Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-05-29
REVEAL MORSE
PARDON RECORD
Justice Department. Books
Show Release Was Be-
cause Of Illness.
(By The Associated press.l

scores of members of the senate and
mouse. both Democrats and Repub-
lcans and others prominent in off
Ga Me at h time as having petit
tioncd for the release in 1912 from
the Atlanta penitentiary Of Charles
". Morse, the department Of justice.
saturday made public the record in
the Morse case "as disclosed in the
official files,'' which indicates the
statement said beyond any question
mat Mr.. Morse was released upon
the report Of reputable physicians and
United States army surgeons show
ing him 10 be suffering from a serious
Illness"
THE release came" the statement
continued, a the elimination of
probably the most remarkable public
demonstrations on behalf Of any fed
eral prisoner ever convicted in the
courts of the United States"
Notwithstanding the high char
acter' of those occupying positions of
responsibility and trust" under the
government who were among thou
sands signing the petition, the state
ment said. 1t was not in response to
any public demonstration strong as
1t was at that time, that Mr.. Morse
was released but solely on the re-
ports Of the medical examiners"
Before the statement or the depart
ment of justice was issued, Attorney
General Daugherty was again under
attack in the senate by Senator Car
away, Democrat, Arkansas, and Sen
ator Watson. Democrat, Georgia, with
others joining in the debate. The
Arkansas senator charged that Mr..
Daugherty, in acting as counsel for
Morse in 1912. had betrayed" form
err President Taft and now was be-
traying' the present administration.
He ALSO charged that the department
Of justice was employing its agents
to shadow senators and representa-
tives.
Morse Near Death.
Incorporated in the statement is
sued Saturday by the department of
wrote part of the record of the Morse
case in the departments files. These
showed thai Major David Baker, an
army medical officer at Fort McPher-
Q found Morse suffering from AFTER
iosclerosis with myocardities and rem
al .%sclerosis. The malady was incur
able, it was said, and Hr. Morse had
mot very long to live"
LAS a life insurance risk" Major
Baker said, IT would not recommend
this patient for the short period of
80 days. His sudden death is con-
stantly. probable"
Other Doctors Disagree.
Prior to examination of Mr.. Morse
by army officers, however, civilian
physicians, made an examination at
the request Of United States Marshal
w H. johnson at Atlanta and DR.. w.
S. Elkin of that city. found the pa
TENTS health not in danger by reason
of his confinement.
II do not believe" he reported on
Nov. 1, 1911, that Mr.. Morse is suf-
fering from any serious organic trou-
Bile nor is his health being materially
affected by his present confinement.
The nervous strain that he has been
under for the past three years would
easily account for his loss in weight.
/ do not think that further conf1ne-
ment will materially shorten the nris-
oner's life Or permanently or serious
~, impair his health"
Another civil physician, DR.. e. c.
Davis of Atlanta underit the same date
reporting to Marshal johnson. took a
different view of Mr.. Morse's condi-
ton, finding, he said, symptoms in
dicating probably the beginning of
Bright's disease and that he would not
ordinarily live more than one or two
years unless treated with extreme
care and thoroughly protected from
yarduous work and exposure.
During November 1911. the depart
,ment's statement said. constant re-
ports were made to the attorney gem
;eral tat that time Mr.. Wickersham)
by j. Calvin Weaver. physician at
Atlanta, pe%nitentiary under the last
administration" on Mr.. Morse's con-
dition. \, a s3
James A. Finch, then and now par
don attorney Of the department OF
justice, in q report to Attorney Gem
eral Daugherty, recently compiled
from his records said It was claimed
that Morse petitions were signed by
~. 900 persons, among them 43a state
senators, s7s governors, mayors and
public ofncials; 1,675 judges and
lawyers: 1851 bankers: 8e5 news
papermen; s7s clergymen and ply
,stcians and aSlarge number Of manu-
.facturers, merchants and business