Evening star., 1923-07-26
MORSE TESTIMONY
INJURY MAY REST

The taking of testimony in the
Morse conspiracy trial-one OF the
longest criminal cases in the history
of local courts--was concluded To-Day.
Discussion of the prayers for instruc-
tions on law points to the jury may
occupy the attention OF Justice Staf-
! ford tomorrow and the jury likely
win be .respited until Monday, when
! II is expected, the summing-up arGu-
mcnts will commence. Two days
probably will be allowed TO each side
to present the closing arguments.
United States Attorney Gordon will
begin the argument to the jury on
behalf of the prosecution and VIII De
followed by the several lawyers Tor
the defense. The government CLOS
Ing arguments will be made by AS
sistant Attorney General Allison In
reference to the Virginia Shipbuildlng
lCompany's transactions and by AS
sistant Attorney General Turner in
! relation to the operations of other
Morse corporations Justice Stafford
will then deliver his charge to the
, Jurors.
May Ask Dismissal Ruling.
| Before discussion of the prayers for
| instructions tomorrow. il is expected
/ counsel for the defense will request
a ruling from Justice Stafford on the
motion to dismiss the indictments
because reported by a grand jury one
i member of which was not a resident
| of the District OF Columbia. being a
qualified voter of st. Marys county,
Nd. The defense claims the indict-
| ment is invalid, but the prosecution
4 \ l.
/ by the failure OF counsel for the
Morses to call II to the attention OF
| the court before the case was called
| for trial. The motion was made be-
fore the Introduction of testimony. but
| has not been decided by the court.
| on REORGANIZATION Attorney
Nash lockwood for the defense show
ed that there is balance of S103.-
| 600 due on the note, but that the in
| terest and other charges by the bank
had aggregated s123.0o0 which would
! tend to indicate that $4,000 more
| than the face Of the note had been
1 paid by the Morses.
Effect of Changes.
! Lee r Sanford. a naval architect
with the Fleet Corporation, testified
that the net effect of the four major
| changes in the plans of the ships con
| Istructed by the Virginia Shipbuilding
|
| practically. Witnesses for the defense
| had stated tl.at much of the delay on
the ships was brought about by these
| changes.
| While Attorney Stanley Fowler
| representing n. n. Campbell. one ot
tthe defendants. was croas-exam mining
! the witness. Justice Stafford inter
rupted with the remark that the law
/ yer was not treating this witness
! fairly" Mr.. Fowler asked for an ex-
Inv h..
| in allowing the exception the justice
| remarked there was something that
| could not get into tho record and IL
| was the tone of your voice. which
say is insulting" Mr.. Fowler noted
an exception to that statement OF
/ the court.
I, Before this Mr.. Piez. who was for
merly director general OF the Emer-
gency Fleet Corporation, and who
was called as the first governm on,
witness in rebuttal. had ciashed with
/ attorney Thomas of defense counsel
l-Mr. Thomas was sitting some dis
/ lance away. and. with the result that
the could not hear the questions put
Mr., Piez suggested that counse,
stand up. After several passages
My. Thomas demanded to know If the
Witness was trying 10 give orders
jtion was made because several head.
intervene" and that with Mr.. Thomas
standing he could read his lips.
Hard For Judge to Hear.
I Justice Stafford intervened to re.
4 mark that he was sitting beside the
witness and that he had been unable
to hear counsel until Just now wher
he raised his voice"
Mr.. Piez was questioned particular
ly by Assistant Attorney General
| Turner as to whether at a confer.
ence he had with former Representa-
tive Carlin of Virginia about advanc-
ling money to the. Virginia company's
shipyard. there had been any pro.
would match dollars" with the Vir-
ginia plant.
There never was" said Mr.. Piez
1--WE had a contract covering pay
tments."
lCarlin conferred with him after the
first government loan of $3.50; 600 to
the Virginia plant he had told hin
that IL the Virginia company would
match dollars with US there would
be no need for additional loans" He
added that at that time the Fleet
iCorporation records were that tht
Government had, put 81, 500. 900 into
the plant and housing while the