Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-03-30
AORGANS DEATH.
7hurlo,c Weeds Story Of he Great
Masonic Mystery.


figures in the politics of the past, lives
quietly and handsomely. No man has
better acquaintance with the politi-
clans of the last generation than he,
and he still takes such q strong interest
in public matters that several quiet
visits made at the Custom House in
New York during the past few days by
him gave rise TO rumors that caused
many that occupy snug berths consid-
erable fears. Although Mr.. Weed was
not very wei, he courteously consented
to talk of the celebrated Morgan case,
interest in which has been revived
throughout New York State by the
recent article on the mysterious murder
of the two, sons of Judge james l..
Gillis. Mr.. Weed was an editor in
Rochester, and took prominent part
in all the proceedings in reference to
Morgan, being strong anti-Mason.
His connection with the case began
from the first, as Morgan wanted him
to print bis book, which he refused
THE STORY OF MORGAN
L was sorry to hear of the trouble
Judge Gillis is having in his old age, )
said Mr.. Weed Il knew him very
well, and he was q very worthy man.
as were all those engaged in the per-
secution of Morgan. You can have no
idea of the excitement that case caused
for at least a decade 1t became a
political issue without any intention on
the part OF the Anti Masons, and the
latter became strong party. Judge
Gillis was not tried for the murder, but
for abduetins Morgan. The facts in
the case were about these: Morgan
was drunken stone mason and men,
ber of the order of Free Masons; With
the help Of country printer he printed
an expose of the first three degrees of
Masonry, and was about exposing the
Royal Arch degree when the Masons
determined to put stop to it. Morgan
had come to met was in the newspapre
business in Rochester at the time) to
print his book, but he wanted me to
take an oath of secrecy before began
the work and / would not do SO.
THE FIRST PLAN.
The Masons had Morgan arrested
on trumped up charge of petit larceny
and lodged in Jail. They then made
arrangements to carry him off. A
party of them, including Gillis, Nicho-
las G. Cheseborough, whose daughter
called on me not half an hour ago,
and James Whitney and others, went
to the Jail and after considerable par
leying with the jailor's wife they pre-
vailed on her to give Morgan up.
This was about nine O'Clock in the
evening, and the party drove off at
once. The idea of the Masons was
simply to get Morgan away from the
bad company be was in, in which case
the Masons belived he would give up
his design of exposing the secrets of
the Order. They proposed to buy him
farm in Canada and turn him from
his evil ways generally. When the
party left the Jail they drove hurriedly
to Mendum, when they changed horses,
then to Rochester, Charleston and Lew
iston, driving rapidly and changing
horses several times Finally Morgan
was lodged in the magazine in Fort
Niagara. The plan was now changed
to provide for Morgan by sending him
away from civilization in the employ
of the Northwestern Fur Company.
There were several meetings of the
Lodge and Chapter at Niagara on the
subject, but many Masons refused to
have anything to do with the scheme.
Then the matter became imperative:
something had to be done, and at
once.
THE FATE OF MORGAN .
1T was found to be dangerous to
recede or to go on. After Morgan had
been q prisoner in the magazine for
three or four days there was large
meeting Of Masons to install On En-
campment in a Canadian town near by
Prominent men were present, including
members of the New York Legislature,
and. the evening ended with grand
supper, at which excited speeches were
made by several prominent members of
the Order in the case of Morgan. At
last the Chaplain was called on for
a toast, and he gave the following:
The enemies of our Order: May they
find grave six feet deep, six feet long
and six feet due east and west This |
hidden significance, and
Colonel King, who was at the table,
called four gentlemen outside, and, a |
being called they were driven |
to Fort Niagara, where they arrived at |
4 o'clock in the morning. Morgan was
called up and was told that they had |
made arrangements for his welfare,
bought him a farm, etc. He went
with them and they took boat and
rowed out four miles into Lake Ontario
Here they wound rope loaded with
sinkers around Morgan and threw him
overheard A man at the fort, whom
| afterward looked up in Vermont, saw
the boat leave with six men and return
with five Of course, all these facts
were denied, and the world said the
that investigated the matter
were politicians and were moved by
interests other than those of ofdiscovering
the truth
THE EVIDENCE IN THE CASE.
Have you any evidence to establish
these facts was asked
Il was just getting to that, said Mr..
Weed. Just as was leaving Chicago
at the close of the proceedings of the
Convention which nominated Mr.. Lin
coin. Q was mortified and even Euch
disgusted at the defeat of Seward and
was sending my baggage to the depot) J
Colonel John Whitney, one of the five
men who took Morgan out in the boat,
came to me and said, Il want You to
swear TO what have told you about
the Morgan matter, and if you survive
me want you to publish it. promised