The Washington herald., 1920-02-02
GOES ON TRIAL
AFTER 10 YEAR
TERM IN CELL
Man Who Forged $4,000
Draft in 1912 to Be
Arraigned Today.
CAUGHT IN CALIFORNIA
c. D. Morse Who Swindled
Bank Hunted in Many
Cities. 4

Z. b.. Morse. alias A. c. Morse, alias
G. ID. Morse, will be put on trial in
Criminal Court No today on a forg-
cry charge which is almost ten years
old.
Morse has been wanted by the
Washington police authorities sincs
August, 1872. Tall. thin and about sol
years old. he has been brought to
Washington from California. where
he has been serving a penitentiary
sentence for forgery.
The crime aalIeged 70 have been
committed here by Morse is said to
be one of the most daring and au-
dacious in Washington criminal an
mails. A lookout sent broadcast
the country at the time
by Mai. Richard Sylvester, then chief
of police in Washington. which in
substance tells this story:
Ten Years Ago.
On Saturday, July 13. lsl2, MN rep
resenting as c. B. Morse called at the
office of the New York Real Estate
Brokers ostenslbly to purchase q
home costing approximately $4,000. He
was referred to the realty firm OF
Boss & Phelps, n4 Fourteenth street
northwest.
After examining a number of the
firms properties, he finally selected
one. but before making a deposit and
closing the deal stated he must consult
his wife. Before leaving the office
he asked permission to have his mail
in the care of the firm The
request was granted.
Six days later. as a deDosit .on the
property. he gave his personal check
on the United States Bank of Aber
deem for 500. The following day he
again appeared at the real estate Of
flee. and showed to Harry K. Boss,
president Of the firm, a draft appar-
entity drawn by the Aberdeen bank on
the First National Bank OF Seattle
Wash. The draft was dated July l3.
1917. and was made out for $4,000. 1t
bore the apparent signature of Il. {.
VandeTvort. cashier.
Morse expressed a desire to deposit
the draft. and asked that a bank be
recommended. Mr.. Boss took him to
the Commercial National Bank, intro
duced him to officers of the bank. in
cluding John Poole. then cashier OF the
but now president of the
Federal National Bank.
M Boss Endorsed Draft. u
Mr.. Boss, to enable Morse to de-
posit the draft. indorsed it, Morse
opened an account for $4,000. The
next day he drew a check on this
account for $3.50. This check is
now in the hands of the police.
On July IS. Morse drew out $50.
and later presented a certified
check at the bank and received
ss. 500. He then disappeared The
next day word was received from
Aberdeen that the $500 check and
the draft were forgeries.
Morse was never seen in Wash
ington again until brought here.
Police of many cities sought him
in vain. Finally he was arrested
by the California authorities. on
another charge. convicted and SEN
fenced.
Morse's description was given by
the police as "swarthy or pallid
iron-gray hair, having
the appearance of being recently
cut. deep-set. piercing dark eyes
heavy eyebrows. smooth face,
prominent nose and cheekbones,
hollow checks"
Police Here Suspicious.
That the police here were sus-
picious. but unenlightened as to
Morse's appearance, is shown in
the rest of the description: 'Quitet
corpulent, but in an unusual way,
his chest and lower abdomen being
as prominent as the middle portion
of the abdomen where corpulency
appears. his body apparent
ly being out of proportion to the
rest of his build. Me appeared
somewhat as If his neck was stiff,
turning his body at the same time
as his head"
As matter of fact, it was later
Morse is extremely thin
and has black hair. At the time
he appeared in Washington, police
allege. he wore a gray wig and a
bag capable of imitation around his
body, giving the appearance oft
stoutness.
Assistant District Attorney Paul
Cromelin, who will prosecute the
case. stated last night that both
draft and check were manufac
tured by Morse.