Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1879-10-23
ssGOOD ENOUGH MORGAN.''
The Prosecutions which ThurlOw Weed
Suffered as an ti.MasOn- His NeblO
Forgiveness.

Forgiveness.
Interview in the New York Graphic.]
"May ASK" said I, "what is the greatest
misfortune that ever happened to you?"
| 1.-The greatest distress l ever suffered" he
inquired. 20, you must know what that was.
Cruel, cruel! The vilest SANDER that ever
was framed-that was a monster of brutal
ity and had mutilated corpse for the pur-
pose of helping the fortunes of party"
Il don't exactly remember what you mean, ;"
l said
"Why, Morgan! Morgan!" he exclaimed,
| and his face assumed panied expression.
IL suffered untold distress, and was more or
less under ban for % years. Old acquain-
tances avoided me-; even nv family was
made to feel the disgrace, as if l were felon.
1t was cruel!"
''How was it!" said. Cor perhaps you
prefer not to talk about it?"
Il have no objection. It's an old story
now, and belongs to the past. l was living
at Rochester at the time Morgan, who had
exposed Masonry, was missing. 1t was be-
lieved he had been drowned by members of
the order in Lake Ontario. A body was
found which answered the description of his
1t was exhibited in public, and was recognize
ed as being him by his family and friends.
1t was buried by them. Afterwards it was
claimed by the friends of another man, disin-
tered, and another inquest held. There was
great excitement over the murder of Morgan,
and was prominent as an anti Mason When
this last inquest was pending the lawyer en-
gagged by the Masons said to me one day:
what are you going to do for a Morgan
now?' This man is good enough Morgan
retorted, till you produce the man that was
killed. He went off and reported that l said
the deceased was good enough Morgan un-
til after election. This lie was first published
by Henry OReilly, editor of the Rochester
Daily Adcertiser, and it made such an excite
ment that he stuck to it, and elaborated it.
Finally the lie took this form-that l had
pulled out the beard, cut the hair and other
wise defaced the mutilated features of the
Ontario corpse so as to make them resemble
Morgan! This was in the winter of 1867"
''Did people believe such a thing?'
eyes, good many did. 1t was thing l
could not disprOve to their satisfaction. l
was abhorred by tens of thousands. Old &C.
quaintances cut me. was pointed at on the
street. Strangers would look askance at me.
saw them. Friends gave me the cold shoul-
der. received threatening anonymous let
tiers. l was made to feel everywhere and
every hour that l was marked man. And
my poor family, sir, " said he, lifting his hand
with pathetic gesture, "were made to feel
the cruel thrusts in way [ cannot mention"
"How long did this ostracism last?"
"Fifteen or twenty years actively, and in
some directions much longer time
1T seems strange that Injustice should |
thrive so," said l.
"Well, it did thrive. O'Reilly became
rich, and that lie was the foundation of his |
fortune. l drifted to Albany, and at last
lived the shocking calumny down. Finally
o. O'Reilly, who mis- ght have been worth mill
ions if he had stuck to the telegraphs, which
be manipulated at first, speculated in other
things and lost money. He kept losing. He
ost everything he had at last.
"Were you glad p
81 was grateful that the lord didn't allow
such villainy to thrive forever" the old gen.
leman confessed; and then I felt sorry for
1im."
"Where is he now-dead ?"
''Oh, no." said he; ''O'ReilIy is asked
,nough b. Four years ago he wrote me let
er, saying that he was penniless, and alive
ne 10 send him hundred dollars.
"Well, what did you do?"
II sent it to him.
"You did,"
''Cerralnly did; and few weeks later he
wrote me very grateful letter, saying that
,e was completely out of money and out of
business, and he didn't know what in the
world he should do to keep alive if didn't
,et him a place in the New York custom
louse."
rs it possible ?"
Eyes"
"What did you dop"
II went and reflected on how much pain
e had caused me through quarter of
entury; on the g1ief and Distress my family
ad suffered on bis account; on the NORTH
alton and humiliation he had heaped upon
ny party and my friends; and then-then l
vent down and got him place in the Gus
Dm-house-" |,
"You did p
II did,"
s.Where is he now?' o
.lnahe custom-house, unless he has left
ince Inheard from there. ! believe he is ,
here yet"
Gwen, Mr. Weed, that beats all the re-
enpes I ever heard Of" 1
1~<<ND>>~
An English journal frankly gives credit to !
american genius for at least fifteen inven-
ions and discoveries, which, it says, have
cen adopted all oyer the world. These tri- ,
,mrhs IF American genius are thus enume. )