Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-23
NEW MORSE TRIAL
TOBEC|N IN AUGUST
u. S. Ready to Bring Ship
builder Into Court on
Stretcher, if Necessary.

Once again the long. relentless arm
Of the Federal law is reaching out
for Charles W. Morse. According to
present plans OF the Department or
Justice, he will be brought TO trial
in the United States Court at New
York in August under an indictment
charging Morse with fraudulent use
of the mails.
He, members of his family and GER
tain business associates are accused
of attempting through the mails to
dispose. under Illicit circumstances. of
stock Of the United States Steam
ship Co.." under which corporate
title a number of Morse's shipping
and banking enterprises were included.
Fletcher Dobyns. former assistant
general counsel of the United States
Shipping Board, and Sylvester Rush
of the Department Of Justice Will
have charge of the prosecution on
behalf of the Government
The approaching proceedings have
been pending for four years. The
laws delays, for one reason or an
other, have during all that time frus-
trated attempts to bring Morse TO
trial. A complaint on his part, with
which the Federal authorities have
long been familiar. Is that he is too
ill TO stand trial. Morse for some
time has been at his home, in Maine.
The Department of Justices investiga,
ton having established that he is well
enough to come into court. 1t has
been determined that he shall be
brought there, even though 1t become
necessary to produce him on
stretcher or in a wheelchair.
Released From Prison.
In this connection, all official
washington recalls the scandal as
ISOLATED with Morses release from
the Federal prison in Atlanta IA or
Is years ago. Senator Cara"ay.
Democrat, Of Arkansas, brought the
affair to congressional attention IN
1922 by openly charging that Harry
NJ. Daugherty-acting Tor morse
several wears before Daugherty be-
came Attorney General-had brought
noIitical influence to bear to secure
Morse's liberation.
A sum Of $4,000 as a Daugherty
fee for that service figured IN con-
nection with Caraway's allegations.
Daurherty later denied the charge
and produced letters from President
Taft and Attorney General Wicker
sham las they then were) exonerat-
ing Morse's counsel from improper
activities. There was also mucn
discussion over the methods employer
to secure medical testimony regard
ing Morse's incapacity to serve out
his term at Atlanta. He was SEN
fenced to Is years imprisonment
there for violation of the national
banking laws.
Having retrieved his fortunes,
Morse during the World War en-
eared in extensive shipbuildirg actlv-
tiles in Virginia and Connecticut.
Rut these we're destined to bring him
into fresh contact with the Depart
ment Of Justice. In 1928 he was IN
dioted and tried in the Federal Court
at Washington. together with ms
sons and other associates. Tor con
spiracy to defraud the United states
Shipping Board and emergency
F1eet CORPORATION. The trial resulted
in an acQuittal.
Report Favored Morse
According to Information reaching
+his writer from an informed quar-
ter in New York. United states Az
torney Buchner of that Federal Jurls-
diction put one Of his assistants on
the Morse indictment, now 10 %
sent to trial, several months ago
This assistant is understood to nave
recommended a nolle prosequi mon
nrosecution) to the Attorney Gen
eral at Washington. Accountants in
the Shipping Board, among others,
objected to this disposition OF the
case. Thereupon Oscar r. Luhrlng'
one of the assistants to the Attorney
General. took charge Of proceedings,
and eventually associated with him
in the action Fletcher Dobyns and
Sylvester Rush. Rush is an oldtime
Omaha lawyer, who has tried many
cases for the Government. Dooyns
functioned in the previous prosecu-
ton of Morse.
Nobody knows just how much
Uncle Sam has spent trying to send
Charles w. Morse to prison and keep
ing him behind the bars. The pres
ent proceedings (the indictment charg-
ing fraudulent use Of the mails) have
cost in law expenses alone 100000
while awaiting trial. that sum rep
resenting an annual cost of $4,000
for four years covering the pay OF
certain legal experts in possession
of facts necessary for Morse's pros
ecution. The expense aspect is one
of the reasons behind the insistence
of the Shipping Board legal force that
Morse now be put in the dock. The
Department of Justice is fully con-
WINGED that it has a sound indictment
and can expect a conviction under 1t.
Morse is 70 years old. F. w. w.
(Copyright, 1921