The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07
MORSE GIVEN IS
YEARS IN PRISON
Former 'ICe King" Sentenced
for Wrecking Bank and AS
sOciate Given Freedom
Defendants Wives Cause Sem
satiOnaI Scene in Court and
Crowd Jeers Prisoner

sci TO secure his freedom, he having
been sentenced today to serve IS
years in the federal prison at Atlanta.
Ga. for misapplication of the funds of
the national bank of North America
and making false en~-ies in the books
Of the bank.
Alfred II Curtis. former president
Of the defunct bank, who was Jointly
tried and convicted with Morse. was
given his liberty today on a suspend
ed sentence.
While Morse's lawyers applied for
and secured a stay Of execution for 10
days after sentence had been i'm
posed, in order TO prepare an appeal,
still il is probable that Morse will re-
main a prisoner In the Tombs until
Monday. as Judge Hough has refused
TO admit the fnancier 10 bail.
The scene in the courtroom when
the sentence was pronounced by Judge
HOugh was intensely dramatic. The
wives Of the two prisoners, who had
been constant attendants at court dur
ing the trial, We're present early to-
day, as IL anxious to cheer their hus-
bands by their presence in the trying
ordeal that confronted them. When
the real test came. however, it was
The husbands and not the wives who
proved the cOmforters.
MORSE SHOWS IRON NERVE
Morse sat like a 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 a man of iron nerve Cur
tis. too accepted the news which came
10 him-gOOd news in his case-with
the same lack Of emotion that charac-
lied his former chief But the strain
had been too great for the women.
AS the truth which Judge Hough's
words conveyed flashed through her
mind Mrs. Morse. who through all the
trying days Of the trial had preserved
an unruff7ed demeanOr, collapsed in
her seat. buried her face in her hands
and began TO sob convulsively. Still
weeping. she was led away to an ante
room. where a moment later her hus-
band held her in his arms and sought
TO console her
MRS. CURTIS FAINTS
Nor was Mrs. Curtis any more pre-
pared for the nervous strain. She
sat within the rail gazing intently
AT Judge Hough as he began TO speak.
She had been i'll and several times dur
ing the trial had been forced 10 leave
her place in the courtroom. Today
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
eel When the judg gment Of 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
Morse and Curtis passed fairly
restful night in the Tombs where they
occupied cell together, and early this
morning. after a breakfast of prison
fare. they We're taken to the federal
court by Marshal Henkel They ap-
peared cheerful and chatted with their
keepers and friends.
More than an hour before Judge
Hough took his seat crowds began to
throng the corridors of the federal
building to witness the closing scenes
ia the sensational case.
WOMEN GREET HUSBANDS
Mrs Morse and Mrs. Curtis were
among the early arrivals, Mrs. Morse
first. accompanied by her stepsons. She
greeted her husband affectionately and
the two boys shook hands with their
father warmly. Next came Mrs Curtis.
She threw her arms around her hus-
band, kissed him and then sank into
a seat beside Mrs. Morse and the boys.
The lawyers for the defense had
scarcely taken their places within the
railing before court was formally
opened Ex-Judge Olcott. who had rep
resented Curtis in the trial. made
touching appeal for clemency on behalf
Of his client
in this appeal he was given the ac-
tive aid Of District Attorney Stimson
who informed the court that he be-
lieved justice would be served by sus-
pending sentence in the case of Curtis.
SENTENCE UPON MORSE
After justifying the clemency for Cur
It's Justice Hough pronounced the SEN
tence upon Morse.
In the case Of Morse there is not
much to be said.' said Judge Hough.
AS IN all bank fraud cases. the crini-
nal legality is only part of a larger
general scheme In this case, this was
to use the bank and the depositors'
money for speculative purposes. II
such scheme were permitted to be
carried out the public would be at the
mercy Of a band Of adventurers.
therefore sentence you to 10 years in
the federal prison at Atlanta. Ca
There had been a murmur of approval
and a faint attempt at applause when
sentence upon Curtis was suspended bv
the court, but it was suppressed bv the
attendants. When the fate of Morse
was pronounced the courtroom was stiIl
as a church, and the first sound IN
break IN on the duietness was the sobs
Of the prisoners wife and the hurried
stunning Of feet as she was led awav
10 an anteroom. Morse followed her. in
charge Of Marshal Henkel, in whose
custody he had been paroled.
CROWD CHEERS CURTIS
A moment later the crowd began to
move slowly out Of the courtroom. Few
OF them left the building immediately
however, and when Curtis came ont a
free man with his wife leaning on his
arm, he was given a rousing cheer
The approving shouts followed him ali
the way down the long corridor. which
was lined on either side by men and
women.
A crowd Of more than 500 men and
women followed Morse and two deputv
marshals, who had him in charge. from
the federal building to the doors OF the
Tombs. As they trailed along the
crowd jeered and hooted.
How would you like to be the ice
man2" shouted some one as the Iiftle
man walked along between the big
deputy sheriffs-
You'u get no ice in there" yelled
another. These and similar express
sions followed the prisoner until the