Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-02
Will Not Take Shipbuilder
Off Ship 1t Is
Announced
STATEMENT GIVEN
Had No Intention of Leaving Country
to Avoid Grand Jury investiga-
ton.

oo- w daIlbiS LoIl, DeC. A.<ai OooSu Ds
the departure Of Charles W. Morse,
New York shipbuilder, from the
country just as the government is
about to place before federal grand
jury it's Investigations of his trans
actions with the shipping board, Of
ficials Of various departments are
considering tonight what means may
be taken to bring him back to the
United States.
1t is hoped, department of justice
officials said, that word can be sent
to the French government in time to
permit Morse's detention at Havre
tomorrow morning, when, according
to latest advices, the French steam
er Paris. on which he sailed from
New York, is due to dock.
Early in the day the department of
justice called on the navy depart
ment to send a destroyer to meet the
vessel outside of Havre and take
Morse off the ship No such order
was issued by the navy department,
however, and officials declared later
that they were without authority to
act in that manner.
Tonight a plan to cancel the pass
port issued to Mr.. Morse was under
consideration. The effect of such
action, it is understood, probably
would be that the French government
might. under representations from
the United States, refuse to permit
him to land. His return to the United
States on the Paris probably would
result.
Any impression that Morse left
the country to avoid grand jury in
vestigation was denied bv his sons in
the statement issued through Mr..
J,snhtyrf - -=tc..-ss ''>'->.. y -o
"Attcntion has been called" the
statement said. ''to articles appear
ing in the daily press, the tendency
Of which is to give the impression
that Mr.. Morse has surreptitinuslv,
and in disguise. sailed from the Unit
ed States to avoid some proposed
Grand jury investigation. The truth
is that he sailed on the Paris on
Friday of last week under passport
issued to him in his own name and
vised hv government officials at the
pier. without any knowledge of the
governments intentions beyond the
fact that they have geen making an
fnvastiga ton for over n year.
"Hc did not know the government
proposed to lay the matter before the
Grand iurv, nor does he or any mem
ber of his family know, exrent by
rumors. that there is any such inten-
tions. He could not have anticinated
that Mr.. Dobvns. sDecial counsel for
the shining board. would do the
unprecedented thing of announcing
his purpose publicly. which an,
nonncnment was made five davs after
ho had sailed. The government vised
his passport and thev have req son to
believe knew that he had sailed when
its statement was issued.
"The cailin" lest month was his
third sailing to Europr within the
last twelve months for the treatment
of a malady which seems TO he grow
ing daily nonre serious. The last sail
ING was under the advice of his fam
ilv rhvsinian for the betterment of
his phvsical condition.
"It is false for anv one to supnose
that he could avoid an Indictment by
a trip abroad. Everyone knows that
the government has the power to Sc
cure his presence. 1t would be un-
thinkahIe that he should wait around
IN a critical physical condition"
From current gossip, the state
ment continued. it has been learned
that the government proposes to in
dict not only Charles w. Morse, bnt
"other Morses and other individuals"
connected with contracts getween the
Morse companies and the Emergency
Fleet corporation.
at is proposed," the statement
said, "to meet whatever charges may
he made by the government. and
furthermore intended that they shall
in proper wav. somewhere, some
time. have their liabilities to our COM
CONTINUED on page fve)