New-York tribune., 1912-01-19
President, Hearing Prisoner Is
Near Death, commuteS His
Sentence, to Expire
at Once.
CIVIL RIGHTS STILL LOST
Mr.. Taft's Action Based on At
torney General Wickershams
Recommendation and Sur
geon General Torney's
Report.
From Tee Tribune Bureau. ]

FROM Tee Tribune BureduI
Washington. jar. 1S-On the recon-
mendatior of the Attorney General, based
on a report from the surgeon general OF
the army. the President late this after
noon commuted the sentence Of Charles
W. Morse. 70 expire at once. The New
York banker, who was sentenced TO I'M
prisonment for ffteeE years for misap-
plication of the funds of the National
Bank of North America, is tnereiore
a free man, but his physical condltion
Ia such that II is doubtful whether ne
will survive more than few months.
The communication, unlike PARDON uoes
not restore Morse's civil rights.
The White House statement granting
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 Attor-
ney General. based upon the following
report OF Surgeon General Torney:
A careful review of reports. makes ~
clear 10 my mind that he Is suffering rom
a combination Of diseases, due TO degeherd-
tive changes which are incurable ana pro.
gressive The reports show that Dotn tne
conditions Of the kidneys ana me near a.
growing worse I regard the attack OF
I "a rdiac dvsnnCpa. or heart block. from which
/ he suffered on the morning OF the I1th inTHI.,
as an ominous occurrence: IN my oPlIiGm,, ~
the prsoaors duration OF Ire VIII pe ~.
all prol ability less than one month II kgp1
| I'm confinement, and i'm the event or ms r.
| lease under commutatiOn Of sentence II -
! not probable that he will live as lohs a'
| six months.
Mrs. Morse Takes Communication Papers
Designated as special messenger by
the Attorney Generals office. Mrs. Merse
! left Washington tonight for Atlanta
bearing her husbands commutation pa
pers.
"I thank God" she said. Just before
she boarded the train. ! could not
have lived longer under the strain MY
heart was breaking. Mr.. Morse's life *
almost ended No human being can
know the suffering | have endured since
nv husbands Imprisonment trle'
every means to bring about his release.
President Tafts act was one OF simple
iuetice If nv husband did any wrong
he has more than paid the penalty. HIS
life has been forfeited. / always have
tbelieved. and always will believe mat
he WAS an innocent mantle scapegoat
Of others. -,
- have no hope that my husband VIII
live more than two months. even though
we can get him to Carlsbad, where ne
will have the benefit Of the baths.
have no criticism to make against any
ono know all the officers acted aC-
.ordinq 10 a sense Of duty. But " Is
hard hard 10 think that my husband
life has been taken from him and that
he is having the forfeit Of his life. The
nudge never intended to sentence MN
| to death
The Attorney General Immediately
following the Presidents action. tele-
graphed to Warden Meyer OF the Az
! IIanta ranitentiary. who was technl'aly
! :, charge of Morse although he had
boor removed to the Fort Mcpherson
Hosnital 10 release the prisoner.
! The army surgeons at Fort McPher-
| so, received the same, instructions.
Efforts made for complete pardon
were unavailpg, and under the law
Morse could not be paroled uh''l ne """
served five years. Under the c'nlinu-
tation he will be allowed to leave the
army hospital at Fort McPherson'
near Atlanta, at once
The release of the convicted pahher
nov under the shadow OF death' mas
been a question to which the President
has repeatedly given the closest con-
sideration. Every point in the case was
gone over thoroughly and scrutlnized
from all sides on May "a the appeal
for cIemency in behalf of Morse was de-
MED because of the gravity ot MS o.
fo,cc but permission was granted to re-
now the appeal on January l. 1913. IN
tho mean time his condition became
s,c, that he was removed to the army
hospital at Fort Mcpherson and reports
from the surgeons have kept the Presi.
| a.nt and the Attorney General informed
of the progress OF his malady.