Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-11-06
New York Banker and Former
Multi-Millionaire Sentenced
to Serve Fifteen Years
DRAMATIC SCENE IN COURT
Mrs. Morse Breaks Down When Sem
tence is Pronouneed-WiII Go TO
Federal Prison in AtIant.-Morse's
Partner, Curtis, Also Found Guilty,
Escapes Prison Torn.

Morse, one time "ice king" and steam
ship king" whose personal fortune a
little more than year ago, was esti-
mated at over $22,000.000, was today
sentenced to fifteen years imprison-
ment, having yesterday been convicted
of misapplication Of the funds Of the
National Bank Of North America Sem
itence on Alfred II. Curtis, former pres
ident Of the National Bank Of North
America, who was found guilty with
Morse, was suspended.
Will Go to Federal Prison.
Sentence on Morse was based on the
verdict of guilty Of misapplication Of
funds and making false entries in the
books Of the bank. It is understood
that if Morse goes to prison he will be
confined in the federal prison at At
lanta. Ga A ten days stay in the
execution Of the sentence upon Morse
was granted by Judge Hough. He was
paroled in custody Of Marshal Henkel,
pending any action that mag be taken
during the ten days stay.
Dramatic Scene in Court:
The scene in the court room when
sentence was pronounced by Judge
Hough, was a ,most dramatic one The
wives Of the two prisoners were pres
ent early today, as IL anxious to cheer
their husbands by their presence in
the trying ordeal which confronted
them. When the real test came, howA
ever, it was the husbands and not the
wives who proved the cohfonters.
Morse sat like a stole when he heard
the words which condemned him to
prison. There was scarcely Z tremor
Of the eyelid.
Curtis, too, accepted the news which
came to him-good news in his case
with the same lack Of emotion that
| characterized Morse. But the strain
had been too great for the women. AS
the truth Of what Judge Hough's words
meant flashed thru their minds, Mrs.
Morse, who thru all the trying days
of the trial had preserved an unrufled
demeanor, collapsed in her seat and
buried her face in her hands and be-
gan to sob convulsively. Still weep
ing she was led away to an ante
room, where in a moment her husband
held her in his arms and sought to
console her. Nor was Mrs. Curtis any
more prepared for the nervous strain
than Mrs Morse. When the Judgment
Of the court, the most favorable for
her husband that could be given, was
pronounced, she tainted, and would
have fallen had not kindly hands sup
ported her.
Spend Night in Cell.
Morse and Curtis passed fairly
restful night in the Tombs, where they
morning after a breakfas. Of plain
prison fare. they were taken to the
court room by Marshal Henkel. They
appeared to be cheerful, and chatted
with their keepers and friends. More
than an hour before the hour set for
convening, crowds began to flock to
the court room, to witness the closing
scenes in the sensational case. Mrs.
Morse and Mrs. Curtis were among the
early arrivals, and they greeted theiI
husbands most affectionately.
Pleads for clemeney.
The lawyers for the defense had
scarcely taken their places in the rail
ing before the court was formally
opened. Ex-Judge O1cott who had
represented Curtis in the trial, made a
touching appeal for clemency on be-
half of his client. In this appeal, he
was given the active aid of District
Attorney Stimson, who informed the
court that he believed justice would be
served by suspending sentence in the
case Of Curtis. After justifying Glenn
ency for Curtis, Judge Hough pro-
nounced sentence upon Morse.
"In the case Of Morse, there is not
much to be said," said the judge. "As
in all bank fraud cases, criminal lia
bility is only a part Of the larger
scheme. In this case this was to, use
the banks and depositors' money for
speculative purposes. and If such a
scheme were permitted to be carried
out, the public would be at the mercy
of band Of adventurers. therefore
sentence you to fifteen years In the
federal prison Atlanta, Ga"
Morse was taken to the Tombs prison
at / o'clock this afternoon. At that
time. 1t was announced that no applica-
tion for his release on bail would bt
made today.
A writ Of error In the case Of Morse
was obtained from Judge Lacombe thi,
afternoon. It Is expected that Morse
will be released on bail.