Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-09

Warden Meyers statement Wednesday
afternoon to The Journal of why he had
Charles W.. Morse put into a solitary
cell at the federal prison in May rem
dered it clear what Morse had done and
what his punishment was.
He had had money smuggled to him
by his wife and by his business asso-
ciate. w. f. Reid, and had allowed HIM
self to be put into a solitary cell rather
than tell that a part of the money came
to him from his wife. II was only after
she had made a confession to the war
den that he agreed to tell how he Sc
cured all of the money.
But what did he want with 1t? He
hasn't told this, and the warden couldn't
explain it In his statement.
In all. Morse had s4e struggled in to
him. One day while he was signing
some business papers in the deputy war
denis oface. Mrs. Morse slipped SIS into
his coat pocket At another time he says
that Reid during an interview with him
handed to him s31.
There was nothing that he could buy
with this money; end as was shown
there was no one to whom he could give
a part of 1t without endangering both
himself and the person to whom he gave
il. Why should a man as intelligent as
Morse have violated seriously the prison
rules, for something that seemingly
could do him no good?
WAS NOT A BRIDE.
The warden is sure he had no intention
of using the money as a bride. Whom
could he have bribed for SAC? Why should
he wish to bride anyone? Certainly
Morse would not attempt anything so
foolish as escape.
Maybe he had an unreasoning impulse
to help those in prison with him, but
perhaps il was this:
Morse has been used until now 10 a sur
rounding of wealth. Money has been
what he has dealt in. thought Of made
his constant associate. For years his
thoughts have been directed toward
great schemes of money-making. Liter
ally and in plans and gigantic schemes
he has been dealing with money. Things
that are always with one seem tobecome
necessary.
Why should 1t not have been so with
Morse? Money had always been around
him. 1t had become necessary to him.
without ii he was at loss. He felt as
though a part of him were gone So he
had money smuggled into him, merely
that he might have it. He couldn't use
It. II was a menace to him. But a queer
psychological fact urgeu mr.. ~ get it.
And he began to give part of Il away
because he was used to giving.
This explanation seems fantastic. But
NO other as reasonable has been offered
HAD MONEY ON DEPOSIT.
On May 13, when il was discovered
that Morse had given money to one or
the prisoners, he had SS42.76 deposited
with the warden. lie could get with
this money everything that he would
be permitted to buy. 1t is a rule at
the prison that every prisoner is per
mitted to deposit with the warden mon
ely, and through the warden to buy
what he is allowed 10. Morse could
have secured, through the money de-
posted with the warden, whatever was
permitted, and he could buy nothing:
with the money that was struggled to
him. He now has $1,24l.S7 deposited
with the warden.
II out Of kindness he had wished to
help any OF his fellow prisoners he
could have done so IN an effective way
by depositing money to their accoun;
with the warden. TO give them money
would do them no good. Thew coulc
buy nothing with it; they could put IL
to no use whatever. IL. would simply
be menace to them.
Perhaps Morse wanted to draw his
fellow prisoners to MIN, TO create
friendly following by distributing mon
ey among them. He would have been
qUick-witted enough to have seen the
danger Of this and the fruitlessness OF
1t.
lie knew that IT was a serious in
fraction of the rules OF the prison for
"a prisoner to have money; and that his
good conduct will determine the length
of his sentence. 1t doesn't seem that he
got the money simply for this.
1t has been suggested that his wife IN
an unreasoning desire to help him SNUG
gled money into his pocket without his
knowledge. But would his business as
sociate, a cool, considering man. have
done so too? 1t seems improbable.
Is INDExING STATISTICS
Morse himself could not be seen on
Wednesday, and he has not explained
his reason TO the warden. He is nov
busy indexing some statistics the war
den is having collected. and the Incl.
dent OF the money struggled to him
probably seems to him to have hap