| Sources |
- [S1446] Edwin Wildman, Famous Leaders of Industry, Second Series.: Life Stories of Boys Who Have Suceeded (Boston: The Page Company, 1921)., p. 223. http://www.archive.org/stream/famousleadersofi00wild#page/n251/mode/2up.
- [S24] article, New York Times, New York, NY, 26 Apr. 1942, p. 39.
PERLEY MORSE, 73, ACCOUNTANT, DEAD
Noted in Field and Did Work for Federal Government—Succumbs in Suffern
Investigated Solo Pasha—His Research Aided in Capture of German Agent—Wrote Standard Civics Book
SUFFERN, N.Y., April 25—Perley Morse, one of the leading accountants of the United States who had conducted important investigations for the Federal Government and the State of New York, died here this afternoon at the Good Samaritan Hospital, after an illness of three weeks of a complication of ailments which included diabetes. He was 73 years old. A son, George Perley Morse, survives.
State Official in War.
Mr. Morse gained prominence during the first World War when he was named a Special Attorney General of the State of New York to inquire into the activities of Bolo Pasha, who received $2,000,000 of German money to carry on propaganda work through the purchase of French newspapers. As a result of the investigation, Bolo Pasha was apprehended, tried and executed by a French firing squad.
Mr. Morse also had served for twenty years as the official accountant-investigator for the Controller of the Currency in the matter of fixing liability of directors in cases of failed national banks.
In 1920, his accounting firm—Perley Morse & Co., 165 Broadway—made an audit of the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation's books, which later formed an important part of the testimony in the investigation of the charge that the late Charles M. Schwab had been reimbursed by the government for his expenses while director general of the Emergency Fleet Corporation. Mr. Schwab was completely exonerated by the Congressional Committee on Shipping Board Operations.
Father Fought in Civil War.
Mr. Morse was born in Litchfield, Bradford County, Pa. the son of George W. and Mary Brink Morse. He was of colonial stock, his ancestors having migrated to this country from England in 1632 and settled in Dedham, Mass. Mr. Morse's father fought in the Civil War and lost an arm in the Battle of Gettysburg.
He began his accountancy career in 1894, and became a certified public accountant of the State of New York in 1904. Long a leader in the movement to bring about higher standards for accountancy, Mr. Morse made many addresses in support of his contention that there should be legislation to standardize the profession and eliminate cionflicting regulations under which accountants operate.
Mr. Morse was a vice president and director of the Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation. He also was the author of "The ABC of the Government of the U.S.," which was adopted as a textbook by the New3 York City Board of Education, and of "Business Machines."
A member of the Order of Founders and Patriots, Mr. Morse was first vice president of the Sons of the Revolution and a member of the General Society of Colonisal Wars and the New York Historical Society. He served as treasurer and vice president of the City Club and as a governor of the Lawyers Club, and also belonged to the Metropolitan Club. He was a Mason.
In October, 1940, he was named chairman of Selective Service Board 762, Ramapo Township, Rockland County, N.Y.
- [S24] article, New York Times, New York, NY, 23 May 1942, p. 11.
MORSE LEFT $1,200,000
Son and Grandchildren to Share Public Accountant's Estate
NEW YORK, N.Y, May 22.—Surrogate John A. McKenna of rockland County today admitted to probate the will of Perley Morse, head of a firm of public accountants, who died April 25 in Suffern. The will shows personal assets not in excess of $1,200,000 and real estate valued at $56,000.
George Perley Morse, a son, of 24 Lenox Road, Brooklyn, will receive the income from one-half interest in the residuary estate. Two grandchildren, Barbara and Stanley Morse, children of the late Stanley Morse of Suffern, will each receive an income from a quarter interest in the residuary estate.
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Abt 1869 - 1942 (73 years)
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