New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-07
PRISON FOR MORSE,
CURTIS GOES FREE
FIFTEEN-YE4R SENTENCE
FOR ICE KING"
Court Grants Ten Days Stay Pend
ing appeal Question of Bail To
BE Argued on Monday.

steamship owner. with chain Of banks To do
his bidding. was sentenced yesterday by judge
Hough. in the United States District Court. TO
serve fifteen years in the federal prison at At
Ianta for msapplcatiOn Of the funds q the Ma
tionaI Bank Of North America Of which
formerly president. and for making false
entries in the banks books Judge Hough
granted a stay Of ten days IN the execution oc
the sentence.
Alfred H. Curtis. former president OF the Ma
tfonaI Bank Of North America. who was con-
victed with Morse on the same charges TO-
ceived the minimum penalty-hve. years-but
Judge HOugh suspended sentence. and Mr. Cur
tis left the courtroom free man. The jury
which convicted the two bankers recommended
clemency in the case Of Curtis, and United
States Attorney Stimson, who prosecuted the
case for the government. urged Ieniency.
As soon as Morse had been sentenced he was
taken to United States Marshal Henkers Office.
where he remained with his family and counsel
until l O'Clock when he was taken back 70 the
Tombs Wallace Macfarlane. of Morses coun-
sell later in the day obtained from Judge La
combe OF the United states Circuit Court OF
Appeals. a writ of error which is returnable on
December g. Mr. Macfariane served copy OF
the writ on Mr.. stimson and then went before
Judge HOugh with formal application for ball
Judge Hough refused bail.
Mr.. Macfarlane then went before Judge La
combe again and obtained order for United
States Attorney Stimsou to show cause why
Morse should not be admitted to bail pending
the preparation Of his appeal The order Is re-
turnable on Monday at o'clock. when the ap-
pIication for bail will be argued before ths
United States Circuit Court of Appeals. In the
mean time Morse must remain IN the TOTnbs-
DRAMATIC SCENE IN COURTROOM.
The scene in the courtroom when Judgs
on he V-O
ers was a dramatic one. The room was crowd
ed to suffOcation. and the sOlemnity of the Oc-
casion apparently impressed itself upon all pres
ent Morse and Curtis sat in the jury box. sur
rounded by deputy marshals Mrs. Curtis and
Mrs Morse with her husbands two sons. were
present as we're several other friends and rela-
tives of the prisoners. Their wives we're weep
ing.
Morse and Curtis who had spent the night in
the Tombs. bore up bravely AS soon as Judge
HOugh took his seat on the bench Mr.. StimsOn
moved that sentence be pronounced Ex-Judge
William NJ K Olcott. counsel for Curtis asked
for suspension Of sentence. on the ground
that his client had already suffered punishment
enough.
Mr. OIcott in a voice choking with emotion.
recalled the fact that the jury had recommended
clemency in Curtis's case. He also referred 70
the prisoners excellent character as testified to
b,, g, MANY we'll known witnesses at the trial
MI Olcott said he thought that the ends OF
Justice had already been served sufficiently IN
Crrtfs's case. especially as he was not the prtn-
cinaI in the transactions for which he had been
convicted
Mr. Stimson followed Mr. Olcott, saying;
In reference to the defendant Curtis, it sp-
pears cOucIusively from the evidence that DIS
offences were determined upon by mind 50
much stronger than his own that ne was NHtU-
ally subject TO it .-..
tfon II has been found that the defendant Morse
was able to impose on the minds or many men men
who were stronger than the Defendant CNrtlS-
The defendant Curtis il appears 1rOTn the eNi-
dence. has received no profit from these acts
In view Of these facts, and the request or tne
jury that mercy be shown. u seems tndC , tILe
minimum penalty of five years, Wnlcn the 'S~
prescribes for the crimes or Whlcn tne % ue
fendant Curtis has been found SullCys Is toC
heavy considering the punishment which ne mas
already suffered -.
therefore your honor T. as District Attorney
for the government. would recommend that ths
defendant Curtis receive a suspended sentence
NO AID FROM BANKS DIRECTORS
Eouovrine the recommendation for sus-
nanded sentence in the case OF Curtis Judss
Hough said:
60 far as Curtis is concerned I am in accord
With the recommendation of the jury for leni-
ency He virtually in the position OF a
subordinate A remarkably careful and atten-
tive iIrv has believed that Curtis did not intend
to do wrong when he embarked upon an illegal
course. ,.
He started in on what he soon perceived TO -
wrong hut after making the first false step.
he had not the strength TO retrace II and 20
abolish false methods. His feeble efforts az
righting the wrong met with but little encour-
agement from a supine board of directors
With the jurors I believe that he writhed
under the domination IF q stronger man. but ne
did not dare 10 oppose his master for fear cs
losing the most remunerative place he had ever
had or ever could expect 70 have So he kept
on as he had begun. hoping against hope that
the outcome would be well
He is disgraced and financially ruined but n
mt mind there has never been any question az
to his personal honesty. He Is sentences Tor nVe
years. and sentence is suspended
There was p rlurrnur Throughout ths court
room and a feeble attempt at applause. which
was promptly suppressed by the court attend
ants. Curtis on whose face pleasure was mani
tested was taken into the room back Of the
Judges bench. Mrs. Curtis was overcome and
was assisted from the courtroom by her friends
Judge Hough then turned to Morse and said:
As TO the defendant Morse there is little 70 ps
said or added o. the evidence in the case IN
this case as in all bank cases. the criminal act
is part Of a larger general scheme. In this case
the scheme To use the banks and the de-
positors' money for his own speculative pur-
poses II such scheme is allowed 10
punished the public win be at the mercy %
wealthy adventurers who may buy reputabia
banks
I impose sentence of fifteen years in the fed
eral prison at Atlanta. AMI allow him 20 stay IN
this city for ten days. in charge OF Marshal
HenkeI-
MORSE CONTINUES CALM.
Morse's face flushed deep red as Judgs
Hough pronounced sentence. but he said moth
ing and made no movement. standing erect and
looking straight at the Court. he, too, was
taken at once into the room. back Of the Judges
bench Mrs. Morse began 70 cry but made no
other demonstration. Her friends crowded