New-York tribune., 1918-06-18
Acouitsal Ordered for
William A. Morgan,
Boston Investigator
Counsel Opens
For the Defence
He Declares Criminal Mo
tive Has Not Been Shown
by the Prosecution

The number OF defendants in the
Emerson Motors case trial was reduced
BY one yesterday.
On the reassembling of the United
States District Court here yesterday
Judge Martin T. Manton, after consid-
srinr over the week end motions for
dismissal made on behalf of William
A Morgan, the Boston financial investi-
rsscr, instructed the jury to bring in
a verdict of mot guilty" in his case.
Morgan's action in preparing So
called "whitewash" report Of the COM
many, which had set out to rival Ford,
did not. the court held, sufficiently i'm
plcate him with the basic transactions
Of the concern to justify his conviction
on the charge of having conspired to
use the United States mails to defraud.
"The evidence" Judge Manton told
the jury, ain the case Of this man is
not adequate, and you will accordingly
acquit him."
Immediately Assistant United States
Attorney James w. Osborne, I'd, who
on Friday had rested the governments
case, announced that the prosecution
would reopen and put Mr.. Morgan on
the stand as witness against his erst-
while co-defendants.
Cautioned by Court
Mr. Morgan's sudden transition from
defendant to witness seemed to dazzle
him. His responses to the swift rattle
of questions volleyed at him by the
prosecuting attorney apparently were
SO wide of the point that the court at
length remarked:
"You have Just had one very narrow
escape, Mr.. Morgan. You had better
be careful that you don't get yourself
into fresh trouble"
After that Mr.. Morgan's memory had
to be repeatedly refreshed by quota
tions from the minutes Of the first
grand jury investigation into the Emer-
son Motors affairs before he could
give anything like final answers to the
queries put to him.
The subject upon which Mr.. Osborn
sought to extract further light from
Mr.. Morgan was the manner in which
his report had been broughtsto life
In the end, Morgan's story set forth
that Mr. Humphrey, who was very
anxious to handle the Emerson account,
had expressed dissatisfaction with the
unfavorable record sent him by Bishop,
that he, Morgan, had on one occasion
n Of
Long Island City factory; that he had
used the unfavorable Bishop report
and "some notes" as the basis for the
laudatory report he later brought
forth; that he received no money from
Humphrey until the favorable report
had been duly produced and delivered,
when he was paid $3.50, besides s400
he said was given him by the Emerson
people for his article labelled "The
Truth"
Asked if Mr.. Humphrey had told him
ms report was to be used for publca-
lion in the company's efforts to refute
criticism, the witness at first declared
Mr.. Humphrey had not. But a read
ing Of his own testimony on this sub
Ject, given to the grand jury in 1917,
caused him to "recollect" and reverse
this answer.
Points Out Omissions
Morgan's session on the witness
stand ended with Mr.. Osborne reading
10 the jury the two reports-Bishop's
and Morgan's-and pointing out al
ieeed omissions of such statements as
that though the Emerson Four might
pe manufactured for the advertised
pisce OF S395. there would be as much
difference between its actual COM
vi g.
as pictured in the advance circulars
as there is between Pierce-Arrow
and Ford"
Then George Gordon Battle came
Forward with the opening plea for the
In presenting the case for all the
dGefendants save Mr.. Humphrey and
1eorge B. Clifford. the indicted Emer-
son company director, Mr.. Battle oc-
rrupled scarcely more than an hour.
ms address to the jury was almost ex-
ssius'vely with regard to the intent be-
nlnd the facts alleged by the prosecu-
tion.
Ihe sensational story of the s2O,500
which the Emerson company was as-
serted to have rushed to Boston to di
vert a rumored investigation there, he
passed over with a single brief ref
erence. 'eA
Mr.. Wilson," said he to the iurv. re-
ierring to his own client, chad nothing
20 DO with that. AS regards the monev
,r.self, Mr.. Campbell will tell YOU M
emerson said it was needed for LEGAL
expenses: Mr.. Campbell said that he
thought it was rather large amonnt
out Mr.. Emerson insisted it was necas'
safy; and so Mr.. Campbell signed the
check for s2o,5oo, as you know. ''''
Doesn't Know Story Of Money
What is the story of that money? 7
confess | do not know. Whether =
vas vas hold-up by this man Coaklev Itbe
lAosmer A.mer campaign manager Of Distr;ct
nnstorney Joseph c. Pelletier). don,t
anew; But l don't see that it makes
any difference" -""Ass
!; Mr. Battle added in part exrIana.
;.on that while grand jury proceed.
,ags OF the sort this money is said ~
aave been the means of stopninv Ss
mos OF themselves constitute anv sin,
Upon corporations integrity. amona
sa ae uninstructed public they have :
ghdency to arouse suspicion. He sa;S
~ ~ presumed the Emerson peonIe fal
'"a' II was worth while to 60 out -,