Charles Wyman Morse (October 21, 1856 – January 12, 1933) was an American businessman and speculator who committed frauds and engaged in corrupt business practices.
The plan backfired, however, and it was revealed by the New York Journal and Advertiser that Morse had obtained special privileges from Tammany Hall to run his business, and in exchange Robert Van Wyck (New York City's first mayor over the five united boroughs) had been given a substantial ownership share in the ice companies (by then known as the "Ice Trust") as had Richard Croker, the boss of Tammany Hall.
Undeterred, she was represented by Samuel Untermyer, who restored her marital rights; she remained devotedly at the side of Morse until her death in 1926.
Morse returned to the realm of shipping in 1901 when he established the Eastern Steamship Company as a consolidation of three existing lines.
Despite an initial announcement of such a sale, Morse failed in an attempt to purchase the Long Island Sound steamers of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad.
He became a close associate of F. Augustus Heinze, who became president of Mercantile National, and E. R. Thomas, a young man of large inherited fortune.
[16] Along with Augustus Heinze's brothers, Morse helped create a pool of money to drive up and corner the stock of United Copper.
[17][18] Indicted by United States District Attorney Henry L. Stimson, Morse was convicted of misappropriating funds from a bank.
[19] On October 8, 1909, the assets of the Metropolitan Steamship Company were sold at foreclosure sale to John W. McKinnon of Chicago.
Because of Morse's wealth and connections, he launched a campaign of lawyers, lobbyists and famous journalists like Clarence W. Barron who urged President William Howard Taft for leniency.
In 1912 Morse became ill, and a panel of Army doctors declared that he suffered from Bright's disease and other maladies and would soon die if he remained in prison.
Morse announced on January 11, 1916, plans for a new transoceanic steamship line, which he organized as the United States Shipping Company.
The freighters were ordered by the United States Shipping Board, and Morse borrowed from the Emergency Fleet Corporation funds to carry out the contracts.
The mail fraud case against Morse ended when he was adjudged too ill to stand trial, and his sons were acquitted.
[27] On April 14, 1884, he married Hattie Bishop Hussey of Brooklyn, New York (granddaughter of Maine shipbuilder T. J. Southard).
Suffering from paralysis, Morse was placed under the guardianship of the probate court of Bath on September 7, 1926, adjudged incompetent to handle his affairs.