The Washington herald., 1913-02-09
many DISCUSSES
USED BY CROOK
c. B. Morse, Who Swindled
Firm Here Of $4,000,
Applied Cosmetics.
PAINTED HIS FACE
False Boards and Mustache Often
Used to Conceal His
Identity.

c. B. Morse, alias c. ID. Morse, the
master crook who swindled the realty
firm Boss Phelps, of this city, of
$4,000 in August last and who is now
in penitentiary in California, has been
revealed as one of the most wonderful
JekyI and Hydes in criminal history in
the United States, according to the best
informed students of crime among police
officials.
During his recent criminal career.
which began in November, 1911, when he
was pardOned by Gov. Foss and releas-
I'd rom penitentiary in Massachusetts,
Morse as he called himself while in
Washington, employed six distinct dis
Guises in eluding detestives and each
disguise was complete in conception and
detail
Detectives. who knew Morse as he
really is by rogues-gallery photographs,
declare they would never have recog-
nized the swindler in any one of his six
''make-ups." Morse weighs a little less
than $50 pounds, but in one of his dis
luises he padded his clothes so that the
most observant detective would believe
the swindler weighed nearly twice his
actual weight.
Morse has sallow, somewhat
''sickly'' complexion, but he used rouge
and other cosmetics so skillfully that
ture of health. Morse has thin, dark
hair. and is almost bald on top of his
head. but this tell-tale mark of identf-
fication was eradicated by the use OF
gray and auburn wigs. He added
finishing touches with false mustaches
and removable boards.
Photographs sent Here.
Mai. Sylvester yesterday received
eight photographs of Morse. One pic
ture shows the criminal as he appeared
when his photograph was placed in the
rogues gallery in 1907 Another photo
pictures the man as he is to-day, sans,
wigs. false hair, pads and rouge. The
other six pictures portray the swindler
in his six disguises. Rogues gallery
experts. looking at the eight pictures
placed side by side on desk top, de-
clared last night no two of the photo
graphs bore sufficient likeness for iden-
tification.
In Washington. where Morse repre-
sented himself as a wealthy business
man from the Pacific Coast he used the
disguise of an aged, bearded, white
haired character. entirely unlike his
other disguises in all details Declaring
his intention of purchasing a suburban
home at a cost of 10000, Morse induced
Boss & Phelps TO indorse his forged draft
for $1,000, which was deposited in a
bank. He checked out all but a few
dollars of the money and fed.
In Fresno. Fresno County, Cal, where |
Morse is known as William J. Reid, the |
swindler recently pleaded guilty to a |
charge of forging a draft for 1880 and |
attempting to cash it at the Commercial |
Bank of Sanger. He is now serving a |
sentence of six years in Folsom, prison. |
Before beginning the term Morse, other !
wise known as Reid confessed to the
stunt in Washington in which Boss &
Phelps were the victims.
Reid was convicted Of forgery several
years ago in Georgia and later in Massa-
chusetts. He is considered one of the
most daring forgers and swindleTs in this
country. Among the aliases used by
the man in the course of his operations
have been c. B. Morse. c. d. Morse,
William J. Reid, s p. Croft. John Carr,
Barker. Moore. Jackson, James Black, !
Albert Perrin. l.. o. Hoffman, and Her
bert johnson.
When the convict is released from |
Folsom prison, he will be removed to |
Washington for trial on charge of swim |
ding Boss & Phelps.