The morning journal-courier., 1908-11-06
ury ConYiCts Curtis Too But Recommends CIemency In
 Case of Promoters Associate,
I'VE YEARS THE MINIMUM
ankers Convicted of Misappli- cation of Funds and Falsify- ing Books, But Not of
 Conspiracy.

New York, Nov. 5,--Charles w. | lorse, until a year ago a dominant lure in the world of finance. and fred IT., Curtis. former president of &ntional Bank of North America, re found guilty tonight in the crim : li branch of the United States clr- | it court on charges of misappIca- n of funds and falsifying the books the bank. There was clarge of tnspiracy against the prisoners, but a jury acquitted them on this lnt
 Within five minutes after the jury M rendered its verdict Judge Hough 1 refused to entertain q motion for ifand had committed the two bank to the Tombs. Judge Hough said lt he would hear any motions the vNers for the prisoners desire to Ike at fo;30 o'clock tomorrow lrning. His decision made compul- y the incarceration of Morse and rtis in cells In the prison until to- brow.
 The federal statutes provide a min 'um penalty of five years imprison- snt for falsifying the books of a hk. The maximum penalty on th&s irge Is ten years Imprisonment, 'l two years for misapplication of hds The jury recommended elem hy' for MT Curtis, but made no rec fmendation in the case If Mir. rse.
 The scene in the court room was a 'tis had remained In the court Inn nearly all day awaiting the yer t Mrs. Curtis showed signs of giv- way to her emotions a number of es and once when the jury return 10 the court room to seek nstruc- as about the manner in which the spiracy should be considered, Mrs. 1rse broke down and sobbed.
 Foreman John Elder, responding to customary question of the court fk. read the verdict Mir. Morse and 4 Curtis stood before the jury while Elder. was reading the verdict and [ wives sat near them. leaning for I'd in tense attitudes to catch every Nd.
 lNe have agreed upon verdict in man In subdued voice. "On the pige of conspiracy we find them not 9ty" A look of relief came to the Is of the prisoners and their wives, N 1t only lasted moment for Mir. lsr continued:
 lln the charge of mlsapplcation of funds of the bank we find both Sndants guilty On the charge of Ding false entries ln the books of the pR we And both defendants guilty Tn i!,case of Alfred H. Curtis the jury Mes to make a strong reeommenda ui to the mercy of the court"
 \, stifed sob of relief escaped Mrs .Is as she heard the recommenda a for mercy for her husband Mir Wis heard the verdict stoically. hui l,'e was unable to conceal the dls. Ipyintment he feit. Mrs Morse kept leyes on her husband forgetting ;Lelf and being concerned only on hi t'pnt.
 iere was momentary hush In tho ,si room after the verdict had beer i8 This was broken by buzz of ex
 conversation in the court room lfts few minutes later the lawyers 'he defendants were making thu I,amary motions for new trial, fo' Wand for permission to take an ap gasto the circuit court of appeals ge Hough said that he would hea, Emotions tomorrow morning wher ,,1risoners are arraigned before hin W sentenced He then dismissed tn, I,e and in very short time afte snyerdlct had been rendered tn tiG room had been cleared ot specta tg Mir. Morse and Mir. Curtis wer ignpanied as far as the Tombs pris tihveral blocks away, by their wives ,3brisoners were then locked up fo rlight.
 'Mlre has been wide interest 'n th sLf trial of Charles " Mcrae an ,h'd M Curtis on charges Erowini l.F the failure of Inc Nat!orgl Ban laRrth America It was brought ou lra testimony that MT, Morse mad ' t loans from the bank through so ,,A dummies and that Presiden .s enabled him to do so Tn l iN thus obtained was used to fln
 fthe Morse ice pools and steamshi }atons
 ,llted states District Attorne Li'1on, who has had charge of tl1
 ,rution of Morse and Curtis, sal i 1 the prisoners had been taken t,.'ombs that according to his con .@ion the prisoners were convicte fT,ity-four counts, all of which ar tfined in the charges of misappl irI of fcunds and making false CT l,gln the books of the bank. Tn
 < charge also Included the chara (alIlng false reports to the comt ! lHr of the currency,
 Knight Curtis was hoping for i,tnded sentence because of the al 1T ve to the government attorne. N'lE on the stand Curtis frankly tol
 itontinued on Seventh Page.)