The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-11-13
ice king SENTENCED
Charles w. Morse Given Fifteen
Years in Atlanta Prison.
DRAMATIC SCENE IN COURT
When Wives Of. Prisoners Collapsed.
A. HI. Curtis Given the clemency
Recommended by jury.

New York City.-From cell IN
the Tombs prison Charles w Morse
now directs the efforts OF his counsel
to secure his freedom, he having been
sentenced to serve fifteen years IN
the federal prison at Atlanta, Ga, for
misapplication Of the funds of the Ma.
tional Bank of North America, and
making false entries in the books Of
the bank.
Alfred H. Curtis, former president
Of the defunct bank, who was jointly
tried and convicted with Morse. was
given his liberty on suspended SEN
tence.
Whether a new trial will be granted
Morse is problematical Judge La
combe granted a writ of error to the
Morse lawyers. This writ is return
able December 8, and is based on the
usual grounds exceptions taken by
the defense during the trial and ex-
eeptions to the indictment itself. This
step had to- be taken before applica-
ton for bail could be made, and 1t
also leads to the argument for, a new
trial. The Morse lawyers say their
client has instructed them to. fight to
the last ditch"
The scene in the court room when
sentence was pronounced by Judge
Hough was a most dramatic one. The
wives of the two prisoners, who had
been constant attendants at court dur
mug the entire trial, were present, as
If anxious to cheer their husbands by
their presence in the trying ordeal
which confronted them.
When. the real test came, however,,
It was the husbands and not the
wives who proved the comfpytars.
Morse sat like stole when he heard
the words which condemned him to
prison. There was scarcely the trenl-
or of an eyelid, and to those who
watched there was poElonger even
the. shadow Of a doubt that the lit
tie man" was indeed. a man of iron
nerve. Curtis, too,s accepted the news,
which came to him -goodshews in his
case-With the same lack Of emotion
that characterized his former chief
But the strain had been too great
for the women AS the truth Of what
Judge Hough'ss words meant flashed
through her mind, Mrs. Morse, whoss
through all the trying days of the
trial, had preserved an unruffed de-
meanor collapsed in her seat, buried
her face in her hands and began to
sob convulsiVely. Still weeping, SHE
was led away to an ante-room, where,
moment later, her husband held her
In his arms and soughttb console her.
Nor was Mrs. Curtis any more pre-
pared for the nervous strain than Mrs.
Morse. Mrs. Curtis, within the rail,
was gazing intently5 at, Judge Hougn
as he began to speak. She had beer
i'll and several times during the trial
had been forced to leave her place
in the court room: her face was
drawn and white, telling Of night
mingled with hope and fear, while her
husband remained away from her, be-
hind the bars Of a prison cell. When the
Judgment of the court-the most ia
vorable for her -husband that could
be given-z-was pronounced, she tainted
aid would have fallen had not kindly
hands supported her
2 After justifying the cIemency for
Curtis, Judge Hough pronounced sem
.tence upop Morse. I'm the case Of
Morse there is not much to be said"
said. Judge Hough. "As In all bank
fraud cases, the criminal legality is
only part of a large general scheme.
In this case this was to use the bank
and the depositors' money for specu-
lative purposes If such scheme were
permitted to be carried out, the pub
lie would be at the mercy Of band
of adventurers /, therefore, sentence
you to fifteen years in federal prison
at Atlanta, Ca