Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1874-04-16
CAUGHT AND L l.
The Career OF an Arkansas Des-
perado, and its Bloody Close.

Porauo, ana hts bioody Close.
Morgan, the leader of the gang that
robbed the safe OF the Smelser drug store,
some weeks ago, and subsequently, esca-
ped from the county Jail at Greenwood,
was killed the other day in Polk Coun-
ty, under the following circumstances:
ltseems that Morgan, after his escape,
made his way southwark, having come
from Texas to these parts not long since.
The day after his escape he stopped at
Booths store, about thirty miles south
from here, and while waiting for his su,
per, the family being eating, stole forty
dollars out of the mOney-drawer of the
store, and took a fine mare of Mr..
Booths, on which he made off. He rode
eighty-fve miles during the day, the an
imal having given out, he stopped and
worked one day for a farmer in Polk
County.
Learning that a neighboring farmer
had Just received $500 for some cotton
sold, Morgan repaired at night to the
house, a simple one-roOm log cabin, climbs
to the top of the chimney by means Of a
fence rail, then lets himself down into
the room by the same means, having
drawn the rail after him, succeeds in get.
Eng the money, and then maj Q | is escal Q
the way he came. He of course pro.
ceeds at once on his journey southwark.
But retribution was about to overtake
him.
Mr.. Booth, whom he had robbed Of his
money and mare. after discovering his
loss, Immediately proceeded to Waldron,
the county-scat Of Scott County, some
twelve miles distant, and got some friends
to start in pursuit, under the lead of Col.
onel Hawthorne. The party soon track
ed the fugitive, and when near the place
OF his last robbery, scattered. the better
to find him, and. if possible, to surround
the desperate, he having left the road and
taken to a densely.wooded swamp.
Colonel Hawthorne was the first to come
upon him, and on his refusing to surren-
der, prepared to open fire on him. But,
unfortunately, twice his pistol snapped,
when Morgan rushed upou!him, wrested the
pistol from hin, and knocked rundown rem
dering him senseless. After his recovery
Colonel Hawthorne r%ejoined his friends,
and the party then engaged the services
of an old bear hunter, with his hounds,
to track the fugitive. He was soon dis.
covered and surrounded in an impenetra.
BILE thicket. Being asked to surrender,
he replied by firing upon the party.
The latter returned the fire, and a shot
shattered his knee. Again ho was asked
to surrender, but fercely refused. and
swore he would die first. Another vclley
from tie shot guns of the assailants broke
his thigh. Again surrender was demanded
but with no better success. Another VOL
ley stretched him dead. When the par.
ty went up to where Morgan had fallen,
they found every chamber Of HAWTHORNE
revolver empty, except the two which
had missed fire. On examining the BODY
the party found it covered with scars from
shot and knife wounds, giving evidence
that the deceased had been in many a
close and deadly struggle before.
A coroner's inquest was held on the
body, and q verdict rendered in accor.
dance with circumstances, after which the
party returned to waldron.-For Smith
New Era.