Evening star., 1923-04-25
PAYNE SUBPOENAED
FOR MORSE TRIAL
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counsel for Morse. objected to what
he called statcmt nts of evidence by
the prosecutor and declared the pur-
pose of an opening statement was to
outline what the government expect
ed to prove. Maj. Gordon denied he
was giving testimony and said he was
stating what the government expects
TO prove.
Resuming. his statement the prose-
eutor said the government expects to
show that Morse and his associates
secured contracts to build ships from
the Shipping Board by false repre-
sentationS as to their financial abil-
ity and as to their capacity for per-
forming the contracts. The defendants
led the Shipping Board people to
think. he stated, that the Palmer plant
was worth 100000. Statements to
that effect from expert accountants
We're furnished the Shipping Board,
he stated.
Cautions Jurors.
Attorney w. Bissell Thomas. repre-
senting Harry F. Morse. called the at
tention of the. court to an editorial in
one of the local morning papers reflect
ing on his client. The article was shown
to the court and Mr.. Thomas inquired
if any of the jurors had seen it. When
all of the twelve men had stated they
had not read the item, the matter was
dropped with a renewal by the court OF
his caution to the Jurors not to read
anything touching the trial.
United States Attorney Gordon con-
tinued his opening statement outlining
what the government expects to prove
against Morse and his associates He
took up the indictment which charges a
conspiracy to defraud the United States
Shipping Board Emergency Feet Cor
poratlon- He explained to the jurors
that the United States owned the stock
Of the company and that it vas q gov
ernment agency
Introduction of testimony VIII COM
mence as soon as Maj. Gordon finishes
his statement
Had Made All Plans.
. Whether Mr.. Payne would go to
Mexico as one OF the two American
commissioners to go over the situa-
ton with a view to seeing if the
Obregon administration could be rec
ognized by the Uunited States. SEEM
ed uncertain in view Of the subpoena
issued by the court this morning for
him TO testify in the Morse trial But
Charles r. Warren, the other Ameri-
can com missioner who called at the
White House today. said that so far
as he knew. Mr. Payne had made all
plans to leave shortly
In fact, Mr.. Warren said. Mr. Payne
would go TO Mexico IL his original
plans could be carried out.
The State Department. MIR. Warren
said, had communicated with the
Mexican government to determine
when the American commissioners
could best meet with the two Mexi-
can commissions An early reply
was expected. he said. and it was
probable that he at least would leave
shortly. Mr.. Warren plans to make
a short visit at his home at Detroit,
before proceeding to Mexico City.
Matthew E. Hanna of the State De-
partment, who is in charge of Mexi-
can affairs will probably accompany
the commissioners to Mexico, Mr..
Warren Indicated today. and prob
ably will also take additional secre-
tarial personnel from this city.
The exact date of the first meeting
in Mexico depended, the commissioner
said. upon the reply to the State De
partments query, but it might be ex-
pected to take place. it was intimated,
within three weeks.
The two Mexican commissioners
have already been named by the Obre-
gon government which has communi-
Gated their names to the State De-
| partment here. AS yet, however, they
have not been made public