Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-28
MORSE'S CONDITION
INVESTIGATED

Atlanta, Dec 2S.-A special con-
ference of the army surgeons whom
President Taft ordered Ia Fort Nc
Pherson to make q report on the con-
dition OF Charles w. Morse. the for
mer banker. was held here today. fol-
lowing a siilar gathering last night.
which lasted until o'clock this morn
ing. The findings Of the board will
be kept secret.
Atlanta. Dee. 2S.-Alter lengthy
consultation. members of the board
announced that they had. completed
their examination Of the patient and
would submit 4 teiegraphic report
10 President Taft ut Washington. this
afternoon. All information regard
Ing the conclusions reached by the
board was refused.
Washington, Dec. 2S.-Arouscd by
a storm Of publicity coming from At
lanta criticiSing the Administration
for what is termed lis inhuman
treatment" OF Charles w. Morse, the
convicted New York banker, the De-
partmcnt of Justice made clear its
position in the Morse case and in the
case Of all other criminals seeking
pardons. commutation OF sentences.
or paroles. as follows:
Morse IS not THE only sick con-
vict in = Federal prison. nor the only
one disgrace and confinement has
broken down. Other wives than
Morse's plead for the release OF their
husbands and often in vain. Last
year 2l conviclS died in Federal prlS-
uns, showing that though death in
prison may add 10 the severity OF a
penalty. that the fact Of approaching
death is not regarded by the author
tiles as cause for release.
The most hardened criminal, how
ever. might be pardoned. TO save his
life. For instance. il an embcZZler
or a safe cracker had served within
year of his complete sentence. and
then il seemed that longer imprison-
ment would kill him. whereas free
dom might restore his health. the
authorities would hesitate 70 exact
the last iota OF punishment. when it
would result in taking years OF free
dom rghtfully belonging to the
prisoner.
Alorse's case falls exactly within
t..,i.: c,aas. Sercra. moaths ago Pres.
idenI Taft indicated that he would
take up the matter of Morse's COM
mutation a year from the coming
January. and that he would COM
mute the sentence TO five years. This
communication. with good time and
the six months Morse spent in the
Tombs counted, would free Morse III
January, 1913.
Consequently Morse technically
stands in the class of prisoners whose
terms have nearly expired. For this
reason Taft has determined 10 free
The banker as soon as il is certain
that continued Imprisonment would
xii! him, but the Administration is
not yet convinced of this.
Morse has been removed TO the
army hospital at Fort Mcpherson in
order that 4 new set OF physicians
might have chance to study his
condition. Taft has now called upon
a board Of outside physicians TO eX-
anime Morse. When Taft acts. it
will be on the findings OF many doc
tors, friendly and impcrsonal toward
the banker
In the case OF tho prevalent pris-
on disease. tuberculosis. it is not
the practice Of the Government to
pardon victims when death is APP
preaching. The Government. il is
contended. in most cases is able 70
give consumptive prisoners better
treatment than they could receive
outside Of prison.