Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-25
REID ALLEGES SAW SEVERAL
MAINE MEN IN M0RSE'S BEHALF
ElabOrates Claim He
Prevented Former Ice
King and Wife from
Improper and In
wise Enterprises" in
Efforts to ecure
MOrse's Release

New York Dec o4-Walter f. Reid
of Portland. Me. who is suing Charles
W. Morse for S150,000 for alleged
breach on contract, today flied in the
federal district court supplementary
particulars demanded by the defend
ant in elaboration of the plaintiff $
claim that he had prevented Morse and
his wife from engaging in improper
and unWise enterprises in their eff
forts to obtain the bankers release
from the federal pcnitcntiary at At
lanta.
Taft COMMITTED Morse Sentence
Morses sentence of Imprisonment
for Is years for misapplication of the
funds of the National Bank of Amer
lea was committed Jan. 49, 1872. by
President William H. Taft. after the
prisoner had served little more than
two years of his sentence. The Presi-
dents action was based on the recon-
mendation of Attorney General Wick
ersham and the report Of Surgeon Gen
cral TorncN.s conclusion was:
In my opinion the prisoners dura
ton of life will in all probability be
less than one month if kept in con-
tinement, and in the events Of his re-
lease under communication of sentence,
il is not probable that lie will live
as long as six months"
Additional Particulars
Mr.. Reid in his additional particulars
filed today said:
In the spring Of 1910 at the New York
Office Of the defendant. Mrs. Morse stated
to the plaintiff that Erwin Morse, the de-
PENDANTS son, was a cOlegemate of Rob-
crt Taft. President Tafts SON. and thai
She was going TO invite Robert Taft to
New York to spend week end and offer
him $4,000 to use his influence in procur-
ing defendants release. Mrs Morse also
stated she would get robert Taft to see
Justice White. Plaintiff prevented Mrs
Morse from carr wing out this plan.
Mrs Morse also had interviews ana
correspondence with one Garland OF Phil
adclphia, Pa. who was to procure defend
ants pardon III considerable of $4,000. of
which sum tho said Garland was to retain
$4,000 for himself. The method by which
the pardon was to be obtained was untis-
closed, The plaintiff prevented this ar
rangement from being carried cut
After relating several other instances
in which Mr.. Reid alleged that he pre-
vented Mrs. Morse from using "undis-
closed means to obtain her husbands re-
lease, the supplementary bill OF particu-
lars cnumerates a list of influential men
who it alleges were interviewed by the
plaintiff in Morses behalf as follows.
"EX Governor Cobb OF Maine, who was
induced to see, and did see. President
Taft; Ex-Governor John F. Hill. at hi.
office in Augusta. Me; George F. Ma,
comber. who was induced to see, and did
Sec senator Hale Of Maine. senator al
Washington, D. G.: Mr. Peavey, who sa "
President Taft several times; Congress
man Allen of Maine, at Washington. ID.
G.: John Dwight of New York. at Wash.
ington, d. c.; J. Soat Fassett. at WASH
inston. y. c.; Edward O. Eldredge AT
New York"
Plaintiff also wrote to President Tai
and correspondent with and interviewed Of
Meals Of the department of justice acting
under direction of Attorney General
George W. Wickersham," SAYS the sup
Elementary bin of particulars.
Although Morse in his answer to Reds
suit denied the plaintiff had ever render
ed any services for him. the plaintiff as
serts the contract sued upon-a verbal
uncovered the period from Aug. 10. 1863
to May ], 1913, and that his disbursements
IN Morse's behalf appropriated $13. 4oo