The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-11-09
MORSE FACES
PRISON TERM.
New York Financier Given
Fifteen Years.
CURTIS IS A FREE MAN.

Suspends Sentence in Case of Sec
ond Defendant Morse Taken tc she
Tombs Pending Motion for Release
on Bail Until Appeal Is Taken.
New York, Nov. '.'.-Charles w.
Morse, whose sensational rise in the
world of finance dazzled America, was
sentenced to serve fifteen years in
prison for misapplication of the funds
of the National Bank of North Amer
lea, of which he was a director and
controlling owner. Alfred H. Curtis,
former president of the bank, who
had been jointly indicted with Morse
and with him found guilty by jury in
the federal court, was granted the
clemency recommended by the, jury.
In his case sentence was suspended.
A stay OF ten days in execution of
Mcrse's sentence was granted upon
application of counsel and it is ex-
pected that an appeal from both the
conviction and the sentence will be
taken Immediately. Pending action on
an appeal Morse was paroled in the
custody of United States Marshal
Henkel.
The scene in the courtroom when
sentence was pronounced by Judge
Hough was most dramatic one. The
wives of the two prisoners, who had
been constant attendants at court dur
Ing the entire trial, were present
early, as if anxious to cheer their
husbands by their presence in the try
ing ordeal which confronted them.
When the real test came, however, it
was the husbands and not the wives
who proved the comforters. Morse
sat like stole when he heard the
words which condemned him to prison.
There was scarcely the tremor of an
eyelid and to those who watched
there was no longer even the shadow
of a doubt that the little man" was
indeed man of iron nerve.
Curtis, too, accepted the news which
came to him-good news 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's words meant flashed through
their mind Mrs. Morse, who through
all the trying days of the trial had
preserved an unruff1ed demeanor, COL
lapsed in her seat, buried her face in
her hands and began to sob convul-
sively. Still weeping she was led
away to an anteroom, where for 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. She had been ill and several
times during the trial had been forced
to leave her place in the courtroom.
Her face was drawn and white, telling
of night of mingled hope and fear,
while her husband remained away
from her behind the bars of prison
cell. 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 supported her.
When court convened ex-Judge o.
colt, who had represented Curtis in
the trial, made touching appeal for
clemency on behalf 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 suspend
ing sentence in the case of Curtis.
After justifying the clemency for Cur.
tbs Judge Hough pronounced the SEN
tence upon Morse.
I'm the case of Morse there is not
much to be said,' said Judge Hough.
"As in all bank fraud cases the Grim
1nal legality is only part of larger
general scheme. In this case it was
to use the bank and the depositors'
money for speculative purposes. If
such scheme were permitted to be
carried out the public would be at the
mercy of a band of adventures.
| therefore sentence you to fifteen years
In the federal prison at Atlanta, Ca"
There had been murmur of ap-
prevail and faint attempt at applause
when sentence upon Curtis was sus-
pended by the court, but it was sup
pressed by the attendants. When the
fate of Morse was pronounced the
| courtroom was as still as a church
and the first sound to break in on the
quietness was the choking sobs of the
prisoners wife and the hurried shuttle
of feet as she was led away to an
anterOOm. Morse followed her in
charge of Marshal Henkel, in whose
custody he had been paroled after the
court had granted stay of ten days
in execution of the sentence, -
Writ of Error Obtained. -