The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-11-06

NEW Iohh, NOV. b.-CnarleS w.
Morse, until a year ago dominant
figure in the world Of finance, and AL
fred H. Curtis, former president of the
National bank of North America, were
found guilty last night in the criminal
branch of the United States circuit
court on charges of misapplication of
funds and falsifying the books of the
bank.
Judge Hough refused to entertain
motion for bail and committed the
two bankers to the Tombs prison.
NEW YORK, Nov. 6.-Morse and
Curtis breakfasted at six and ate
heartily. At eight they were taken
into the court. Little emotion was.
shown by Morse or his wife, who
greeted her husband Mrs. Curtis is
nervous wreck. Curtis almost wept
! as he sprang towards his wife with
open arms
The sentence is suspended on Curtis
and Morse gets fifteen years.
The Curtis minimum sentence of
five years was suspended on the rec.
ommendation of the jury and district
attorney. Curtis wept quieting his
wife after fainting. Mrs. Curtis walk
ed with her husband, sister, and Col.
Thompson through the cheering throng
to the elevated. Morse walked firmly
/ and swiftly to the marshal's ROOM
| followed by his wife, sons and colln
(; sci, LittlefeId Mrs Morse was pale,
her lips firm and held her head high.
| In passing sentence Hough said:
'The recommendation of particular
ly intelligent and painstaking jury,
and district attorney incline the court
! to clemency. The court does not be-
| lieve it the intention of the defendant
/ (Curtis) to engage in illegal transac-
ton. He is of the opinion the jury
and court embarked upon what he
| knew was wrong, when he found him
self involved and did not have the
strength to stop. With the Jurors |
believe he writhed under the domina-
ton of a stronger mind. He was con
scious of wrong but with the pros.
4 poets of losing his position, better
paying than any held before, or likely
to hold again. the feeble effort at re-
form was met with little assistance
from the supine board of directors
and went on hoping all would come
right in the end. All this has heen
fairly shown by the evidence.
The judge continuing, said: His
personal honesty has never been as
sailed; / believe in it. | am advised
outside the records he has undergone
total financial ruin, besides the dis
grace of conviction. In the case OF
Defendant Curtis sentence is suspend,
ed"
A murmur of approval.
i Morse then stood before the judge
: who said in the case of Morse moth
ing could be said or added to the
evidence. AS nearly always in the
cases of criminal illegality in finance
he used the bank for the larger gen
eral scheme and the depositors' money
for his own speculative purposes. II
such schemes shall not entail the sc
we're punishment and are allowed tc
be carried with impunity, the public
is al the mercy of bank adventurers
The sentence Of this court is that De
: fendant Morse be placed at tifteer
wears in the federal prison at Atlanta
Ga The court granted ten days
: filing application for writ of errors
remanding Morse to the Tombs
Judge Hough on passing sentence
declared that Curtis was under the i'll
; fluence of Morse. who has The strong
er mind. Curtis efforts to reform
were blocked by the banks supine
board of directors. Mrs. Curtis was
borne faiting from the room, when
her husbands sentence was suspend
ed. The room was crowded. Morse
and Curtis sat with the two deputy
sheriffs, in the jury box. Both seem
r cd agitated. Mrs. Curtis sat next tc
her sister, Mrs. Gardner and Col Il
M. Thompson. Mrs. Morse sat WITT
husbands sons, Harry and Ben.
s Accompanied by his wife and his sis
a ter-in-law, Curtis departed. He wa
a cheered by hundreds. Morse. his wifi
and his sons and the counsel conyers
/. |.ed in the marshal's Office until nool
when he was taken to the tomos
O Morse never fiinched. He showed th'
? 4 ,N,,