Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-10
MORSE DECLARES
HE IS A PAUPER.
RATED TWO YEARS AGO AS
WORTH S20,000,0o0
New York's Famous "Frenzied Finan-
cier" in Appeal for Bail Reveals
That He Is Comparatively
Penniless
. [Ry Agsociated Press.l

NEW YORK, Nov. 9.-Charles w
Morse, who was rated two years ago as
being worth more than $20,OO0,OOO, sWore
under oath today that he had not
enough money or securities left from
his vast fortune to pay his debts.
This revelation was made when
Morses attorneys appeared in the fed
eral court of appeals to argue for the
admission of Morse to bail. Morse, who
had been sentenced to fifteen years I'M
prisonment at hard labor in the fedefal
prison at Atlanta, Ca, was not per-
mitted to leave the Tombs prison to-
day, but an affidavit made by him was
read. The motion was argued before
Judges Lacombe, Ward and Cox, and
decision was reserved.
1t had not been expected that Morse
would make the plea that he was bank
rupt, as ever since the financial panic
which swept away the greater part OF
his fortune he had maintained that he
would be able to adjust his affairs to
the satisfaction of all his creditors.
Talks Forty Minutes
w. Mace McFarlane appeared in his
behalf and talked for forty minutes.
The lawyer quoted from the opinion of
Judge Hough in refusing to grant bail,
in which Judge Hough said that no
amount of bail would be sufficient to
insure the appearance in court of such
a wealthy man as Morse when he was
wanted.
Mr.. McFarlane then continued: Il
have an affidavit here from Morse him
self, in which he states that he is not a
rich man. Mr. Morse says that he is
in a sense impoverished and that his
| assets would not pay his debts, and
that 1t Is doubtful if they ever would.
If Morse is allowed bail his old friends
would have to provide it. The state
ment that he is a millionaire is false,
and further information will be given
to the district attorney If he desires It,"
Fear He May Leave
Mr.. Mcfarland then went on to say
that the only reason for refusing bail
that he could see was the fear that
Morse would run away. The lawyer
called attention to the fact that when
Morse was indicted he was on his way
to Europe, but he came back imme-
diately.
In referring to the sentence imposed
upon Morse, McFarlane termed it
ruthless and almost unprecedented"
United States District Attorney
Stimson. who prosecuted the case
against Morse, said in opposing the
granting of bail: 81 believe that the
right of granting bail in a case of this
character should be exercised, II at all,
Dy LnO LTldl JuuSes
HE is the one who is most familiar
with the position of the defendant and
his views, his discretion and his de-
cision are entitled to great weight.
Judge Hough denied the application for
bail and stated the two controlling
causes in his decision, first, as to any
reasonable ground of error, and, sec
ond, the effectiveness of bail to pro-
duce the defendant when the final de-
se. to Ea r1nC
Declares It Ridiculous.
The district attorney said it was ri
diculous to represent Morse as being
a pauper in view of Morse's statements
during the trial as to the extent or
his financial transactions. He added 1t
would be wrong to permit surety
company to furnish bail, saying that a
rich man could easily reimburse sucn
a company, and that no one would be
held personally responsible.
"Mr. Morse is a Travelled man and
he knows the difference between a So
1ourn in Paris and the soJourn that
the law may hold out to him here,
said the district attorney.
Before argument was made Lawyer
McFarlane asked the court for thirty
davs additional time to file a second
complaint in error and this was
granted.
The Judges took all the important
papers in the case and reserved de-
cision on the motion for ball.