The Washington times., 1914-01-08
Bankers May Be Sued.


Bankers May Be Sued.
Mr.. Morse not only is asking for 2
Congressional investigation, but is said
70 contemplate suit against prominent
New York bankers and others who
were connected with his trial and con-
Niction.
, He came to Washington quietly, and
> saw Senator Borah. a member of the
Senate judiciary Committee. lie told
Z Senator Borah the facts from his
. STANDPOINT. Senator Borah was not
Inclined to press for an investigation,
! hut this hes in no wise discouraged
: Nr Morse.
: Il viii be recalled that VIXEN Mr..
Morse WAS in the Atlanta pen'tentiary,
I seeking a pardon, and when Mrs. Morse
3 was making d pluclSy fight against odds
: 10 obtain that pardon, many pI ointment
(. men befrieDded him. They felt he had
: not been dealt with fairly Now that he
Y is seeking an investigation 1T the hands
~ Congress, there is no question he
: will likewise have the support of power
. ri friends.
History of Morse Case
Back in 1907, Charles w. Ncrse had
formed the so-called Ice trust, and was
estimated to be worth SO. Co. 900. In
September, 1907, the National Bank Of
North America, of which he was head,
failed. and February IL of the following
year he was indicted for misapplication
Of funds of the bank. He IVES arrested
February Il. 1903, charged with violating
national banking laws, end November
q of that year was SENTENCED TO fifteen
years in prison. He sought TO reverse
the Judgment on appeal, bu- lost out in
toe Supreme Court of the United States
December 4. 1909. In the meantime,
while he was out on bail, he paid $,-
10000, all that he owed.
He was sent to Atlanta pGnitentiary
on January 3. 1910. and after many
efforts for his pardon, and after he
Rad been sent to the hospital at tort
sentence was oommuted by President
raft. January IS, 1912. Army surgeons
examined him and said he could not
live If kept in prison.
Regained Health and Wealth.
At the time of his release, it was
generally believed this remarkable man,
who had had one of the nest meteoric
of careers, could not live. However,
nc tackled the problem Of regaining
health in the same persistent way he
had assailed other problems, After
months spent abroad he returned To
New York and re-entered the fields OF
6nanceL
But he has been less interested in
finance than in having his case re-
opened in the forum Of public opinion
and in securing the justice he believes
due him. For months he has been
working away digging up evidence and
row he Is ready fer Congressional
inquiry.
Charges Called Fimsy.
Mr.. Morse considers that the charge
IN which he was convicted was fiimsy
End that he old nothing more than a
score of bankers whose acts were never
questioned. He was charged, as vice
president of the National Bank of
North America, with making dummy
loans and purchasing stock of the
American Ice Securities Company and
the stock of his own bank.
One OF the charges now made by Mr.
Morse is that the office of the Comp
ErolleFs Of the Currency refused at the
time Of trial to allow the jury TO see
The report Of the n3tional bank exam
iner who Investigated the Bank of
North America This report, Mr..
Morse nnaintains, would have establish
ed the fact that he had done nothing
illegal The reason for the refusal
Is said 20 be that compliance WOULD
have shown other bankers were making
the same sort of loans and were just
as liable to prosecution as he.
All these facts, and more, say the
friends of Mr.. Morse. will be illumin-
sted in startling fashion IL an investi-
cation is ordered.