The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-09
ThurlOw Weeds "reminiscences Of the
Old Time Tragedy.
STORY OF THE MORGAN MURDER
A Double Identification Of a
Drowned Man.
WAS 1T MORGAN OR MONROE?
70 TIE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD

hon of Knights Templars from various parts of the
Union recalled in the history of that nsttu-
zion which almost nny years ago and the
occasion first of local and subsequently Of general in
lures and excitement This is known and remembered
rs the ''Morgan Abduction" Having been connected
with that question a member of investigating
rommtce and the editor of anti Masonic Journal
have been called on by NEW YORK HERALD for in
formation concerning the body of a found on
the shore of Lake Ontario alleged to be that of William
Morgan but claimed aterward to be the body Of limo
thy Monroe Tho allegations OF mutilating that body OF
paing it or upon the public for political effect and OF
Boosting that it was 'good enough Morgan TIL after
the election publicly made widely circulated
and a distance generally believed. was painfully
conscious of this in meeting strangers at home and
abroad for more than forty years In 1s43, when in
London by a strange chance lodged in hotel near
Blackfriars Bridge which had been the ancient Frce
masons' Tavern and then frcquented by tho
oldest London lodges. My presence, l was
surprised learn from its host tho
subject of inquiry While in Paris few weeks after
ward l informed by my friend b. Perley Poore,
that my visit had occasoned some uneasness among
Freemasons in that city. l had been repeatedly In
formed by gentlemen in New York, Boston, Phiadel-
phia &C. that until their minds relieved by long
and intimate acquaintance their intercourse with mo
had been embarrassed with the early impression that
Il
creditabe Prompted therefore by appeals first in
the HERALD. and then in the Albany argus, deter
mined furnish the facts and circumstances out OF
which the
''GooD ENOUGH MORGAN
accusation originated. The completion OF this
tive however has been unexpectedly delayed In
resuming, although this question opens a wide
field, will endeavor TO compress it. To do so must
preliminary questions fixed facts. In regard
10 these fixed facts there viii be controversy among
those who have made themselves acquainted with a
truthful history of that most extraordinary event
did not personally know William Morgan who
for more than two months writing his book in a house
adjoining my residence at Rochester When applied
by Mr. Dyer, my door neighbor, where Morgan
boarded, print the book purportng TO disclose the
secrets Of Masonry, declined to do so, believing that
who had taken oath 10 keep a secret had
right TO disclose it Although Freemason, had
entertained favorable opinions of institution to
which Washington, Franklin and Lafayette belonged
On my refusal print his book Morgan removed Ba-
tavia, where he made the acquaintance of David
c. Miller, editor of the Advocate, also a
Mason, who became his publisher pass
briefly a series OF facts which were ju-
dioally established, embracing the of Morgan
his conveyance and confinement the county Jail at
Canandaigua from which he released conveyed
by night close carriages through Rochester Clarkson
and along the Ridge road to Fort Niagara the maya
zine OF which he was confined While thus confined
knight Templar encampment installed at lewiston
When at supper the zeal and enthusiasm of the Tom
plars having been aroused by speeches and wine,
Colonel William King, Of Lockport, invited four men
whitney Howard, Chubbuck and Garside) from their
the banqueting table into adjoining apart
nent, where he informed them that no had an order
from the Grand Master (De Witt Clinton the execution
n birb rod fhoir
then driven Niagara reaching the fort little before
twelve o'clock
MURDER MORGAN.
Upon entering the magazine Colonel King informed
Morgan that his friends had completed their arrange
ments for his removal to and residence upon farm in
Canada Morgan walked with them TO the wharf where
boat held in readiness for them by Elisha Adams
an invalid soldier into which the party passed and
rowed away, Adams remaining warn the boat Off by
signal If its any alarm had been given It
nearly two O'Clock in the morning when the boat
back, having, Adams expressed it, lost ono
man. only five Of the six being board when the boat
returned. When the boat reached a point where the
Niagara River emptics into Lake Ontario, rope
being wound around Morgans body, to either
end Of which sinker attached he
was thrown overheard. II is due 10 the
memory N Governor Clinton to say that Colonel King
had no such order and authority make use Of his
II is proper also TO add that mono Of these
survive John Whitney, of Rochester, whom l knew
WELL related all tho circumstances connected with the
asst act in that tragedy mo Albany in 1881 in the
presence of Simeon B. Jewett Of Carkson, and Samuel
Barton, Of Lewiston
WINDING TIE BODY.
In October 1897 more than a year aler the abduc-
ton Of Morgan, body drifted shore a small
creek which entered into Lake Ontario A coroner's
,oIJ
body Of an unknown person. Tho Coroner wrote out
description of the body and published 1t along
with the finding of+ho jury in Orleans county news
paper That description, attracting the attention OF
persons well acquainted with Morgan excited consider
able interest The widow and several intimate friends
Of Morgan seemed confident was his body that
the committee appointed investigate tho abduction
determined to hold another inquest, OF which public
notice given. On the day appointed some sixty or
seventy people assembled the mouth OF Oak Orchard
Creek where the body of the unknown man was in
TERED Before opening the grave Mrs Morgan and Dr.
Strong described certain marks upon Morgans body by
means Of which it could be identified. When the rude
rofln was opened the body it contained disclosed tho
peculiaros described and after deliberate examination
The jurors declared it unanimously tho body Of William
Morgan From this verdict present dissented,
and for a week days the question seemed 10 be
settled
THE BODY CLAIMED AGAIN.
Later IN October there a report that the
body declared 10 be that Of william Morgan was claimed
by his family TO be that Of Timothy Monroe Canadian
who swept a small boat Niagara Falls eleven
days previous to tho time that tho body was washed
ashore at the mouth Of Oak Orchard Creek Tho re-
mains in the meantime had been taken by Mrs Morgan
70 Batavia A third inquest now to be held for the
purpose Of establishing the claim Of Mrs Monroe. A
large concoursc Of citizens In attendance. Mrs
Monroe appeared, and gave description Of her hus
bands person and Of the clothes in which no len home
on the morning Of the day no drowned. Previous
20 her examination Bates Cooke, chairman OF the Nor
gan investigating Committee examined the clothes
taken from the body and carefully preserved By tho
Coroner with great minutcncss This enabled him to
test the accuracy Of Mrs Monroos knowledge and
memory.