Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-18
4 ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
An Innocent Man Spends Ten Years
In the Penitentiary-A Death Bed
Confession
Louisville Courier-Journal.

Gov. Knott recently pardoned
James w. Morrison out of the peni-
tertiary. Ten years ago Morrison
was convicted on circumstantial evil
dencc of the murder of w. A. Bush at
Polsgrove Landing Barren county,
this state. The circumstances as de-
veloped in the trial were about as fol-
lows: Not quite a year before the
murder, Morrison, then oniv about "a
years of age, settled at Pollsgrove
Landing, and soon made reputation
as clever, gentlemanly fellow, who
was inclined to be rather fast and
reckless. He met and became infatu-
ated with julia Johnson, woman of
questionable character. He had a
rival IN the woman's affections In the
person Of W. A Bush, a rather hard
character, who had a short while be-
fore finished a term for horse-stealing.
One night the two met and Guanreled,
and Morrison drew a pistol and fired
at Bush, but missed hlm. Not long
atterw ard Bush was seen to drink
some whisky given him by Morrison,
and when he was suddenly taken iii
and died, it was at once charged that
Morrison poisoned him.
Morrison was IN the city this morn
ing on his way 10 South Bend, Ind,
where he proposes to make his future
horne, and was seen by reporter.
Yes, everything seems very strange
to me, " he said, in answer to a ques
ton. Ten years is long time, and
many changes have been made since
[ was here last. I am on the world
now, and it seems very queer one,
too. [ have be.n SO long used to pri-
son life that | scarcely know how to
behave myself. [ have to laugh at
my own awkwardness I spent all
the afternoon yesterday receiving
congratulations and thanking friends
IN frankie [ am going straight on
to South Bend, where Mr.. Mentz, the
city marshal, has secured me a pos
ition in the Studebaker wagon works
That man has proved true friend to
me, and | don't know how [ shall
show him my gratitude. Ever since
I have been In prison he has been
working to secure a pardon. Two or
three weeks ago he wrote to me that |
would soon be released, and asked
Ilic h'' COulo SIfdlS6I W ulu.
What led to your pardon?" asked
the reporter.
"Well, some time ago the main
witnesses IN the prosecution against
me, the three Harrod brothers, began
To talk about having made a mistake
in their testimony. My friends urged
me to send for them and have talk
ABOUT it, but | declined to do so, say
ing that they had sworn my liberty
and almost my life, away once and |
did not wish anything more to do
with them. They finally confessed
having given faulty evidence, and
repeated this to number of my
friends. Mr.. Hogue, the leasee Of
| the penitentiary, told me he had a
long talk with one OF them, and that
he had made some important disclos
ures. When I asked what they were
he put me off by saying that it would
do me no good to know, but that he
was going to lay the matter before
the Governor, and concluded by re-
marking that [ would not be with
them much longer. So, you see, /
was not unprepared for the good
news"
"Why did the Harrods give this
evideHce against yo1?"
II really don't know. [ think,
however, there vas little spite work
in one of them at least [ boarded
more gentlemanly than they and did
not associate with them, and I think
they were In consequence q little en-
vious They didn't realize what they
were dong when they were on the
witness stand. 1t is all over now,
aud have no hard feelings toward
them"
What became of the three bro
thers?'
Shortly after making the confes-
sion they were caught in q boiler
explosion, and one of them was in
stantly killed and the other two
badly injured. have an impression
that they finally recovered, but |
don't know what became of them"
did you shoot at Bush, as teshfed?
questioned the reporter.
Yes. [ never have denied that
While | am just out of a great trou
bic, and am determined to lead an
upright, honest Life IN the future. /
am bound to say that if man should
put the indignities and injuries upon
me to day as did Bush, [ would shoot
again But as far as any other at
tempt upon his life is concerned | am
entirely innocent. 1t is this know
ledge that has borne me up through
the ten years of prison life. [ knew
that was innocent, and always felt
comfortable that the truth would be
known some day. tits known at last,
thank God The only thing I grieve
over is the death of my last and dear
est relative, my mother, which took
place five weeks ago to-day. If she
could only have lived to see my inno-
cence proved and me q free man, [
would today be the happiest man
alive" and tears sprang into the poor
fellows eyes as he spoke.
what treatment did you receive
during your prison life, Mr.. Morri-
son?"
ssMv troa pooy,t hoe O rauc boon Of