The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-11-23
ANOTHER VICTIM OF STRONG
DRINK AND GAMBLING.
suIcIfE OF @. G. MORTON.


We clip the following from the
Chicago Post OF Wednesday:
"An inquest was held yesterday af-
ternoon upon the body of G. c. Nor.
ton, who committed suicide st the
Clifton House, corner of Washington
and Halsted streets. He was u
stranger at the hotel, called the we.
ming before, Paid his bill, and request
ed not to be disturbed. He was
found dead In his bed yesterday af
ternoon, with an empty box labelled
morphine at his bedside. A pawn
ticket and a pass on the Burlington
l. Missouri Railroad were found in his
clothing. The jury's verdict wa, in
accordance with this showing"
The Burlington Haukeye says
g. G. Morton was we'll known to
many ofour citizens, he having held
the office of general freight agent on
the b & NJ. Railroad fer some time.
Early in the war he entered the
United States service from the State
OF Illinois and served on the staff Of
Gen. NJ. +. Force, Of Ohio. He was
an excellent officer. and won the full
est confidence of bis commanding
general, After the war General
Force, who Is an intimate friend OF
c. E. Perkins, Esq, recommended
Dir. Morton for a position on the b.
& NJ. Road. Morton was found to
DO a young mar OF good Judgment
and fine busine J qualifications, well
fitted for the position TO which he
was assigned. But it vas soon found
that he was addicted TO habits of in
temperance and visited gambling
dens. He was demonstrated with
aud warned of the oangers he was in.
In response to these he promised to
mend his ways and with the hope
that he had the disposition and will
to keep his promise he was allowed
another trial subsequent events,
however, proved that these promises
were not kept. He soon resumed his
bad habits, and Mr.Pcrkins WINS
compelled 10 dismiss him, although
he did it very reluctantly, and not
until he had used all the influence he
could bring to bear to save the IN
fortunate man. s.
From Burlington Morton went to
st. Louis and obtained "a situation
on the st. Louis Eastern road but
did not hold the place long, we sup
pose for the same reasons that he
was discharged here. After that he
went further south, we think to New
Orleans, in the meantime borrowing
money from friends here and else.
where, which be s~quandered in dis.
sipation. A few mouths ago he re-
turned to Burlington. disposed of
property he had in the State, paid
some If his debts, and after remain
ing a few weeks lett for Vermont to
visit his mother.
The next heard o! he returned to
Chicago for the purpose of taking a
situation with the Blue Line Trans.
p~ortation Company. We understand
that he came there so thoroughly
demoralized by the use of strong
drink that tho company would not
employ him. Last Z uesday morning
Mr.. Putnam, of this city met him al
the fremont House, Morton asked
him for money, representing that he
had nothing to eat, that he owed the
hotel $40 90, for which they held his
trunks, and refused to keep him
longer. Mr.. P. gave him SIS 90, with
which he probably paid his bill 1T The
Clifton House, aud hooght the poison
which ended his unhappy lille.
This is a sad case. and should serv,
as q fearful warning to young me
who think they can indulgc in strnns
drink without danger. A few year,
ago Morton was an OCCASIONAL drink
err, and had before him Q bright Fl,
ture, littla fearing thst lie would Ia
come n slave to bis appetite an,
passions, anu end his lie ia the terri
] bls manner related above.