The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-10-07
MORSE EXPECTS
AN ACQUITTAL
COnYiCiedRanker MadeS7,5OO,-
900 During the Summer.
BLAME ON ROOSEVELT

Declares Ex-President Made an E~
ample Of Him For What All Bank
ers Are Doing-Paid OF over 30
Per Cent Of His Debts.
New York. Oct. 4-Charles w.
Morse. under sentence to the penlten'
ilary for violation OF the national
banking laws and under $l2j,OOO ball
pending an appeal. has made sIoOO-
600 in the past few months and mas
maid OF so per cent OF his debts. The
balance he expects to clear away IN
a short time. and then to accumulate
a few more millions OF velvet
Morse Is apparently perfectly conn
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 cOnyic-
ton he discussed his case with great
freedom.
Martin ". Littleton. my counsel.
tells me that my chances OF acquittal
are 80 ont Of lOD," he said, and from
that may be judged the feeling with
which face the future proceedings.
"Your friends" Mr. Morse was told.
SAY YOU have raised between STOOD
900 and $4,000 O00 since your release.
and that you have applied this TO your
! Indebtedness.
81 wouldn't put It just that way.
| he replied. III there can be any gen.
eral interest in what | have done, why
not say have cleared OF so odd per
cent Of my debts?'
From the records OF the Morse case
Il IS known that seven judgments were
| entered against him. and that he had
fonr "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 Morses leisure.
Says He's RooseveIt's Victim.
1T is too carly to tell how I have
made the money-and where-during
| the present summer said Mr.. Morse.
'In fact. It IS too early TO go into any
detail at all. The score is not yet
wiped out. When It 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. I did nothing wrong
and the change in public feeling since
| was prosecuted has come from a bet
ter understanding OF the transaction
out OF which came my indictment"
ITO what interest or interests do
you attribute your troubles?" he was
asked. Were personal or financial en-
mites involved"
NO he said, crisply. THE time
was ripe for the government to make
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
Tombs from midnight on Oct. I'M
Ill 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 10 consent to
two-day extention OF his $l25.OOO 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:
Il am certain that could guarantee
to convict the 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
'oFensee' that we're credited TO me.
The things | did are generally prac'
tioed and in the eyes of national
bankers constitute no offense.'