The New York herald., 1922-05-23

resulting from undesirable newspaper
publicity. and We requested those re-
sponsble for It TO desist until things
'quieted down We had been expecting
for a week or ten days to get the order
for Morses release. 1t did not come
so on the day the release was granted
we called at the Office of Hon. John II.
Mclean, warm personal friend OF Mr..
Daugherty's and an acquaintance oi
mine; also friend of both the Presi-
dent and the Attorney General. Mr.
Mclean took the matter up actively
He called the editor In chief of the
Washington Post, Mr.. Bennett, over the
phone, sent his automobile for him
and had him brought to his office. where
we had a long conference. going thor
oughly over the situation.
Gets Discharge Order.
"As a result thereof, Mr. Bennett was
dispatched to the office OF the Attorney
General. where he was Joined by Attor-
ney-General Wickersham and the twain
called at the White House. and after a
protracted conversation between the
President and Mr.. Mclean over tele.
phone. Mr.. Bennett returned to the Of
flee of Mr.. John r. Mclean and deliv-
evered TO US the order discharging
Charles w. Morse and the same was by
US transmitted to the head official of the
Atlanta penitentiary.
"A few days thereafter I called upon
Mr. Morse for a settlement of his obli-
cation. He seemed to be profoundly
grateful and expressed his deep appre-
citation for what he was pleased to char
acterize our splendid efforts in his be-
half stating that as soon as he returned
to New York he would send us check
for s25. 900 and would very shortly
thereafter pay the 100000, and
acknowledged that he had said he
would make us rich,' and this he pro-
posed to do.
"A few days thereafter he went TO
New York. and instead of sending the
check for s25,0o0 or any other amount
he sailed for Europe for an indefinite
leave of absence. AS soon as read in
the press that Morse had gone to Europe
without making any reference to his
obligation TO us. l Immediately COM
municated with his son, Harry Morse,
who had apparently directed his
fathers affairs, requesting an explana-
ton. I received very prompt reply
to my letter stating that the condition
of his fathers health was such as to
require his immediate departure for
some mineral spring in Europe; that his
condition was such as to preclude his
transacting any business before his de-
parture, but he knew his father would
effect settlement with us upon his re-
turn to the States. Immediately after
Morse's departure for Europe there ap-
peared in the press of the country
numerous sensational articles to the
effect that there was nothing the matter
with MorseS health: that his release
from the Federal penitentiary had been
secured by fraud. and officials were
urged to take immediate steps to have
him remanded to the penitentiary.
Met MOrse's Sons.
IAN Investigation was instituted and
Mr.. Daugherty and myself. as Morse 8
counsel, were advised that steps would
likely be taken to have Morse remanded
to the penitentiary to serve the balance
OF his sentence. His son, Harry Morse,
requested Mr.. Daugherty and myself
to meet him and his brothers in Wash
ington for a conference. We met him
and his brother. who then resided in
Baltimore, at the Willard Hotel. We
conferred at length in relation to the
matter, and a decision was reached
that we should get in touch immedi-
ately with the Department of Justice
and forestall, if possible. any efforts to
carry out the threat. We made an ap-
ointment with the Attorney-General
and discussed the matter with him at
length.
1--WE took the position in this confer
ence that an Executive order having
been signed and promulgated commut-
ing the sentence of the said Morse
It was not within the power of the
Executive to either change. modify or
revoke the same: that If said order
had been obtained by fraudulent means
and artful practices and the Department
desired to test this question. that 1t
would be necessary to take Morse into
custody and submit the question to a
Jury whose exclusive province 1t was
to pass upon the issue of fact.
"Some weeks or months elapsed before
Mr.. Morse returned to America. When
we received information through the
columns OF the press, and not from him.
that he had returned. l made several
efforts to arrange a conference with
him in New York. / finally arranged
for a meeting, advised Hon. II. M.
Daugherty and we met pursuant to the
appointment at his office in the city of
New York He stated on this occasion
that he had no money or property which
he could convert into money with which
he could compensate us; that he deeply
appreciated our tireless but successful
efforts in his behalf and that 1t was his
desire to do something then for us which