The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-02-26
WAS 1T MCRDER9
THE KILLING OF ). mGINxIs
Mrs Catherine McGinnis Comes 10
Cheyenne to Prosecute Benia-
~ min w. Morrison For
Nurder

Murder.
Mrs. Catherine McGinnis, widow Of
the late John ]. McGinnis, arrived in
the city yesterday. Her husband was
killed by Benjamin w. Morrison on
Thursday, Feb. 10Th, Morrison being
at the time a deputy sheriff, and having
a warrant for the arrest of McGinnis
on the charge Of selling liquor without
license.
Soon after arriving in the city, Mrs.
McGinnis called at the LEADER Office to
make a statement denying the bad rec
ord given her late husband by the Sun.
She denied that he spent three terms
in the ~penitentiary, and in fact denied
most of the adverse statements made
in that sheet.
As regards the killing Of her husband
she insists that it was murder. She
states that when Morrison arrested Nc
Ginnis at Fort Laramie, on Wednesday
the 18th inst, she proposed furnishing
bonds to double the amount Of the IL
cense, or pay the same cash down, but
Morrison insisted that McGinnis would
have to be taken to Cheyenne. She
asked him when lie would depart, and
he said, ION Friday" But instead, be
left on Thursday. Col. Bracket loaned
Morrison a horse, and sent two soldiers,
corporal Richard Howe, and private
Frederick E. Rogers, II company,
Third cavalry, as an escort to Good
dell's ranch where Morrison had anoth-
er horse in waiting. The soldiers we're
to take back the borrowed animal.
Mrs. McGinnis says she has two
afidavits from these soldiers, which
explain their knowledge of the killing.
Corporal Howe testines that he and
the private were to 60 as far as Fox
creek with Morrison. When they were
out about II or IL miles, Morrison and
McGinnis changed horses, Morrison
taking the large government horse and
McGinnis the pony. Morrison asked
Howe to ride on ahead, and he demur-
red, saying that McGinnis had re-
quested his close company, because he
feared a put mp job. Morrison said
that he wanted to talk to McGinnis and
get him to ''give away his friends.
Howe then agreed to ride far enough in
advance to be out of hearing. Howe
and Rogers rode ahead probably $50
yards and they seemed to gain, because
Of Morrison and McGinnis tagging be.
hind. The soldiers came to Lone Tree
gulch, and while they were going down
the little hill on the other side, they
heard a shot fred. They rode back to
the hilltop, and Howe swears that he
saw Morrison running after the rider
less pony which McGinnis had been
riding, and that Morrison fired a shot
in the air.
Howe saw McGinnis lying upon the
ground, and upon going up found him
dead. Morrison then told Howe that
McGinnis had tried to escape, and he
shot his prisoner.
Private Rogers affidavit is the same
in substance as that of Howe.
Mrs. McGinpis says that the soldiers
told her they believed the hair about
the wound Of McGinnis' head was
burned by the powder from the revolv-
er, indicating the close proximity of
Morrison at the time the shooting was
done. She says that Corporal Howe
proposed to arrest Morrison at the time
and take him back to Fort Laramie,
but the latter talked Howe out of it.
Furthermore, that Coroner Lee did not
send to Fort Laramie for the two SOL
diers as witnesses, not deeming their
testimony necessary, but heard Morri-
sons testimony alone.
According to Mrs. Meg, the people
at Fort Laramie are indignant over
the affair, especially after hearing the
statements of the soldiers. She says
she has received many courtesies from
the officers at the fort, who advised her
to prosecute her case to the farthest
end. Accordingly, she retained Judge
W. II. Miller to assist County Attorney
Fisher. Upon the instruction of the
latter, Coroner Lee made an Informal
ton against Morrison, and the warrant
was placed in the hands of Sheriff
Draper. Morrison was not arrested,
however, up to n late hour last night.
But then he feels no cause to go away
and will remain for a hearing and trial.
We have given Mrs. McGinnis' state
ment; also the substance of the afida-
Wits Of the soldiers.
The statement Of Morrison we pub
lished the other day. Morrison said
nothing whatever about soldiers having
been with him; On the contrary he i'm
pressed the LEADER representative
with the belief that he and McGinnis
had been riding alone. 1t will be re-
membered that Morrison said he fred
three shots, the last one taking effect.
The soldiers swear to having heard but
two shots, the last one being fred in
the air.
However, we hope that Mr.. Morri-
son will some out Of the cloud un-
scathed. No one here wants to believe
him guilty of premeditatedly killing
McGinnis. AS the case stands, it will
certainly so to court and be fairly in