The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1883-01-20
DESPERATE RENCoUNrKE IN SABINE
PARISH.
Shreveport Daily Timcs.1
NATculToCuEs, Jan. II, is,

|
Quite breeze of excitement was
created in our usually placid city this
morning, by the arrival of Dukel elCrump
in charge of Mr.. A. j. Johnson, of
Sabine parish, and Isaac Rains, Esq,
of this parish. 1t will be remembered
that only a short time since John Nor
gan committed an unprovoked and
dastardly murderin Websterparish, by
shooting down two colored men. At
that time he was fugitive from this
parish, being under indictment for
arson and shooting into dwelling
house lawfully occupied. Morgan had
escaped from Jail here.
Soon after the decd in Webster parish
Morgan returned to this parish, max
ing his headquarters in the neighbor-
hood of MarthaviIle, riding about the
country openly and bidding defiance
to capture, always being we'll armed.
He was usually accompanied by like
spirits, and among them was Duke
Crump, under Indictment for assault
by wilfully shooting, and also an cscap-
cd prisoner.
The officers and special deputies from
this and Sabine parish have been after
Morgan for some time, watching Il
favorable opportunity to capture him
without the useless sacrifice of tho lives
Of good citizens. Mr.. Isaac Rains,
son of j. j. Rains, OF Marthavillc, was
Il special deputy to effect his capture.
Mr.. A. j. johnson was also II special
constable OF Sabine and Il sworn deputy
sheriff of this parish.
Last Monday night there was Il frolic
ut the house Of w. II. Wood, in Sabine
parish, about three miles above Martha
vile, and within Il stones throw of
tho dividing line Of Sabine and Match
itochcs. Learning that Morgan,
Crump and others would attend tho
party, the officers summoned II posse
of citizens and proceeded to Woods
house. A citizen by tho name Of John
Middleton, decoycd Morgan from tho
house under the protcnse of getting
drink OF whisky which was hid in tho
woods, near by. When about fifty
yards from tho house, A. J. Johnson
and John Furlow, who were awatchinG
for Morgan, stepped up and lovelled
their guns on him and ordered him To
surrender. Instead Of doing SO he ran
towards tho house, and Johnson
and Furlow both levclled their guns
(brcach loaders) and strange to,say both
guns failed to fire. Morgan ran into
the house secured his shot gun ond
stopping out on the gallery, leyclled ii
on Furiow who had just cofne up to
the gate armed, and killed him instant
ly. Morgan was literally riddlcd by
| bullets from tho guns Of several Of the
posse, thus paying the inevitable fate
of such Il desperate and murderer.
Crump was subsequently captured In
the house, and is now in Jail with the
additional ofIcnsc Of being accessory to
tho murder of q good and laW-abiding
citizen. Some fifteen or twenty shots
were fired by the dcspcradoes and posse,
and Crump's gun was found with one
barrel empty, tho cap exploded on tho
other tube, and two or three chambers
of his pisto! empty. Both Crump and
Morgan had several congonial spirits
with them, who aided them in the
fight.
Such characters as Morgan arc not
met with in the limits Of civilized and
lawful communities, and it seems as
if some strange fatality attracted him
like magnet to the scenes of sOmo OF
his crimes. Certain is IL that he has
met better fate than he justly dcscrv-
ed, and died, as he had lived, with
his hands crimsOncd with the blood
of his fellow man, rs the final act of II
lawlcss runian. Morgan was a medium
sized man, about forty years OF age,
with let black hair and beard, and in
no wise resembling in features the
reckless, desperate and hardened char
actcr which he had shown by his dis
regard of human life.