Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-01-03
MORE ABOUT MORGAN.


30 to speak, between the two houses,
MORE ABOUT MORGAN. |
Thurlow Weeds Story Disputed, with Ev-
idence to Show that Morgan Went to
SMYRNA of His Own Free Will and Ac-
cord.
Cincinnati Commercial Special.
Thurlow Weeds statement of the fate
of Morgan is q downright falsehood, and
not living person knew that fact better
than he did.
So remarked an old gentleman dressed
in the garb of an Episcopal minister, in
conversation with a correspondent of the
Cincinnati Commercial. It was the Rev,
Mr.. McCurdy, nova resident of Dayton.
Ohio, and now retired from the ministry,
hale old Scotchman, who has had re-
markable experience among some of the
leading men of his day, few of whom are
now alive. DR.. McCurdy was for many
years the grand prelate of the grand
commandery OF Masonry of the United
States, and was one Of the nest promi-
nent members of the order. After giving
a sketch of Morgan's disreputable life,
and the high hopes raised of fortune
to be made by the sale of his book, Mr.,
McCurdy continues.
In May, 1926, Morgan, at Cadandaigua,
borrowed wardrobe of tavernkeeper
which he promised to return the next
day. Failing to return it, warrant was
issued for him for petit larceny. With
his own consent he was taken to Canaan
daigua and tried. After his discharge
he was arrested for debt due another inn
keeper. Judgment was confessed, and
under the execution he went to Jail. The
action brought against the sheriff of
Genesee county for the escape of Nor
gan was decided in favor of the defend
ant. Only one of the persons concerned
in Morgan's arrests and prosecutions was
q Mason. No connection has ever been
traced between the persons who arrested
Morgan in Batavia and those who subse-
quertly took him from the Jail, and are
said to have carried him westward. The
next morning after Morgan was commit
ted to jail, Scion Lawson paid the debt
due the tavern.keeper and procured Nor
gan's discharge. Whatever happened to
Morgan after this was with his own free
will and consent, and the facts develop
ed show that he crossed the Niagara river
and went into Canada, and then found
his way to SMYRNA, the whole proving
q good speculation for him. He wanted
to leave Miller and his family to go
and wanted him off. Some Masons and
Miller thought that this would be god
send for his publication. The antieMa.
sons could thus make political capital
thereby, and Morgan could get a hand
some living thus for his remaining life.
Else it would have been impossible to
have taken him in an open carriage in
broad daylight along much-traveled
thoroughtare. The testimony of re.
spectacle witnesses sustained the state
ment that Morgan of his own free will
and consent went into Canada.
81 have very little doubt that he thus
remained perdu in Canada, and eventu.
ally dictated his own terms, which were
at once met, and he went to oriental
parts.
"Thurlow Weed, who knew more per
fectly the inner life of anti-Masonry
himself referred to the pleasant social
chats he had with the only man of the
five who had the final disposition oi
Morgan, and sustained the view taken oi
it as job in which Morgan evidently
/. got the advantage. More than this
Mr.. Weed stated that he would not have
entered into the anti Masonic crusade in
establishing the chief journal of the
party, but, having lost caste in certain
directions. he thought he might as well
make living out of the excitement.
CATER the abduction of Morgan il
1929, Nahum Capen of Dedham. Mass.
, uttered the sentiment of the thinking
community when he said, That mar
named William Morgan, member oi
some Masonic society, may have volun.
tarilv submitted to be taken to place
Of temporary ooncealment for purposes
connected only with his private affairs
Or plans. is not only possible, but more
than probable. That he is still living
and enjoying the fruits of one Of the
. most extensive and deep laid impositions
ever practiced upon an intelligent com.
munity, is what cannot undertake tc
affirm, though to me, in the gradual un
; folding of future events, it should moi
, afford matter of extraordinary astonish
i, ment.
"The vessel on which Morgan sailed
from this country to SMYRNA was the
brig America, owned by Ezra Weston o.
Duxbury, Mnss. and commanded by
Capt. Waterman. Several American
residents OF Smyrna gave their state
ments that Morgan was undoubtedly il
J their midst. Joseph A. Bloom, gentle
man OF scientific attainments, vel
known in America at the time, made aft
davit that he resided for some time q
the city of Smyrna; that in 1881 he be
} came acquainted with an American wht
p,ofessed the Mohammedan faith, wht
went by the name of Mustapha, who
with his own lips, communicat
ed the fact, with many circumstance
which Mr.. Bloom, upon his return to thi
country, verified; that Mustapha o
, Smyrna bears striking resemblance t,
], the portraits of William Morgan of Amer
8 ica. Mr.. Goodall, of the American banl
9 note company, stated that while in Con
D stantinople he had interviews with sew
q eral persons, then living in that city, VIII
e informed him that they personally kney
' Morgan in Smyrna; that he had acknowl
n edged that he sailed direct from thi