The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-03
Ba n k er Gle ars 81, 900
While Prisoner in
A tlan ia.
OFFERS TO DIVIDE
WITH THE WARDEN
Disclosure Made During Heated
Argument, Caused by Editors
Accusation That Morse Had
Been Kept in Solitary Con-
fnement and Harshly
Treated.

1TGdteO.
Atlanta, Ga, January "a heated
personal argument between a news
paper editor and Warden william, Fl.
Meyer. OF the Federal prison here
resulted to-day in the disclosure that
Charles w. Morse. the New York
banker, behind bars in Atlanta, ncgo-
tiated q shrewd business deal in Wall
Street by the use of a cipher message
Morse made $4,000 In the spring of 1910
by selling short on gas stock, all be-
cause Warden Meyer permitted him 10
send the telegram.
To show his gratitude, or for some
other reason. MIR. Meyer said. Mr..
Morse subsequently offered to share
the profits with him. This alleged act
on the part OF Mr.. Morse SO preiudced
the warden against the eX-bankcr in
the opinion OF Editor Z. L. Sceley.
who publishes the Atlanta Georgian.
that Meyer subsequently subjected his
prisoner TO harsh disciplinary treat
ment."
Mr.. seclcy is a personal friend OF
Mr.. Morse and has visited him fire.
quenuy in the prison. Last Thursday
'hc printed In his paper u story hint
ing at congressional investigation
into Morse'S treatment in the peni-
Tertiary. citing an instance in which
the banker was alleged to have been
placed in solitary confinement in q
dungeon for giving a boy about to be
discharged a few dollars.
Warden Incensed.
The publica ton so incensed the war
den that he arranged for the Atlanta
newspaper men to come TO prison to
show them Just where Morse was kent
in solitary confinement and TO explain
the circumstances. Editor Seeley was
present. To the newspaper men and
Morse's attorney. Thomas 8. Fielder.
Warden Meyer read @ statement eX-
planning the accusations. He declared
that Morse had been kept In solitary
confinement for TWO days in May. 1910.
until he divulged the source of about
SAC found in his possession, and that
he was removed by the warden's
orders and not BY orders OF the prison
physician. as charged. He showed the
visitors u fatr-sized. wcll-lighted and
wellventilated room, In which. he
said. Morse was kept. He said the bed
was covered with the ordinary prison
mattress and wooden blanket
Il have been reliably informed"
said Editor Seeley. that Morse had no
mattress and no blanket. and had TO
sleep on the hard iron Stats with only
his coat under his head
That is absolutely untrue" retort-
ed tho warden angrily. where have
you gotten such information
mt. Morse himself and the physi-
clan attending him at the time. Two
prison employees vouchcd for the war
dcn's contention.
Mr.. Seelcy asked the warden 10 cx-
plain why he had written to the Attor-
N 4.
to the Fort Mcpherson hospital that
"he did not seem then to havo the ap-
pearance of a man whose condition
was critical"
MIR. Seeleys paper had charged that
it was believed that certain officials
had tried TO counterfeit the reports cG
the surgeons. Dir. Meyer declared that
he had not mado any personal report
regarding Morse since his transfer 10
the fort hospital. He refused to say
whether he had been asked to express
the opinion previously referred to.
In explaining the gas stock deal"
MIR Meyer said that on March II, 1910,
soon after he became prisoner, he
gave Morse permission TO send q
cipher message to New York. Then
he reported the matter TO the Attor-
ney General, and was instructed not
TO permit Morse to send MESA ges
again. Later, he said. Morse told him
that he had made $4,000 out OF that
gas stock deal and wanted him TO
have half"
Tells Him to Forget IL.
"'Forget you ever told me that,
Morse, l said to him. declared the
warden. land don't ever say any
think like that to me again"
Mr. Meyer said this incident was
brought out when the prison was in
vestigated last spring.
AIR. SeelesT&.- sked the warden IL he
knew any thinStSibout q check for 81 ,005
made out by Mrs. Morse to MORSE,
which had found It's way to the do
partment. Mir. Mover replied that he
had never heard of the check until It
was shown to him at the Investigation.
According to the warden. the offensc
for which Morse was kept in solitary
confinement was described as fol-
lows:
"A deputy saw a nurse pass Sl.35
and a pearl handled knife to Morse,
and both were arrested The warden
did not believe the stIry he told as
to how he had Obtained the money
from another prisoner. and ordered
him into confinement. Mrs. Morse told
the warden she had slipped about ff-
teen 81 bills into Morse6 pocket. AZ
ter Morse learned that the warden
knew about the SIS he confessed to
having received the SIS from his wife
and about thirty 81 bills from his
business partner, in addition to five 81
bills from n discharged prisoner.
which nc already had admitted. Tho
money was recovered and Morse taken
from isolation.
1.-THE fact that on May Is. 1910.
Morse, No. ASIA, had to his credit on
the hooks OF the penitentiary sG4e.76
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