The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-11-06
FInANCIERS ARE
FOUND GUILTY
Charles w. Morse and Alfred
H. Curtis Are Convicted of
disappointing Funds.
BAIL is DENIED PRISONERS
BANKERS MUST AWAIT SEN
TENCE IN JAIL.

New York. Nov. 5.-Charles w Morse.
until a year ago dominant figure in
the world of finance, and Alfred H. Cur
tbs. former president of the National Bank
of North America, were found guilty to-
day in the criminal branch of the circuit
court on charges of misapplication OF
funds and classifying the books OF the
bank. There was also the additional
charge of conspiracy against the prison.
ers, but the jury acquitted the men on
this count
Within five minutes of the time the
jury had rendered its verdict Judge Hough
had refused TO entertain a motion for
bail and had committed the two bank
that he would hear any motions the law
yers FOR the prisoners desire to make at
lO;S0 O'Clock tomorrow morning
To Be Sent to Prison.
The federal statutes provide a mimi
mum penalty of five years Imprisonment
for falsifying the books of a bank and
penalty of two years impris
onment for misrepresentation of funds.
No alternative but Imprisonment
is provided for conviction on the charge
OF classifying the books of bank The
maximum penalty on this charge is ten
years imprisonment. The jury recon-
mended clemency for Mr. Curtis but made
no recommendation in the case of Mr.
Morse. The scene in the court room was
dramatic Mrs Morse and Mrs. Curtis
had remained in the court room nearly
all day awaiting the verdict Mrs. Cur
It's showed signs of giving way to ,her
emotion a number of times and once
when the jury returned to the court room
10 receive instructions on the manner in
which the conspiracy charge should be
considered. Mrs Morse broke down and
sobbed.
A large crowd had hurried into the court
room to hear the verdict. Mr. Morse and
Mr.. Curtis stood before the iury while
Foreman John Elder was reading the YER
dict, and their wives sat near them lean
every word.
we have agreed upon a verdict in the
case of both defendants" said the fore
man in a subdued voice ''Ou the charges
Oh conspiracy We find them not guilty"
Relief Was Momentary.
4 look of relief came to the faces of
the prisoners and their wives, but it last
ed only moment, for Mr.. Elder con-
.'On the charge Of the nisa Indication
of the funds of the bank we find both
defendants guilty. On the charge of maxi
ing raise entries in the books of the bank
we IND both defendants guilty In the
case of Alfred H. Curtis the itiry wishes
TO make a strong recommendation TO the
mercy ofat1e court
"A sitting sob of relief escapde Mrs. Cur
us as she heard the recommendation for
mercy for her husband. Mr.. Curtis took
the verdict like a stoic but Morse was
unaDIe 10 conceal his disappointment
while his wife showed no signs of emotion.
She kept her eyes on her husband. for
getting herself
There was a momentary hush in the
court room. This was broken by a buzz
OF excited conversation, and a few min
utes later the lawyers for the defendants
We're making the customary motions for
a new trial. for bail and for permission
TO take an appeal to the circuit court of
appeals.
Judge Hough said that he would hear
the motions tomorrow morning, when the |
prisoners are arraigned before him 10 be |
sentenced. He then dismissed the iurv. |
Mr. Morse and Mr.. Curtis We're accompa-
MED as far as the Tombs prison by their |
wives.
There has been wide interest in the Joint |
trial 1t was brought out in the testi- |
mony that Morse had made large loans
from the bank through so-called dummies
and that President Curtis had enabled him
to do so.
The money thus obtained was used to |
finance the Morse ice pools and steamship
operations.
Convicted on Fifty-four Counts.
United States District Attorney Slim
son said that according to his compute
ton the prisoners had been convicted
On fifty-fOur counts all of which are