Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-01-19
SURGEON REPORTS THAT MORSE
COULD NOT LIVE \ MONTH
LONGER IN PRISON.
Glad TO HEAR The news
BcdiiddCn Banker Little Interested Il,
lie Realizes He Can't Live
Many Months.


Taft tonight commuted to expire at
once the fifteen-year sentence for
violation of the national banking laws,
under which Charles w. Morse, the
New York financier and ice king
was sentenced to the pen in Atlanta,
Ga. The commutation of sentence
which gives Morse his complete free
dom-but which, unlike a pardon,
does not restore his civic rights-was
torney General Wickersham and Sur
geon General Torney u. S. A.
According TO the surgeon general s
report to the president on his condi-
ton, Morse could not live one month
longer in confinement, and even at
liberty, probably would not live six
months.
The White House statement grant
ing freedom to Morse follows:
The president this afternoon COM
muted the sentence of Charles w.
Morse to expire at once. This action
was taken upon the recommendation
of the attorney general based on the
report of Surgeon General Torney.
An Act of Mercy.
Careful review of the report
makes clear to my mind that he Is
suffering from combination of dis
eases due to degenerate changes
which are incurable and progressive.
1t shows that the condition of both
the kidneys and heart are growing
weak.
I'm my opinion the prisoners DUR
alton of life will be in all probability
less than one month if kept in con-
finement and in the event of his re-
lease on commutation of sentence it
is not probable that he will live AS
long as six months"
Mrs. Morse, who arrived here today
from New York, was informed late
this afternoon OF the presidents clem-
ency to her husband. Shewill leave
tomorrow for Atlanta to join her hus-
band.
Tciegraphed the Release.
The attorney general Immediately
following the presidents action, tele-
graphed to Warden Meyer. warden
of the prison who technically is In
charge Of Morse, though he has been
removed to the TT. Mcpherson hos
pital, to release the prisoner. The
surgeons at Ft Mcpherson are sim
ilarly instructed. Morse will be freed
by telegraphic orders, 1t being unnec-
essary for the Atlanta authorities to
await the formal statement of COM
mutation which will be sent by mail.
Efforts are being made for a com
plete pardon, but these are proving
unavailing. Recent efforts in his be-
half developed the fact that his
friends wished to take him to Cars-
bad for treatment and tonight 1t was
deemed probable here that he would
be taken abroad at once.
Result of Months Work.
The Communication of Morse's sen
tence came at the end of months of
relentless work by the banker d
friends. From the day his cell door
in Atlanta closed upon him, Mrs.
Morse and influential friends have
besleged the department of justice,
and through 1t the White House, for
some mitigation of the sentence.
Morse in prison eonducted cam.
paign among senators and members
of the House of Representative ana
obtained scores of letters offering
their assistance in his behalf.
Until the past few months. how
ever, all efforts were fruitless and
President Taft and the attorney gen
eral refused to consider pardon )r
commutation. Recently reports
from Atlanta reported that his heal h
was precarious and caused several in
vestigations to be made, the result Of
whihc caused his transfer TO TT. Me-
| Pherson hospital.
Last week after further investiga-
ton by army and navy physicians,
President Taft, through the attorney
general authorized the transfer Of
Morse from TT. Mcpherson to the
army and navy general hospital at
Hot Springs. Reports form Atlanta
following this announcement that
| Morse could not be taken to Arkansas
and friends indicated that they wish d
to remove him entirely from federal
supervision and to prevent the dis
| tressing mental strain. necessary 10
the regainng Of his health IL possi-
BILE.
| The Communication of sentence
crowned their efforts.