The Washington herald., 1911-12-29

chosen to take the two Morse boys to
the President. Then came a confer
ence between the Congressman and the
two young men in which he strongly
urged them not to take advantage of
their opportunity to see the President.
After he had pointed out the futiIity
of an appeal so biased as their own.
the two young men reluctantly gave up
hope of accomplishing the object of
their visit, and returned to Baltimore.
Two Boys BrOkcnhenrted.
Both of these boys" said Representa-
tive Howard last night, ARE broken
hearted at the terrible end that threat
ems their father. 1t is their desire, as it
is of the members of the family, that
the term of Imprisonment be stopped
before it becomes a death penalty-a
penalty so severe as TO be almost un-
JiCst.
Statements that 7 have personally ap-
pealed to the President to prolong the
life of Charles w Morse by allowing him
to leave the hospital prison. are untrue.
Officially, | have never addressed him
on the subject. Yet l will say that, in
the best of my judgment, Morse should
be pardOned Undoubtedly. the man is
dying. have seen him and I know that
he cannot live. Were II possible to take
an active step in the affair without ap-
pairing unduly to interfere 1 would will
ingly say to any one that Morse can
never regain his health and should be
released"
The purpose of Mr.. Howards visit to
the White House yesterday was not as
was said yesterday. to plead with the
President on behalf of Morse, but to
break the engagement which Senator
Raynor has made for two sons. This
he did, and left soon afterward.
Board Chosen Sunday.
From the White House last night came
the story of how the army board, which
was sent to make the final report, was
chosen and ordered to Atlanta. Last
Sunday. after a long conference, at which
Surg. Gen. Torney, of the army; Surg
Gen. Stokes, of the navy. and others
were present, President Taft commented
on the wide variance between the un-
official and official reports. In the former
1t appeared that Morse had at best but
few weeks to live. In the latter there
was the ironic suggestion that the banker
was being we'll cared for and would live
to serve out his prison term, despite his
apparent condition.
A reconciliation of these two reports
being impossible, the President requested
Gen. Torney to select board which
could make complete investigation Of
the case and act as the final tribunal in
the matter.
Surg. Gen. Torney made 1t clear that
unless the bankers condition was far
more serious than any one suspected. no
unusual haste was to be shown in pre-
pairing the report. In other words, the
board was told, above all else, to sat
isfy itself as to Morse's condition.
Last night II was stated that the out
come of the present agitation in favor
of the bankers release would be a gen.
eral Congressional investigation of the
Federal prison at Fort Mcpherson, where
Morse is confined. Stories of i'll treat I
ment and a desire to keep IN right" by
using the unfortunate man, with un-
necessary harshness have been coming |
to Washington more or less frequently |
of late. tuberculosis and other diseases
are ascribed 20 the coEditlon OF the peni- !
tentiary.
All of this. 1t is said. will be brought |
to the attention OF Congress when It |
meets in January, and a general over !
hauling Of the prison will result.
MOrse's Case Difficult.
Gen. Torney last night gave an inter- |
esting sidelight to the affair when he |
that the nature of Morse's |
disease made it extremely difficult to .es-
innate the length of his life.
1t is we'll known that in cases of |
Brights disease, where creeping paraly- |