The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-01-03
MORSE PLAYED IN
STOCKS FROM
PRISON CELL
Warden Says Banker Offered
to Share Profits
EDITOR RAISED A RUMPUS
Publisher of Atlanta Newspaper AS
serted that Convicted Financler
Has Been III Treated

Atlanta. Jan. "a heated personal
argument between a newspaper edi-
tor and Warden William H. Meyer
of the federal prison here resulted
TODAY in disclosing that Charles W.
Morse convicted banker, made $1,000
In a Wall street deal through the
courtesy of Warden Meyer. IL was
brought out that in the spring OF lSlV
Morse made the money by selling
"short" on gas stock by means OF
climber message Meyer allowed MN
to send.
To show his gratitude or for some
other reason, Mr.. Meyer said, MT
Morse subsequently offered to share
the profits with him. TINS allegeu
act on the part of Mr.. Morse so pre-
indeed the warden against the eA-
banker in the opinion of Editor f. H.
Seeley. who publishes the Atlanta
Georeian, that he subsequently SUD
iected Morse to disciplinary treat
ment characterized today by the
editor as "reprehensible.' .
Mr.. Seeley is a personal friend OF
Mr. Morse and has visited him ire
ouently in the prison. Last Ihurs'
day he printed in his paper story
limiting at a congressional investlga-
tion into Morses treatment in the
penitentiary, citing an instance III
which he was alleged to have Deeh
placed in solitary confinement III
dungeon for giving sick man VINO
was about to be discharged paltry
sum OF money.
The publication so incensed tne
warden that he invited the Atlanta
newspaper men to the prison 10 sho"
them lust where Morse was kept IN
solitary confinement and TO explain
the circumstances. Editor Seeley re-
snonded in person as the representa-
tive OF his paper.
Surrounded by newspaper men as
sembled in his Office Warden Meyer
read statement he had prepared
answering the accusations made IN
Mr. Seeley's paper. He declared tha'
Morse had been kept in solitary con
flnement 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 releas'
ed he said He showed the VISITORS
a fair sized well lighted and well
ventilated room in which he said
Morse was kept.
81 question the accuracy OF some
of your statements said Editor see.
lev. II have been reliably informed
that Morse had no mattress and no
blanket and had to sleep on the iron
stats with only his coat under his
head?"
THAT is absolutely untrue, re
toreed the warden angrily "Who
gave you such information" Mr.
Morse himself and the physician at
tending him at the time"
The warden called in two deputies
In charge at the time and both de
clared that they would take oath that
Morse had both mattress and blanket
The Jury" wanted to know about
that gas stock deal" Mr.. Meyer
said that on March IL, 1910, soon az
ter the banker became a prisoner he
gave Morse permission to send a ci
pher message to New York The
next day he said he reported the mat
ter to the attorney general and wal
instructed not to permit Morse L
send messages again. Sometime la
ter, he said, Morse came into hi
office and told him he had made So
900 "out Of that gas stock deal an'
wanted him to have half
" 'Foret you ever told me tina
Morse, | said to him." declared tn
warden. " and do not ever say any
thing like that to me again.
Mr.. Meyer said this incident wa
brought out when the prison was In
vestigated last spring by one Of tn
most competent officials of the dc
partment
The offense for which Morse wa
kept In solitary confinement was dc
scribed by the warden as follows: !
deputy saw nurse pass Sl.25 an
a pearl handled knife to Morse an
both were arrested The warden di
not believe the story he told as {
how he otained them from anothe
prisoner and ordered him into col
finement. When Mrs Morse Gale
and learned her husband was In trol
bic she told the warden she had sill
ped about fifteen 81 bills into Morse
pocket Later Morse confessed I
having received the $50 from his wifi
and aboutS30 from his business par
ner. In addition to IS from di
charged prisoner, which he alread
had admitted. lie said he had give
the money to another prisoner fC
safe keeping. The money was reco
cred and Morse taken from lsolatio,
He was reduced to second grade an
lost twenty days OF his good time