Evening star., 1923-05-24
WILL LET M'ADO0
MAKE DEPOSITION
Judge Agrees He Need Not
Appear on Stand in
Morse Trial.

" lllldnl u. MCAuOO, ocCEc-
tary of the Treasury, will not appear
in person on the witness stand at the
Morse trial. His testimony will be
taken i'll the form of a deposition and
read to 'he jury should 1t be re-
quired. Attorney Wilton ]. Lambert
OF counsel for the Morses yesterday Sc
cured permission of Justice Stafford
to take the deposition of Mr.. McAdoo
and to hold ii in reserve. Mr.. Lam
bert explained that Mr.. McAdoo is
under subpoena, but is desrous~ OF
leaving Washington, and to accom-
MEDIATE him the defense wishes to
take his testimony at this time.
The court suggested that If 1t
could be arranged this morning 1t would
furnish good opportunity, as the jus
tice had an engagement which would
prevent "a session Of the trial before
noon. The court will not convene today
until l o'clock.
Follows Precedent.
The action of the defense in TAX
ing the deposition of Mr.. McAdoo
followed the precedent set in the
matter of taking the testimony of
John Barton Payne in order not to
delay Judge Payne's departure as
Counsel for the defense at the trial
yesterday attempted to destroy the eff
feet of the testimony given Tuesday
by Norman c. Finninger, an auditor Of
the Shipping Board. at the trial be-
fore Justice Stafford and jury In
Criminal Division l. Mr.. Flnninger
had presented his analysis OF the
books of the Groton Iron Works, a
Morse corporation, which he declared
showed that out Of the first payment
nf
tract for wooden hulls the Morse
people spent only S11,043 in actual
work of the vessels.
Attorney Nash lockwood, by his
cross examination, ELECTED from the
witness the concession that he had
no personal knowledge whether GER
tain materials which he had charged
to private work" and which were
able to be used in ship construction
had been used in private or govern
nent craft. He said he knew that
the contracts for two schooners for
private account had been Cancelled by
the company so the Morse company
could push the government work.
saw Only Records.
Mr. Fnninger admitted that he was
not at Groton until 1922. nearly five
years after the hullS were built. and
that his information was from the
books and records only.
Referring to work such as grad
ing. erecting quarters. Scaffolding for
tho ship ways and the like. the Wit
ness stated he had charged these to
capital improvements" but on the
books of the company the items had
been charged to government work.
He insisted that his interpretation
was fair, as such work was not ac-
tual ship construction. although such
might be necessary prellminaries.
l.
ninger showed that S121.2SS was spent
TO pay obligations Of the Groton
company. contracted before the
wooden hull contract was awarded: :
that $63,l39 was used in construction
of the Groton plant. which subse-
quently obtained contracts for steel
ships, and that only $11,043 actually
went into the construction of the
wooden hulls.
On oss-examination. Finninger,
who gave his age as twenty-six. said
he had examined the Groton books
and records at the direction of
Fletcher Dobyns. formerly. an assist
ant attorney general in charge of
the Morse case, and District Attorney
Gordon. He said he had access to
all of the Groton records, except
those that were missing; inter
viewed many persons who afterward
were called as witnesses at the trial
and obtained written statements
from some of them
Knew of Evidence
You had read the indictments in
this case before you began your
work." asked Attorney lockwood Of
counsel for the defense.
NO, | read them after the work
had started" was the reply.
You knew the evidence the govern
ment needed?"
Yes. in a general way"
tn
to get that evidence"
only as it worked in with my work
as an accountant in making the cash
analysis Of the books"