"ICE KING'S" FATE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 321, 12 January 1909, Page 4

"ICE KING'S" FATE

SENTENCE OK FIFTEEN' YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. MILLIONAIRE'S KUN. London. November 1-1. The great Mor.se drama which for weeks has held the bankers and financial magnates of America .spellbound reached its climax when the deposed "ice king" was sentenced to lifted! years in the 'Federal gaol at Atlanta. Mr. Curtis, who, as manager of the .National Hank of North America, carried out the ice king's command--,, escaped with a suspended sentence of five years.

' The liual scene of this historic trial was dramatic hi the extreme. After the two prisoners, one of whom until the money panic was worth 14,01)0,000, had been pronounced guilty, they were led lo a tiny cell with two berths ,n the Tombs prison, where they Jay sleepless until tlie re-opening of the Court. Mr. Curtis seemed utterly crushed by his nocturnal gaol experiences, hut Mr. Morse to all appearances was cool and defiant as ever, "lie is strong as iron and cold, as ice," whispered a neighbor, as the ice king, bracing himself against the railing of'the dock with his bauds in his pockets, gazed squarely at the judge.

'. Not far away from him sat Mrs. Morse and her two sons, her hands miserably clasped to her head. 'the indrawn sobs of Mrs. Curtis were heard through the entire court. Suddenly Judge Wolcott, counsel for ■Mr. Curtis, rose and in a choked voice begged for mercy on behalf of his client, "this dear friend of mine,'' declaring that his petition would be supported by all the bankers of the metropolis, who were convinced of the honesty of Mr. Curtis. Then Judge. Hough pronounced sentence, and declared that Mr Curtis would escape actual punishment .because be had been merely a tool in .the, hands of the dominating mast'r. The announcement was greeted with .applause, which was immediately supposed.

Next moment a weird murmur coursed through the crowded court-room as the. words "Morse is sentenced to iifton years in the Federal prison" came from the lips of the judge. The great financiers, the lawyers, the bankers, who formed the ■majority of the spectators .seemed Id greet the verdict with vindictive joy. for tliev always regarded Mr. .Morse as the prime precipitator of last year's panic, and endorsed unreservedly the observations of the judge that if such crimes as. his were allowed lo go unpunished the country would be at the meivy of wealthy adventurers.

i Mr. Morse himsislf gjlaaiccd; ill the ■ilir-celion ol' his counsel, who a|i|)lic(! ■for and obtained ten days' stay of execution while he drew up mi appeal to si higher court. Calm, i-ool.'anil cvnieal as ever, the ex-ice king watched Mr. Curtis with a eontemptuous smile as his disgraced tool marched t» freedom with his weepin;.' wife amid a derisive chorus of ''How would you like to lie the ice king now:'" Mill" b'v the vast crowds outside. 'AX AMAZIXC CAKKKB.

in one respect Mr. Morse may he <-on•sidered fortunate, as he had rendered ■himself liable in all to 325 years' imprisonment. Little more than a year ago, Mr C'has. ■VYyman Morse, whose organisation of the Ice Trust and Ihe extortions of that Trust had a I rend v brought him into notice, was described by the New York Press us -master of eighty-one steamships and thirteen bunks.'' "It would he idle," one journal said, "for anybody to attempt to estimate the wealth of Mr. Mnr-e. In the linancial district he is rated all lire way from t:t.iii)(),lillO to ■ eS.OOU.UIin." .

Mr. Morse, who is now rrl years old. started life in the mysterious position of "candy-boy'' oil an American coastal steamer.

He was freely spoken of as '-hard hit'' during the linancial panic of last autumn, when the "National Bank of North America, of which he was president, stopped payment. Later Mr. Morse's mansion in Fifth Avenue was seized for debt. Karlv in Fcbruarv. at. the vcrv moment when the ull'iiir* that led lo the wreck of the hank were being examined, Mr. Morse suddenly vanished. 1 A wireless message from ihe Daily Mail found him on the liner Campania. He replied immediately, declaring that he was not a fugitive from justice, but was faking'a holiday. Landing at Liverpool, he spent a holiday of precisely 'four hours, and then sailed again fir Xew York to face the charges against him.

His trial revealed an amazing system of dummy loans, by which he made good his speculative losses at the expense of Ihe bank. The most piipiant evidence was to the effect that he borrowed from ■the. National Hank of North America the nioii.'y willi which he purchased a controlling interest in that, institution. A girl stenographer, it was also shown, had authority to issue loans to clients and to act for Mr. Morse in "keeping his bank account good,"

Mr. Morse, the banker, ami former "Tee Kinjr," remains in prison, on failing 'Lo yivt? liail pending an appeal. The warders say he is unsociable with the other prisoners at .excreise time, and dislikes the prison diet. Tie is allowed to send out to a neighboring ri'stnurnii■lour for a shilling luiu-li. lint his lireak'fast is provided l>y the State, lie spends much time in reading legal papers and trying to reduce Ms lawyer's hill.