Evening star., 1923-06-21
ASKED TO FORGET,
SAYS SHIP WITNESS
Thomas S. Keary Makes
Charge Against Son of C. w.
Morse During Testimony.

Harry F.. Morse, one of the sons
of Charles w. Morse. New York ship
builder and who is on trial with
him before Justice Stafford and a jury
in Criminal Division No. l, was ac-
cused yesterday of tampering with
a witness. whom he is said to have
asked to forget" some of the testi-
mony he was about to give. The
accusation made by Thomas S. Keary,
former auditor of the United States
Steamship Company, startled the
courtroom. Justice Stafford took no
action in relation to the charge.
Keary said that Morse had ap-
preached him shortly after the wit
ness had left the jurybOx Tuesday
afternoon and had inquired Of him
about his explanation of an erasure
on the check stub Of the books of
the United States Transport Com
pany, which witness declared Harry
Morse had ordered him to make.
PLANTATION to Morse, the latter asked
him il he could not forget 1t. The
witness said he responded that he
could not forget it.
Explains Stub Figure.
The check stub was made to read
S3546.41. when the check had actu-
ally been for SS0,546.4l. The witness
explained that the other $4,000 went
to Harry Morse. The money really
belonged to Morse, he said, but Harry
had explained that he did not want
his father. G. w. Morse, to know that
he had drawn the money
Attorney W. Bissell Thomas, coun-
sci for Harry Morse. examined the
witness about the alleged conversa :
ton.
Isn't it true that 1 came out of the
court room with Harry Morse and in
hearing distance OF your converse
tion?" he asked the witness
That's right" keary answered.
Did not Harry Morse say, Tom,
what the dickens was that stub mat
ter, l don't remember it?'
Yes"
Due as Salary.
Did you not tell him tnat the s27,-
600 was rightfuily his and that 1t was
due him for salary and advances he
had made the company"
My recollection is that I did"
And didn't he say to you. We boys
had to sometimes get our money
without father knowing it?'" coun-
Sc lasked
Yes; I believe he did"
Earlier in the day, when ATTORNEY
.'SaoA AsSNh " SOht CLlltl lne
defense, Aas conducting the cross
examination, Mr.. Keary admitted that,
although the change was made on the
check book, the proper entry of 800
543.ol was made in the cash book and
ledger.
MT. Charles w. Morse would see
the stub book" Mr.. Keary explained.
but he wouldn't see the ledger and
the cash book. Mr.. Harry Morse did
not want his father to know that
he had taken $4,000 out of the
funds. Mr.. c. w. Morse frequently
looked at the check book"
Inspection Of Books,
Testimony was introduced today by
the prosecution tending to show that
the Morses had denied the fleet cor
poratfon the right to inspect the
books Of the United States TRANSPORT
Company. "A. F, Norris. at one time a
bookkeeper for that company, tes-
tilted for the government concerning
the refusal. He says he denied in.
spection of the books to the govern
ment's agent because he felt he ha d
not the authority. Upon the request
being renewed, he said. he took the
matter up with r. 0. White, one OF
the defendants, who told him to refer
1t to George NJ Burditt. attorneys for
the United States Steamship Company
Burditt was Jointly indicted with
the Morses on the conspiracy charge
but the government nolle pressed the
charge against him before the trial
of the Morses commenced.