Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-05-30
PARDON Of MORSE
|SFULLY JUSTIFIED
BY RECORD, CLAIM
Arkansas Senator ReneWS
Attack on Daughertyr As
sisted by Senator Thomas
{. Watson, of Georgia

WASHINGTON, May 2S.-Nam-
ing scores of members of the senate
and house, both Democrats and Re
publicans and others prominent in
official life at the time, as having
petitioned the release in 1872 from
the Atlanta penitentiary of Charles
w. Morse, the department of JUS
tice Saturday made public, the rec
ord in the Morse case ''as disclosed
in the official files,p which indicates,
the statement said. beyond any
question, that Mr.. Morse was re-
leased upon the report of reputable
physicians and United States army
surgeons showing him to be suf-
fering from serious illness"
'The release came" the state
ment continued Gas the elimination
OF probably the most remarkable
public demonstration on behalf of
any federal prisoner ever convicted
in the courts of the United States"
Notwithstanding the thigh char
setter" Of those occupying positions
Of responsibility and trust" under
the government who were among
thousands signing the petition, the
statement said sit was not in re
snonse to any public demonstration"
strong as it was at the time, thai
Mr. Morse was released, but solely
upon the reports OF the medical eX-
aminers."
Daugherty Assailed Again
Before the statement of the de-
partment of justice was issued, At
torney General Daugherty again was
under attack in the senate by Sena-
tors Caraway. Democrat, Arkansas,
and 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"
former President Taft and now was
"betraying the present administra-
ton He also charged that the
department of justice was employ
ing it's agents to shadow senators
and representatives
Incorporated in the statement
issued late today by the department
of justice were reports of physicians
which were part of the record Of
the Morse case in the departments
files. These showed that Major
David Baker, an army medical Off
Ger at Fort Mcpherson, found Morse
suffering from arterio-sclerosis, with
myocarditis and renal sclerosis. This
malady was incurab!e, it was said,
and Mr.. Morse had. met very long
to live"
LAS life insurance risk, Major
Baker said, would not recommend
this patient for the short period of
thirty days. His sudden death is
constantly probable"
Prior to examination of Morse by
army officers, however, civilian
physicians made an examination at
the request of United States Mar
shall w. H. Johnson, at Atlanta.
and DIR. w. S. Ell1in, of that city,
found the patients health not in
danger by reason of his confine-
ment.
Diet Important
81 do not believe" he reported on
November /, 1911, that Mr.. Morse
is suffering from any serious organ
ic trouble 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. I do not
think that further confinement will
materially shorten the prisoners
life or permanently or seriously i'm
pair his health.
Another civilian physician, DR.. Z.
c.. Davis, of Atlanta, under the same
date reporting to Marshall Jonn-
son, took different view of Mr.
Morses finding. He said symptoms
indicated probably the beginning of
Brights' disease.
II do not believe in his present
condition" DR.. Davis said, with
the influence of mental worry added
to his physical ailments, that he
would ordinarily live more than one
or two years unless treated with
extreme care and thoroughly pro-
tected from arduous work and eX-
posture.
His diet ought also to be looked
after carefully on account of evil
Of nn
ginning of Brights' disease
During November, 1911. the de-
partment's statement said, constant
renorts were made to the attorney
general lat that time Mr.. Wicker
shan), by J. Calvin Weaver, physi-
clan at Atlanta penitentiary under
the last administration" on MIR.
Morse's condition. Warden Meyer,
also constantly advised the depart
ment of justice as to the prison
er's condition from reports he re-
ceiyed from Major Baker, post
surgeon at FIT. Mcpherson, where
Mfr. Morse was removed for treat
D1ent November 26, 1911.
Army Surgeons Report
Warden Meyer on December 90,
1e11. telegraphed Attorney General
Wickersham a telephone message
he received from Major Baker as
follows: ,.
"After four weeks observation, I
believe the physical condition OF
Morse is deterioratlng. describe
condition as very grave. l believe
that further Imprisonment will be
injurious" $780,
was informed of Presidents Taft's
refusal to exercise executive elem
ency. and the following day tele
pranhed Mr.. Wickersham a tele
phoned report of Major Baker that
morning which said Morse was
weaker.
Under date Of December 80 Major
Baker made long report to the
commanding officer at the fort con
tanning his diagnosis, and describing