The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-02-23
MATRIMONIAL MULTIPLICITY
AN ADoNIs ON HIS TRAVELS.

AN ADONIS ON HIS TRAVELS.
MASSACHUSETTS MANS WEAKNESS FOR
wIvEs-MARRYING AT RANDoM-A SOCIAL
vIPER-FoReERY AND ADULTERY.
The Pittsfeld correspondent of the New
York Sun contributes the following concern
ing an Adonis who came to grief there
Gen. Harrison Morgan, of Ssndisfield, Berk-
shire county, was fined at the Superior
Court in this town, January 10, ana SEN
fenced to sever years imprisonment at
Chsrlestown-hve years for forgery and two
years for adultery. He was proved to have
three wives living, to have eloped with
fourth woman, aud the wife OF another
man, and to have forged the name of
this woman's husband upon a bank check,
with which the fugitive couple abstracted
| $l75 from his bank account. "Gen." Nor
gao never earned his military title, but was
so christened after Gen. Harrison. Morgan
was born at Afford, received q common
school education, and ten years ago, at the
age OF nineteen, became track-driver for
Bsrnum, Richardson & Co.. the great iron
men, at Canaan, Conn. While thus en-
ployed he made the acquaintance OF a Miss
Ida Trescot', and in time became affiauced
to her. Mr.. Prescott warned his daughter
that Morgan had the reputation of being in
sincere. but Mrs. Prescott was csptivsted by
openly favored the match. The young peo-
pie were married, and as a result
THE GIRLS PARENTS SEPARATED,
Mrs. Prescott residing with her son in law
and daughter. All three removed TO Union
vile, Conn.,, a few months after the wedding,
and there Morgan renewed his acquaintance
with several young women whom he had
known in the past. His volatile affection
was at once conferred upon these friends,
and he admits that he not only lost all love
for his wife, but in great measure he
denied her his society. Her mother fire.
quenLly upbraided him about his mode of
| life, and finally ordered him from his home.
He never returned, but joined his father in
Sandisfied, and four years later, in 1870,
/ became enamored of a fair young lady-a
Miss GingalI-and having assured her that a
sufficient time had elapsed since his rupture
| with his former wife to render the marriage
binding, was welded the second time. A
child was born TO him, and to all appear
snces he was living most happily, wh5n,
| upon hearing it intimated that the marriage
was void, he announced to Miss Gingall that
she was not really his wife. According ID a
portion of his defense, Miss Cling all asserl ed
that she had not been by any means a faih-
full spouse, aud that it was of but little mo-
ment to her whether they parted or Min
| tsined their relations toward each other
after we talked it over a little," said Nor
gan, 1--WE agreed to separate, and abouI q
year afterward, while L was in AL "a any,
|
and it occurred to me to ask advice a, to
whether was right in leaving her. gave
the lawyer so cents, and he told me the sec
ond marriage was illegal, because it was too
soon after the first, and / had right to
marry again." Armed with this authority,
he courted Miss Nelly Preston, who lived
near Great Darlington, and she became his
third wife. This wedding occurred last year.
At about the same time Morgan was en-
ployed to drive the stage and carry the
mails between Ssndisield, Mass, and Win
sted, Conn. In one of the farm houses along
the route lived Mr.. Balch, dull, good
nstured rustic, and his wife, Emma a
young and decidedly handsome
brunette. Morgan formed Mrs.
Balch's acquaintance. She rode to and fro
with him in the stage, and her husband
lighted that his wife could travel when and
where she would for nothing. Morgan says
that Mrs. Bslch frequently besought him to
elope with her, saying that she could get
lplenty OF money from her husband. Again
and again he refused her, until one day
last April, three months after his third mar
rage, when she had ridden with him to
Darlington, she said: general, I've
GOT THE OLD MANS BANK BOOK.
I'll write an order, draw the money, and
we'll elope." By the night train north
from Darlington, they eloped together
journeyed as far as Detroit, spent week
there and then he tired of her, and, return
ing what remained of the stolen money,
left her, and boldly returned to Berkshire
county, and rejoined his third wife, with
whom he shortly sfterward removed to
New Hartford, Conn. In the meanwhile
Mr.. Balch notified the sheriff of his losses
his third wife, in Connecticut. The
wife went with the sheriff into
Berkshire county. Morgan was left
in the care of Balch. So humble was he
and so pitifully did he beg for freedom, and
promise to make every possible amend fol
the wrongs he had committed, that the
supplemented man allowed him to escape
When Balch returned to his home be found
bis wife there, begging to be restored to his
II affection, and with the same good nature ht
at once forgave her. Three months later, In
December last, Morgan completed fruit
less tramp through New Jersey and New
York, returning to his fathers house In
Sandisfeld, where he was
/ ARRESTED AND IMPRISONED.
Police Justice Pease heard the complaint
and put both Morgan and Mrs Bslch unde
bonds to appear before the superior court ii
Pittsfield. Mrs. Balch escaped trial by vol
unteeriDg her testimony before the CRANE
Jury. During the trial both second ant
third wives testified in Morgan's behalf, ant
MIS-. Baicn aided the prosecution. Sn
|, swore that he stole her husbands banl
book, forged the check, and prevailed upoi
her TO get It casbed and run away with him
Morgan's manner showed that he had n
conception of the wrong he bad done In en-
strsugiDg Mr.. and Mrs. Bslch or In multi
plying his wives. He declared again an
again that he was innocent of the forgery, blu
} Sheriff Moore and Mr.. Bslch both swore tina
at the time OF the arrest he had confesse
the crime to them. The third Mrs. MoEga
displayed the warmest affection for the pris
J oner, embracing him and sobbing In hi
arms when the sentence was passed upo
him.