Clarence Morley

Clarence Joseph Morley ( born February 9, 1869 in Dyersville, Iowa, † November 15, 1948 in Denver, Colorado ) was an American politician ( Republican) and 1925-1927 of 23 Governor of the State of Colorado.

Early years and career

Clarence Morley attended the local schools of his home in Iowa. In 1890 he moved with his parents to Trinidad in Colorado. After studying law at the University of Colorado, he worked for 20 years as a lawyer before he judges was 1918-1925 in the second Judicial District of Colorado. Between 1915 and 1919 he was also a member of the Pardon and Parole Board. On November 4, 1924, he was elected as a candidate of his party and with the help of the Ku Klux Klan as the new governor of his state, where he prevailed with 52:44 percent of the vote against the Democratic incumbent William Ellery Sweet.

Governor of Colorado and other CV

Morley took up his new post on 13 January 1925. His government was heavily influenced by the Klan. Morley supported the Prohibition law. Otherwise, his term was uneventful. After the end of his governorship Morley moved to Indianapolis, where he founded a brokerage firm. Over time, irregularities were discovered in connection with the transactions for this company, which led to his arrest in 1935. Morley was indicted for fraud and abuse of his political influence and sentenced to five years in prison at Fort Leavenworth. He died in November 1948. Together with his wife Maud Thompson Clarence Morley had four children.