New-York tribune., 1912-01-03
REJECTED MORSE'S $1,000
Prison Warden Says He Spurned
Convicted Bankers Offer.
MONEY MADE IN GAS DEAL
Heated Controversy Between
Editor and Penitentiary Head
Discloses Secrets.

,tIauta. Ga. Jan. "A heated personal
argument between newspaper editor ana
warden William II. Meyer of the Federal
,.risop here resulted to-day in disclosing
,bs, Charles w Morse, convicted banker
made 5000 in a Wall Street deal through
,be courtesy OF Warden Meyer. 1t was
brought out that IN the spring Of 1910 Morse
made the money by selling short on gas
stock ty means of a cipher message Meyer
allowed him to send.
To show his gratitude or for some other
reason Mover said Morse subsequently or
,sred to share the profits with him This
alleged act on the part Of Morse SO preju-
diced the warden against the eX-banker. in
the opinion Of +. l.. Seeley, editor and pup
fisher Of The Atlanta Georgian" that he
subsequently subjected Morse to disciplin-
ary treatment. characterized to-day by the
editor as 'reprehensiblc'
SeeIey is a personal friend OF Morse and
has visited him frequently in the prison.
Last Thursday he printed in his paper a
story limiting at a Congressional investi-
cation into Morses treatment in the peni-
y
alleged 10 have been placed in solitary con-
inement in a dungeon for giving sick
boy about to bc discharged a paltry sum
of money
The publication so incensed the Warden
that he invited the Atlanta newspaper men
10 the prison 10 show them just where
Morse was kept in solitary confinement and
TO explain the circumstances. Seeley re-
sponded in person as the representative of
his paper.
Surrounded by newspaper men assembled
in his office Warden Meyer read a state
ment he had prepared answering the ac-
cusations made I'm Seeley's paper. He de-
clared that Morse had been kept I'm soil
tary confinement for two days in May,
1910. for refusing TO divulge the source OF
about SAC found in his possession. AS soon
as Morse did so, he was released, he said.
lie showed the visitors fair-sized, we'll
lighted and well-ventilated room, In which
he said Morse was kept
Tells Of Gas Stock Deal,
The Jury wanted to know about that
gas stock deal" Meyer said that on March
II. 1910. soon after the banker became
prisoner he gave Morse permission 10 send
a cipher message to New York. The next
day, he said. he reported the matter to the
Attorney General, and was instructed not
10 permit Morse to send messages again.
Some time later, he said, Morse came into
his Office and told him he had made 5000
out Of that gas stock deal, and wanted
him 10 have half"
Forget YOU ever told me that, Morse,
] said to him." declared the warden, and
do not ever say anything like that TO me
again
Moyer said this incident was brought
out when the prison was investigated last
spring by one of the most competent OF
fcials OF the department. Seeley asked the
warden if he knew anything about check
for sl,OO5 made out by Mrs. Morse to
Morse, which had found its way to the
department Mr. Meyer replied that he
had never heard of the check until 1t was
shown to him at the investigation. He
said II was being held for Morse by ono
Of the clerks.
The offence for which Morse was kept in
solitary confinement was described by the
warden as follows:
4 deputy saw a nurse pass 81 p and
pearl handled knife to Morse, and both
we're "arrested." The warden did not be-
lieve the story he told as to how he had
obtained them from another prisoner. and
ordered him into confinement. When Mrs.
Morse called and learned her husband was
IN trouble she told the warden she had
slipped about fifteen 81 bills into Morses
pocket.
Later Morse confessed 10 having received
the sl5 from his wife and about $50 from
his business partner, in addition to s. from
Il discharged prisoner. which he already
had admitted. He said he had given the
money to another prisoner for safe keep
ing The money was recovered and Morse
taken from isolation. He was reduced TO
second grade and lost twenty days of his
good time"