The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-06
Men Recently Prominent in the
World of Finance Con-
victed by Jury.
FIVE YEARS In PRISON
IS MINIMUM SENTENCE
Court Refuses to Entertain Mo-
tion for Bail; Bankers
Sent to T0mbs.

NEW YORK, Nov. 5.-Charles w.
Morse, until a year ago q prominent
figure in the world of finance, and AL
fred Curtis. former president of the
National Bank of North America, were
found guilty today in the criminal
branch of the circuit court on charges
of misapplication Of funds and falsify-
ing the books of the bank. There was
also the additional charge Of conspiracy
against the prisoners, but the jury ac-
quilted the men on this count.
Within five minutes Of the time the
jury had rendered its verdict, Judge
Hough had refused to entertain mo-
ton for bail. and had committed the
two bankers to the Tombs prison. The
Judge said that he would hear any mo-
tions the lawyers for the prisoners de-
sire to make at 1890 O'Clock tomorrow
morning.
At Least Five Years.
The federal statutes provide mini
mum penalty of five years imprison-
ment for falsifying the books OF. n
bank and penalty of two years I'M
prisonmept for misapplca6on Of funds.
No alternative but imprisonment IS pro.
vided for conviction on the charge or
falsifyipg the books of bank. The
maximum penalty on this charge is ten
years Imprisonment. The jury recon-
madeeno 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. Curtis showed signs of giving way
TO her emotion a number of times, and
once when the jury returned to the
court room TO receive instructions on the
manner in which tho conspiracy charge
should be considered, Mrs. Morse broke
down and sobbed.
Much Interest Manifest.
A large crowd had hurried into the
court room to bear the verdict. Mr..
Morse and Mr.. Curtis stood before the
reading the verdict. and their wives sat
near them, leaning forward IN tense
attitude 10 catch every word.
''We have agreed upon verdict IN
the case of both defendants, said the
foreman in O suhdued voice. son the
charge Of conspiracy we find them not
guilty
A look Of relief came to the faces Of
the prisoners and their wives, but 1T
continued;
"On the charge of the misappicat ton
of the funds of the bank we md both
defendants guilty. On the charge of
making false entries In the books OF
the bank We find both defendants
guilty. In the case OF Alfred II, Curtis
the jury wishes TO make z strong recon.
mendation to the mercy OF the court. -
A sitting sob of relief escaped Mrs.
Curtis as she beard the recommendation
for mercy for her husband. Mr. Curtis
was unable to conceal his disappoint.
ment, while his wife showed no signs
OF emotion. She kept her eyes on her
husband, forgetting herself.
Scene In Courtroom.
There was q momentary hush in the
court room. This was broken by buzz
Of excited conversation and few min
utes later the lawyers for the defend.
ants were making the customary mo
| tions for now trial, for bail and for
! permission to take an appeal to the cir
| cult court Of appeals.
| Judge Hough said that he would hear
| the motions tomorrow morning, when
| the prisoners are arraigned before him
to be sentenced he then dismissed the
jury. Mr.. Morse and Mr.. Curtis were
accompanied by their wives as far as
the Tombs prison.
| There has been wide interest in the
joint trial. 1t was brought out in the
| testimony that Morse made large loans
from the bank through so-called dunn
mics and that President Curtis had en-
abled him TO do so.
The money thus obtained was used tc
| finance the Morse Ice pools and steam
ship operations.