Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-01-08
MORSE SEEKING A
PROBE OF HIS CASE
AFTER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION
OF CONVICTION FOR VIOLAT-
ING BANKING LAWS.
He HAS A STRONG SUPPORT
Claims Government Onicials Suppress
ed Official Papers That Would
HaVe Cleared Him.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7.-Charles
W Morse, the former ice king ono
of the most spectacular figures in
modern American finance and the
principal actor in a drama that lasted
for half dozen years, and carried
him from the banking regions Of New
York to the Atlanta penitentiaTy, Is
about to write another chapter TO his
story
After months Of investigation and
labor, Morse is trying to launch an
investigation by congressional COM
mitteo Of all the circumstances lead
ing up to his conviction six years ago
Of violation Of the national banking
laws Although his plans have not
been announced, it became known
here today that he also contemplates
suit for damages against prominent
New York bankers and others con-
neCted with his trial and conviction.
Morse has a talk with Senator Bo-
rah, Of Idaho here yesterday and sug-
gcsted to him the need for an investl-
cation Of his case by a senate COM
mittee. Although the Idaho senator
refused to press the matter, the eX-
banker is understood to have left
Washington still determined to force
an investigation,
Morse was sent 10 the Atlanta peni-
tentiary to serve fifteen year sem
tence. After a quiet but persistent
fight led by Mrs. Morse and backed
by many prominent persons, his sem
tence was commuted by former Presi-
dent Taft. Mr.. Taft acted on the
statements Of army surgeons who de-
clared that Morse could not live long
err than six months. The prisoner was
released from Atlanta two years ago
Shortly afterward he sailed for Eu-
rope, took d cure" and then return
ed to the United States.
Since his return from Europe, Morse
has been making preparations to re
open in the court Of public opinion,
at least, the case against him. Il is
understood that Morse claims the
main charge on which he was convict
ed, the making OF false entries in the
books Of the National Bank Of North
America, was flimsy charge and
that he did nothing more than was
done by scores Of bankers in New
York Testimony against Morse show
ed that he made dummy loans and
was a purchaser Of the stock Of the
American Ice Securities company and
Of the stock of the bank Of which
he was vice president He now is un-
derstood to charge that the Office Of
the comptroller Of the currency here
refused at his trial to allow the jury
to see the report of the national exam
liner who investigated the Bank Of
North America and indicates that this
report clearly would have established
the fact that he had done nothing un-
lawful He Is said to contend this re-
fusal was based on the fact that other
New York bankers were making the
same sort Of 1oans and that the pro-
duction Of the examiners report in
court would have resulted necessarily
I'm the prosecution of many other per-
sons
Morse first was convicted in the fed
oral courts in 1908, and subsequently
CHARGED that the jurymen who passed
on his case were under the influence
Of liquor and that the entire jury was
I'm charge Of improper guardians six
Of whom were former secret service
mon from Washington. He was con
Nictcd on three counts and sentenced to
five years imprisonment on each. and
although two OF the three convictions
later were set aside, the sentence of
fifteen years was allowed to stand.
In his long fight to regain liberty,
Morse succeeded in getting the inter-
est and friend5hip of prominent men
here and it was not doubted tonight
that his effort to bring the matter into
the limelght again would have pow
erfu support