The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-11-06
MORSEICETS Is YEARS
continued from Page One. .

q motion for bail and had committed
the two bankers to the Tombs prison.
Judge Hough said that ne would
hear any motion the lawyers for the
prisoners desire to make at 1890 to-
day.
The federal statutes provide min
ium penalty Of five years imprison-
ment for falsifying the books OF the
bank, and penalty of two years
Imprisonment for mlsapplication Of
funds. No alternative but imprison-
ment is provided for conviction on
the charge Of falsifying the books Of
the bank. The maximum penalty on
this charge is ten years imprison-
ment.
The jury recommended clemency
for Mr.. Curtis.
The scene in the court room was
a dramatic one. Mrs. Morse and
Mrs. Curtis had remained in the
court room nearly the entire day
awaiting the verdict. Mrs. Curtis
showed signs of giving way to her
emotion a number of times, and
once when the jury returned TO the
court room to receive instructions on
the manner in which the conspiracy
charge should be considered, Mrs.
Morse broke down and sobbed.
1t was evident by the excitement
of court attendants some minutes be-
fore the jury filed in with verdict
that a decision had been reached and
the news was quickly communicated
to the principals in the case. This
gave MIR. Morse and Mr.. Curtis time
TO prepare themselves and to speak
words of encouragement to their
wives.
AS the doors leading to the jury
room were thrown open silence fell
upon the crowd in the court room.
MIR. Morse and Mr.. Curtis stood
before the jury while Foreman John
Elder was reading the verdict.
''We have agreed upon a verdict
in the case of both defendants" said
the foreman in subdued voice. "On
the charge of conspiracy we find them
not guilty" A look OF relief came
to the face of the prisoners, but it
only lasted a moment, for Mr.. Elder
continued: ''On the charge of the
misapplication of the funds of the
bank we find both defendants guilty.
On the charge of making false en-
tries in the books of the banks we
find both defendants guilty. In the
case of ALFRED H. Curtis the jury
wishes to make strong recommenda-
ton to the mercy of the court"
A stifed sob OF relief escaped Mrs.
Curtis as she heard the recommenda-
ton Of mercy for her husband. Mn.
Curtis took the verdict like stole,
but Morse was unable to conceal the
disappointment ne felt, while his wife
showed no signs of emotion. She
kept her eyes on her husband, seem
ingly forgetting herself and being
concerned only on his account.
"A few minutes later the lawyers for
the defendants were making the Gus
tCmary motions, fer a new trial, for
bail, and for permission to take an
appeal 10 the circuit court OF appeals.
Judge Hough said that he would
hear the motions today when the
prisoners are aTraigned before him
TO be sentenced. Mr. Morse and Mr.
Curtis were accompanied as far as
the Tombs prison, several blocks
away. by their wives.
There has been wide interest in
the joint trial of Charles w. Morse
and Alfred II. Curtis on charges
growing out of the failure of the
National Bank of North America. It
was brought out N the testimony
that Morse had made large leans
FROM the bank through so-called
dummies and that President Cur
tis had enabled him TO do so. The
money thus obtained was used to
finance the Morse Ice pools and steam
ship operations.
United States District Attorney
Stimson, who has had charge OF the
prosecution of Morse and Curtis said
after the purisonecs had been taken
to the Tombs that according to his
computation the prisoners had been
convicted on fifty-four counts, al OF
which are combined In the charges of
misappllcation of funds and making
false entries in the books OF the
bank. The latter charge also includ-
cd the charge of making false re-
ports to the comptroller of the cur
rency.
Last night Curtis was hoping for a
suspended sentence because OF the aid
he gave to the government attorneys
When on the stand Curtis frankly
told OF al the financial operations In
which he and Morse mad been asso-
ciated. This fact, coupled with the
plea for clemency made by the iur-
ry might, he thought secure for him
a suspended sentence. EEk