Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-27
morse MAN GAVE
DAUGHERTY $4,000
Attorney General Admits He Re-
ceived Fee From Thomas
B. Fielder
DENIES WATSON DEFENSE

Washington. May 27.--Denial by At.
torney General Daugherty that he told
senator Watson, Republican. Indiana,
he had no connection with the procur-
ing Of pardon for Charles W. Morse.
as stated by Senator Watson IN the
Senate when Senator Caraway opened
his attack on the Attorney General sew 4.
eral weeks ago. was the latest develop
ment today in connection with the cH-
changes that have cnsued
Expressing regret that Senator Wat.
e0n evidently had misunderstood what
he had said in their discussion of the
matter. the Attorney General. in his
letter which was read to the Senate
yesterday ~ the request of the Senator,
who is nov in Indiana, said he GER
tainly did not say" that he had no
connection with the case and tha, he
had ''no disposition TO deny ''his con
nection with tt He added thai for his
services he never received anything
from Mr. Morse personally" and that
Q total of about S4O06' received from
Thomas +. Fielder was about half
enough to pay my necessary expenses
and disbursements.
Senator Caraway. addressing the
there could be- no question of misunder-
standing; that Senator Watson either
had repeated what was told him or had
misrepresented the Attorney General,
and added. II cannot think he would
do that
Asserting another Republican Sena
tor had told him the Attorney General
had made the same denial to him. Sena.
tor Caraway said 1t was "a question
between the Attorney General and his
friends, and II they were willing TO
bear the imputation that they misrepre-
scnted bin in order to pull him out Of
hole. 1t is up to them"
Text Of Daugherty's Letter
Tn" text of Mr.. Daugherty's letter
to Senator Watson is as follows:
MAY 90. 1922.
Honorable James r. Watson.
United States Senate.
Washington. D. c.
my Dear Senator:
To-day for the first time I have had
an opportunity to read the Congress
sional Record of May 12. page 8726.
relative to the colloquy in the Senate
regarding my connection with the Morse
case. / have read newspaper comment
on this discussion. but it was of q gen =
eral character and I thought it required
no particular attention on my part.
remember very we'll general dis
eussion We had some time ago regarding
the Morse case. I certainly did not in
that discussion make the statement to
you that had no connection with the
Morse cases, civil and criminal. NY
connection with these cases was we'll
known throughout the country because
81
! never denied 1t and have no dis.
position to deny it now. Nothing was
done by me or anybody else in connec.
ton with these cases that could not be
known to the who'e world without re.
hection upon any one.
Morse was released upon the recon.
mendation of Attorney General Wicker.
sham, who based his Recommendation
upon the reports Of eminent physicians
Of the Government, including the Sur
Seon General of the Army. and the rec
ords In the Department show all the
facts pertaining to the physical condi.
ton of Morse when he was released,
which was the sole ground for executive
clemency.
.As for compensation. I never re-
ceived anything from Mr.. Morse per-
sonally. All ever received from any
body in connection with the Morse cases,
both civil and criminal, was about $4,000
advanced to me by Mr.. Fielder, and was
about half enough to pay my necessary
expenses and disbursements connected
With over years active Investigation,
preparation and service in the cases.
Il regret, Senator, il you misunder.
soood me.
Sincerely yours,
H. NJ. DAUGHERTY,
Attorney General"