The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-03
STONE WALLS DO NOT APRISON MAKE NOR IRON BARS A CAGE Morse Made 5000 on Street While in Atlanta
 Prison MADE GENEROUS
 OFFER TO MAYOR Heated Personal Argument Between Editor and Federal Warden Brings Interesting Story
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 Atlanta, January "A heated personal argument between newspaper editor and prison warden today resulted in tho disclosure that a banker behind bars sometimes can negotiate shrewd busl- ness deal as far away from Wall street as the Atlanta penitentiary. It came out that Charles w. Morse made s2oo0 In the spring Of 19lo by selling short on gas stock. all because Warden William II. Mover permitted him to send cipher telegram. To show his gratitude O. for some other reason. MT. Mover said. MT. Morse subsequently offered to share with him. This alleged act on the part of MT. Morse so prejudieed the warden against the ex-banker, in the opinion of Editor F. L. Seeley. who publishes tho Atlanta Georgian. that he subsequently, subjected his prominent prisoner to dis clpirary treatment characterized today by the editor as "reprehensibe
 MT Seeley is personal friend of Mr. Morse and has visited him frequently in the prison Last Thursday he printed in his paper q story hinting at a con gressional investigation into Morses | treatment in the penitentiary. citing an instance in which he was alleged to have been placed in solitary confinement in 8 dungeon for giving a sick boy about to be discharged a paltry sun of money. Warden lncensed The publication so incensed the warden that he obtained permission from the de- partment of justice to invite the Atlanta newspaper men to the prison to show them just where Morse was kept in soil tary confinement and to explain the cir cumstances. Editor Seeley responded in person as the representative of his paper.
 Surrounded by jury Of newspaper men assembled in his office with Morse's at- torney, Thomas B. Fielder, present. War; den Mover read long statement he had prepared answering the accusations made in Mir. Seeleys paper. He declared that NIors,ssiiad. been kept iu solitary connne+ mont for two days in May, 19t0 for re- fusing to divulge the source of about Sig found in his possession. As soon as Morse did so he was released by the warden's order, he said, and not by order Of the' prison physician charged He showed the visitors a fair sized. well lighted and we'll ventilated room in which he said Morse was kept. lie said the bed was covered with the ordinary prison mat tress and woolen blankets.
 T question the accuracy of some of your statements" said Editor seeley. T have been reliably informed that Morse had no mattress and no blanket and had to sleep on the hard iron slats with only his coat under his head"
 That is absolutely untruc@ retotted the warden angrly. Who gave you such information?"
 MT Morse himself and the physician attending him at the time"
 The warden called in two deputies In charge at the time and both declared they would take oath that Morse had both mattress and blanket.
 Seeley Asks Questions
 MT Seeley asked the warden why, if he was not prejudieed against Morse. he had written to the Attorney General when Morse was removed to Fort McPherson hospital that he did not seem then 10 me to have the appearance of a man whose condition was eritcal' Ills paper had charged that it was believed that certain officials had tried to counteract
 
 declared that he had not made any re- port regarding Morse since his transfer to the fort except to transmit reports from the post surgeon. He refused to say whether he had been asked to ex- press the opinion previously referred to.
 You have been pretudiced against Morse ever since that gas stock deal,' charged MT. Seeley. "and think your treatment of him has been reprehenslble.'
 'sYou are at liberty to print any facts in your possession Regarding Morse's treatment in this prison,' retorted the warden. but I warn you to stick to Facts or [ shall hold you personally respon- sible.'
 The "jurv" wanted to know about that gas stock deal" Mir. Mover said that on March II, 1910. soon after tho banker became a prisoner. he gave Morse per mission to send cipher message to New York. there being nothing in the prison rules against it. The next day, he said, he reported the matter to the Attorney General and was instructed not to per- nit hin, (Morse) to send messages again. Some time later. he said. Morse came into his office and told him that he had made s2Ooo "out of that gas stock deal and wanted him to have half.
 Offer Refused
 Forget you ever told me that. Morse T said to him." declared the warden. " and don't ever say anythihs iNe tha1 to me again.
 MT. Mover said this incident was brought out when the prison was ihVes- tigated last spring by one or the most competent officials of the department
 'Tt is not within the purview or my authority to make this report puDllc, said MT. Mover, but have no doubt that the Attorney General Will ba willing to make public such of 1t as mav he necessary to protect both tho nrisoner and the warden from injus- tice."
 MT. seeley asked the warden If ha knew anything about a check for Sleoo made out by Mrs Morse to Morse ,ybich had found it's way to the depart ment Mir. Mover replied that he hau never heard of the check until 1t was shown to him at the investigation. Ha said 1t was being held for Morse by one of the clerks.
 The offense for which Morse was keps in solitary confinement was described bv the warden as follows:
 "A deputy saw nurse pass S1 20 and a pearl handled knife to Morse and both were arrested The warden did not believe the story he told as to how he had obtained them from another prisoner and ordered him into coniine- ment When Mrs. Morse called and learned her husband was In trouble she told the warden she had slipped about