Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-09-12
TO THE HOSPITAL
After Morse Leaves the
Punishment Cell.
Sent 10 Cooler" After Freeing
Mind 10 a Deputy
And Refusing to Tell Where He
Obtained His Money.

Atlanta, Ga, Sept. l1.-From an au-
thOritatiVe source more about the con-
fnement for two days in the cooler
of Charles W. Morse the New York
banker, has become known. 1t appears
that, despite Warden w. II. Meyers
report to the attorney generals office
at Washington, Morse was put on
bread and water diet, and that, far
from being the wen man the warden
pictures Morse had to be carried to
the hospital ward two hours after he
was released from solitary confinement
ard put to bed.
In his report to the authorities the
warden says Morse was punished be-
cause he refused to tell where he had
got SAG which was found in his possess
sion. According to an Informant, this
is true in part but the report does not
state that an additional reason was
that Morse refused to submit to the
punishment, dreaded by all prisoners,
of facing the wall for hours at a
time.
When Morse came out Of the cool
er." said the informant today, 'hc was
a CHASTITY sight. He had aged Il years
al least. He looked an Old man, broken
in spirits and almost decrepit. | tell
You il Wouldut have taken much to
haNe started riot among the prison
els that day, they We're 50 furious al
MGrSe'S treatment.
one Thursday in May the prisoners
were exercising IN the stockade. The
captain of the prison guards ana one Of
the guards were looking from a window
watching to catch" 4 man suspected Of
some offence. They saw a prisoner nam
ed Westmoreland pass something TO a
crippled boy who was 10 be released the
next day On the boy they found 81
bin They asked Westmoreland where
he got it ana he said that c. w Morse
had given it to him for the boy to aid
him on his release Westmoreland as
knoWledged that he had asked Morse in
the hospital that morning TO give MIN
the money for the boy.
Deputy Warden Harrison, who is great
ly disliked by the prisoners. sent for
Morse Morse confessed to having mon
ey. Harrison then ordered Morse TO face
to the wall. rather than undergo which
ordeal prisoners would endure solitary
confinement for days Morse refused.
Warden Mover was sent for and Morse ;
Self-control gave way III" denounced
Deputy Warden Harrison. accusing him
of having bounded him ever since he
came to tie prison and of trying to take
away every privilege that the warden
had granted TO him.
Then Morse was sent to the cooler.
a little cell.with a single small window
al the top and only bare board
bench, with no coverings. on which TO
sleep No lights are allowed after dark
aud the only food is bread and water,
and the only reading allowed is the
Bible on Sunday the regular food
was given to Morse. On Monday after
noon he was taken from the cooler
put in the second grade suit Of white
and black stripes and his mouStache,
W hch first grade prisoners are allow
ed 10 grow, was shaved off. lie was
then sent back to his old cell where
two hours later he collapsed and had
to be taken to the hospital.
The report of the warden shows that
a reduction Of ~ days from his good
behavior" time was made and that
Morse was kept in the second grade
for 20 DAYS, when he was restored to
the first grade.
Despite various reports which have
been made public from time to time
that Morse has in general been in good
health. since his confinement here, the
fact is that ne has all along been
very sick man. He is suffering from
some complaint that does not yield t"
treatment.
He has never done any work and, eX-
capt when in the hospital has remain
ed in the library. When he first went
to prison he was kept in his cell for
a few days and then sent to the hos
pital, the explanation being that he
was . sick man, He was allowed to
have plenty Of fruit and other small
Injuries like candy. brought in for
him from the outside, a privilege not
en- loved bv any other prisoner