Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-11-12
hlisfellalleons.
Morgan. alias Jones. the MUIR
derer of Beebe..Skctch of Ills
Life and Exploit.

M0FSaus 6lHdS JONES' the MUIR
derer of Beebe..Sketch of his
Life and Exploit.
"Nebraska Bill" Jones, or Morgan, as
he is called, is now on trial at Columbus
for the murder of officer Bcebe in that
city some three years ago, who was shot
down while trying to arrest the prisoner
The trial of Morgan has occupied several
days, and appearances indicate that he will
be found guilty of man slaughter only
As Morgan commenced his remarkable ca
reer in this part of the State, the follow
ing facts in the history of the bold young
desperate communicated to the Cincinnati
Gazette by its Columbus correspondent,
viii be Of interest to many readers
His father who lives near Camden Sta
tion, Lorain county, o., says that William
was born in September, 1880, making him
now ~ years of age, although the prisoner
claims to be 80 years of age. He repre-
sents that during his boyhood, he was in
dustrious and exemplary, and of happy
temper and pleasing manner. His educa-
tion was not extensive, bu. inclining to
good associations, he early attached him
self TO Baptist Church as member, but
was thrown from his membership in conse-
quence of having been engaged with confcd-
crates of his age in catching big ram on
Sunday at neighbor of his fathers, pre-
paratory to general sheep washing on Mon
day. The ridicule that ensued among his
playmatss, on their twitting him of being
.schurched," for catching an old ram on
Sunday, soured him of his companions and
his native home, where live five brothers
and two sisters, and induced him TO wan
der abroad. re
Away from his mother his associations
became worse and worse; he appeared not
in his old haunts for five years, when chan
cling to pass along the railroad on foot, he
stopped at nightfall to make inquiry at a
farm house, how near was the next tavern,
when she recognized and detained her tru-
ant son. He abode all winter with his
father, and engaged in bossing hands on
the railroad; bat restraints of home did
not preserve him from proclivity TO evil
ways. His parents heard no more from
him until they heard the incidents related
in bis subsequent career Of crime.
In 1858, he, with the notorious Osborn
alias Shepherd, was arrested in Buffalo, on
suspicion Of having shot a watchman of
that city. Both broke from custody and
made their escape to Erie, Pa, where they
united in bold burglary and were again
arrested. Soon their prison was broken
by them, and the pair succeeded in reach
ing Cleveland without detection, Fol
some crime they were arrested in the For
est City-broke jail-were re-arrested and
discharged for insuficiency Of testimony.
They pursued their way down the canal,
doing some mischief wherever they could,
and reaching Newark in Licking county,
where having made daylight observation Of
the residences of the ter-to-do-people, at
night entered into some fifteen dwellings,
robbing jewelry, silver ware, and other val
uables. Here they were again arrested,
but jails being no impediment to them,
both soon escaped, wooden key having
been made from stool within their cell,
by which they turned the bolt of the lock,
letting out with them six other prisoners.
Off1cer Dennis followed them to Hooking
20. Obtained two, but Osborn escaped.
Jones' or Morgan, got on the cars at Union
Station, but being pursued by Officer Wy
lie, jumped from the car while under way.
was pursued to Columbus, where on a7tb
April, 1854, he killed Beebe, Columbus
officer, who tried to arrest him; he ESCAPED
to Cincinnati, thence to the pineries. ur
Turkey River, Minnesota. When mex, II
heard from there, it was from having rob
bed an old man of 81 500 in gold. Th,
great thief detector Gillespie got on hi
track, and when he found be bad been i'm
prisoped at some point, caused himself T
be arrested as counterfeiter, and 10 b
placed in the same cell with Morgan, wher
ne learned by confession of the whereabout
of the gold, and of his being the perso
who killed the Columbus officer Beebe.-
Both were Jet ont to hunt,the gold, whicl