Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-10-09


ample OF Him For What All Bank.
ers Are Ooing--Pald or Over 90
Per Cent Of His Debts.
New York, Oct 4.--Charles w.
Morse. under sentence to the peniten.
tiary for violation OF the national
banking laws and under $4,000 bail
pending an appeal. has made $500.
600 In the past few months and has
paid of so per cent of his debts. The
balance he expects to clear away In
short time, and then TO accumulate
few more millions of velvet. "
Morse is apparently perfectly conf.
dent that when his appeal Is heard
the verdict in his case will be set
aside and that he will be freed of all
faint OF guilt.
For the first time since his convic
ton he discussed his case with great
freedom.
Martin w. Littleton, ny counsel.
tells me that my chances OF acquittal
are 80 out of 100." he said. ''and from
that may be judged the feeling with
which face the future proceedings. y
"Your friends Mr.. Morse was told
"say you have raised between $1,000
900 and $S,000.o00 since your release
and that you have applied this to your
indebtedness.
II wouldn't put 1t just that way"
he replied. IF there can be any gen
eral interest In what have done, why
not say have cleared off 80 odd per
cent of my debts?"
From the records OF the Morse case
1t is known that seven judgments were
entered against him, and that he had
four open accounts" when trouble
overlook him. or these there remain
one "open account" and the interest
to which this was due Is willing to
await Morse's leisure.
Says He's RooseveIt's Victim.
ut is too early to tell how | have
made the money-and where--durins
the present summer" said Mr.. Morse.
"In fact, 1t is too early tn go into any
detail at all. The score is not yet
wiped out. When II is, then | can
talk. Naturally am optimistic about
any appeal, and can only refer to Mr..
Littleton's statement.
II have been made the victim--not
in any bid for sympathy, but that ex-
act justice be done--of a system under
which national banks OF the entire
country operate. / did nothing wrong
and the change in public feeling since
was prosecuted has come from bet
ter understanding OF the transaction
out of which came my indictment"
"To what interest or interests do
you attribute your troubles?" he was
asked. Were personal or financial en-,
mites involved?"
NO" he said. crisply. 1.-THE time
an example of some one. and | was
chosen, | feel sure, at the personal di-
rection of Mr.. Roosevelt"
Says All Bankers DO II.
That Morse will not return to the
Tomos from midnight on Oct. 0 un-
til Oct. II. when his case comes up
in the United States circuit court Of
appeals. may be stated with authority
from friends who have been closely
in touch with him In the last few days
The three supreme court Judges who
granted the application for bail II was
stated, are expected to consent to a
two-day extention of his $i25.000 bond.
His friends, too declared Mr. Morse
had seen the inside of prison for the
last time.
Then. continuing the discussion of
his case, he said:
II am certain that ! could guarantee
to convict he officials of almost any
national bank in the United States
upon the same grounds that ! myself
was convicted. Because they are guilty
of wrongdoing? Not at all, but because
all Of them commit the same technical
'offenses' that were credited to me.
The things | did are generally prac-
ticed, and In the eyes Of national
nkers constitute no offenso"