Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-05
INQUIRY IS WANTED
BY MORSE COUNSEL
lockwood Says Client Will
Appeal to Congress-Lam-
! bert Makes Statement.

Although government officials are
confident that the acquittaI of Charles
w. Morse, his three sons and asso-
ciates will have no effect on the pros
ecution OF the other war-fraud cases
pending, Wilton J. Lambert. attorney
for Mr.. Morse, expressed the opinion,
in statement last night, that II will
be severe setback to the Department
of Justice crusade against defendants
in the other alleged war frauds
Just AS soon as the summer recess
of the District Supreme Court ends In
October, District Attorney Peyton
Gordon said. he will be ready to pro-
coed with the prosecution of several
other war-fraud cases known as the
Old Hickory powder plant case" and
the Phillips case" The freeing OF
torney Gordon believes. will not in
terfere with the prosecution of these
cases.
First Intimntion of Case.
When Mr. Morse first had in
timation of the present attempted
criminal proceedings" said Attorney
T4ambert'S statement, 1T was when
he was about reaching Havre in De-
cemher, 1921. He received ca BILE
from his son, saying that the At
torney General. Mr. Daugherty. had
given out to the press that Morse
was d fugitive from justice, and that
they were contemplating sending
United States dcstroyerS out to cap
ture him.
Mr. Morse Immediately cabled for
permission to see his doctor in Rome.
which was refused, and thereupon
he came back to New York and pro-
ceeded at once to Washington. where
he gave bond in the sum of $50
600. he being charged with having
passed worthless check for $4,000.
Charge Never Pressed.
This charge was never pressed.
but some months afterward the
present indictments for conspiracy
were procured from the grand jury.
and Mr.. Morse has been compelled
TO be here since October. 1922. &C
lively engaged in the preparation
and trial of his case. Pending the
trial OF these indictments. indict-
ments were obtained against Mr..
Morse in New York and extradition
attempted to be had of him in Maine,
which he successfully resisted.
Mr.. Morse claims that the whole
trouble occurred by reason of the
fact that shortly prior to the at
tempted apprehension OF him in
against the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration for large sums of money
claimed to be due in connection with
government contracts"
After the jury in the District ST.
preme Court yesterday had returned the
verdict of not guilty against Morse and
his associates. Charles w. Morse said
he would leave soon for Europe for his
health. Nash lockwood of New York,
Morse's chief counsel. said that upon
the converting of Congress Mr.. Morse
would seek an investigation by the
House and Senate judiciary committees
of the prosecution brought against him
by the government
Receives Verdict With Tears.
Fifteen weeks were spent by the
Jurors in hearing the evidence and
argument. They deliberated approx
imately fourteen hours before reaching
verdict. AS the jury reported its find
lngS on each of the four counts in the
two indictments tears coursed down the
cheeks of Charles w. Morse The other
defendants showed few visible signs OF
emotion.
Besides Charles w. Morse. those ac-
quilted were Erwin A. Morse, Benjamin
W. Morse. Harry f. Morse. y. H. Camp
bell of New York. II. NJ. Much of
Augusta, Me. and r. O. White of New
York, all officials of some of the sew
eral Morse companies, and Philip Rein
hardt, who was auditor for the Emer-
gency Fleet Corporation at the Virginia
shipbuilding plant, at Alexandria.