds for fears OF an attempt upon /
his life there should be an acquittaL
Claim asNO Reasonable Grounds
Attorney Feuille and county attor-
ney Groom argued lndl lueie NslS Ao 4
grounds for Morse-s fears
and that such a ruling would throw 4
the doors open to allow almost anyone ]
to carry deadly weapons
Il have serious doubts that the law
goes so far as TO be applied to case
like this" said county attorney Groom
If il is held that a car is a mans place
~ business the doors viii be thrown Z
open to allow all motOrmen and con
luctors to go constantly armed"
Attorney Lotus argued that the
bleness" Of Morse's fears was
proved by the subsequent events. the
lttacks upon the car men, the calling
,ut Of the Texas rangers and the
county officers, and the action that
as since been taken by the grand
urv. The point Of law as to car
,efng a mans place Of business. he
aid. he would leave 10 the jurors
The jury returned its verdict OF ac-
initial in less than five minutes