The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-18
Thurlov Weeds Lust Contribution to
Political History.

From Letter in the New York Herald, Aug
st9.]
I did not personally know William Nor
gan, who was for more than two months
writing his book in house adjoining my
residence, at Rochester. When applied
to by Mr.. Dyer, my next door neighbor,
where Morgan boarded, to print the book
purporting to disclose the secrets of Ma
sorry, declined to do so, believing that
4 man who had taken an oath to keep
though not Freemason, had entertain.
which Washington, Franklin and Lafay.
cite belonged. On my refusal to print
his book, Morgan removed to Batavia,
where he made the acquaintance of David
G. Miller, editor of the Advocate, also
Mason, who became his publisher. Ipass
briefly over series Of facts which were
judicially established, embracing the ar.
rest of Morgan, his conveyance to and
confinement in the county Jail
at Canandaigua, from which
he was released and conveyed
by night in close carriages through Roch-
ester, Clarkson and along the Ridge road
to Fort Niagara, in the magazine of
which he was confined. While thus COLI
fined Knight Templar encampment was
installed at Lewiston. When at supper
the zeal and enthusiasm of the Templars
having been aroused by speeches and
wine, Colonel William King of Lockport,
invited four men whitney, Howard,
Chubbuck and Garside) from their seats
at the banqueting table into an adjoining
apartment, where he informed them that
he had an order from the Grand Master
de Witt Clinton), the execution of
which required their assistance. This
PARTY was then driven to Niagara, reach.
ing the fort little before twelve O'Clock.
THE MURDER OF MORGAN.
Upon entering the magazine Colonel
King informed Morgan that his friends
had completed their arrangements
for his removal to and residence upon
farm in Canada. Morgan walked
with them to the wharf, where
boat was held in readiness for them by
Elisa Adams, an invalid soldier, into
which the party passed and rowcd away.
Adams remaining to warn the boat off
by signal if on its return any alarm had
been given. It was nearly two o'clock
in the morning when the boat came back,
having, as Adams expressed it, lost one
man. only five of the six being on board
when the boat returned. When the boat
reached point where the Niagara river
empties into Lake Ontario, a rope being
wound around Morgan's body, to either
end of which sinker was attached, he
was thrown overheard. 1t is due to the
memory of Governor Clinton to say that
Colonel King had no such order and no
authority to make use of his name. It
is proper, also, to add that none of these
men survive. John Whitney, of Roch-
ester, whom I knew well, related all the
circumstances connected with the last
act in that tragedy to me at Albany in
1881, in the presence of Simon B. Jewett,
of Clarkson, and Samuel Barton. of
Lewiston.
FINDING THE BODY.
In October, 1927, more than year af-
ter the abduction of Morgan, BODY
dritted on shore near a small creek which
entered into Lake Ontario. A coroner's
inquest was held and a verdict rendered
that 1t was the body of an unknown per-
son, The coroner wrote out minute de-
scription of the body, and published it,
along with the finding Of the jury, in an
Orleans county newspaper. That de-
scrlptlon, attracting the attention of per.
sons we'll acquainted with Morgan, ex-
cited considerable interest. The widow
and several intimate friends of Morgan
seemed so confident that it was his body
that the committee appointed to investi.
gate the abduction determined to hold
another inquest, of which public notice
was given. On the day appointed, some
sixty or seventy people assembled at the
mouth of Oak Orchard creek, where the
body of the unknown man was inferred.
Before opening the grave Mrs. Nor.
gan and DR.. Strong described Ger.
tain marks upon Morgan's body, by
means of which it could be identified.
When the rude coffin was opened the
body it contained disclosed the peculiari.
ties described, and after deliberate ex-
animation the jurors declared it unani.
mously the body of William Morgan.
From this verdict no one present dis.
sented, and for week or ten DAYS the
question seemed to be settled.
THE BODY CLAIMED AGAIN.
Later IN October there came T. report
that the body declared to be that of Will
liam Morgan was claimed by his family
to be that of Timothy Monroe, a Cana.
dian, who was swept in small boat over
Niagara Falls eleven days previous to the
time that the body was washed ashore at
the mouth of Oak Orchard Greek. The
remains in the meantime had been taken
by Mrs Morgan to Batavia. A third in
quest was now to DO held for the purpose
of establishing the claim Of Mrs.
Monroe. A large concourse of
citizens were in attendance. Mrs.
Monroe anneared and gave a adescr;n4;o,,