The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-01-07
Convicted Banker Starts Long
Term In Atlanta Prison
PRESENTS A CALM EXTERIOR
But Agitation of Man Broken In Spirit
Shows Beneath the Surface-Former
Millionaire Becomes Prisoner No.
H., 1887 and Has Negroes and Indians
For Company-Wife to Try and
Secure Pardon From President

Atlanta, Jan. 4.-Charles w.
Morse, the convicted banker, of New
York, is now in the federal prison
just outside of this city. He was
ushered drought the iron gates of
the place by two deputies and imme-
diately bathed and shaved and as
signed to a cell and number.
For the next fifteen years of his life,
unless he is paTdOned in the mean
time, he will remain here with his cell
mates, for a greater part negroes and
Indians, and be known not by name,
but an No. II, 9S7.
Pale, haggard, the lines of care and
despair traced on his features, but
bearing up well nevertheless, Morse
arrived in the custody of Deputy Unit
ed States Marshals Seibling and Lin
cius of the staff of Marshal Henkle of
New York.
1T is a life sentence" said Morse
to Seibling, as he entered the prison
and babe goodbye to his custodians.
About the railroad station there was
gathered a big crowd of the curious,
anxious for one glimpse of the man
who juggled with millions.
Morse was calm, but beneath the
surface could be seen in flashes the
agitation of man broken. He
answered the questions put to him in
a straightforward manner. but his
voice was husky. The note of hope
and enthusiasm which never left him
in his long battle to escape his SEN
tence of fifteen years was gone. The
vim that marked him when last sum-
mer he cleared away nearly IS, 000,-
600 of his debts while out on bail for
three months, was absent.
The keynote of his attitude was
resignation. Morse, the ice king,
the steamboat magnate, the financier
whose jugglery in part brought on the
panic of 1907, was a broken man.
Only in his attire was there a trace of
the debonnaire man of affairs. And
in a short time this last remaining
trace Of the past was taken from him
and he was clad in the garb of the
The journey to Atlanta was without
especial interest. Morse was stoical
all the way. He had little to say. He
the prison coolly and was
seemingly unconcerned.
Morse is now IS years old. For
good behavior his sentence will be re-
duced by three years. At the ex-
piration of the term he will be 81
years old.
Morse will enjoy several advantages
in the federal prison that might have
been denied him in another. He will
wear a plain suit, not one of stripes.
Like the other prisoners he will be
allowed to smoke in his cell, have ac-
cess TO a library OF 1000 volumes and
attend frequent concerts and lectures.
He will be allowed to see one visitor
a week.
The prison is surrounded by park
Of 321 acres, much of which is laid
put in farms that the prisoners Guilt !
vate. There are 200 negroes and a
number of Indians in the place. Most |
Of the latter are there for murder. |
Benjamin d. Greene and John F. Gay |
nor, who, with former Captain Ober-
in NJ. Carter, were convicted of gil
santic frauds in the government work
n the harbor of Savannah, are among
he prisoners in the institution.
IL is reported that Mrs. Morse will
her home near the prison.
I is also reported that she intends to
itayt a movement to influence Presi-
lent Taft to pardon her husband.