The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-03-20
POOR TOMS A-C0LD!
Ten YEARS AT HARD LABOR
MURDEROUS ASSAULT AND ROBBERY
CIRCUMSTANCES!

gan was arraigned on the charge of
Robbing John Johnson, and when
the Indictment had been read to him,
he plead guilty. The Prosecuting At
torney said that the injured party,
John johnson, would soon arrive, and
he desired to have him testify. Mr.
johnson arrived at III o'clock, and
the case was taken up the first thing
in the afternoon.
John johnson sworn.
Do not know Thomas W. Morgan.
A man came to my house about six
in the evening. He had a club in one
hand and revolver in the other. He
said he wanted money. l told him [
had no money. He asked me where
the Holberg money was. I told him
1 had no such money. I saw there
was going to be trouble, and l started
into another room. Then | was
struck, and knew nothing more for a
time. My clothing was much torn,
and my pocket book was gone. In it
Were one hundred dollars, and bank
certificate for three hundred dollars,
and some notes. I am past eighty
two years old. 1t was not light in
the house. He had nothing over his
face. Club Was brokenvnot sound
wood.
Sheriff Cherington testified as to a
confession made by the defendant,
how he went and lay around all day,
robbed the old man, &c. The Sheriff
arrested defendant in Columbus, and
got his clothing there, where it had
been sent to him by express. Cloth
ing bloody, especially one sleeve,
which was very bloody.
The Judge, in passing sentence,
said he could send defendant to the
Penitentiary not less than one year,
nor more than fifteen years. There
were mitigating circumstances. De-
fendant had only taken one hundred
dollars, and not one hundred thousand
dollars; the club he used was not a
sound club; he did not use his revol-
yer: he plead guilty, and is now sor-
ry for what he did; and then the
Judge had been acquainted with de-
fendant's father, and grand father and
he would send him to the Penitentiary
for ten, years.
There never was a more brutal
crime committed in Jackson County,
than the murderous assault upon
John johnson by Thomas W. Morgan.
johnson is man past 50 years of
age-a man whose age ought to ap-
peal to the respect and protecting arm
Of every young and strong man.
Morgan is strong man, young, as
straight as an arrow, intelligent and
handsome. He had been a school
teacher, and to him was entrusted the
sacred duty Of teaching morality, as
well as letters, to the young. He was
unknown to Johnson, although rel
ative, and had he been in distress for
lack of money and appealed to the old
gentleman, he would probably have
received necessary aid. But it was
the old story. He was smitten with
the gaudy charms of woman Of ill
fame, and could not earn money fast
enough to meet the expenses Of the
fast life he was leading.
To meet these expenses he armed
himself with club and revolver, and
started out to rob Mr.. johnson and
thus steal money by brutal assault,
and possibly murder. The only cir
cumstance which prevented murder
was the rottenness of the club.
This rottenness Of the club must be
considered as a mitigating circum-
stance" If the club had not broken,
and Morgan had taken one hundred
thousand dollars out Of the old mans
pocket, he would have received the
full penalty Of the law-ffteen years
in the Penitentiary. There never
was more aggravated case brought
before any Court, than this. The
plea of guilty was considered another
mitigating circumstance" although,
had he not entered his plea of guilty,
he would promptly have been proven
guilty. 1t is safe to say that in all
the record of crime there could scarce
ly be found more aggravated case, un-
der the indictment under which this
man entered plea Of guilty.
When asked if he had anything to
say why the sentence of the Court
should not be passed upon him, Nor
gan replied:
II have no statement TO make. I
realize the enormity Of the crime [
have committed. | am sorry that l
did it."
The Court-''What business do you
follow?"
Morgan-"I have recently been
selling books"
The Court have heard that you
were School Teacher"
Morgan-'I was"
From Kansas.