The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1888-08-09

,,,hn hnd tairen an in. "BLINKYn MORGAN.
terest in the Communication OF his sen,
tence To all with whom he talked he
protested his innocence of the crime.
On Thursday Morgan made out an order
turning his body over TO DIR. Clemmer, the
physician of the prison, with the request
that II be used for the benefit of the
sciences and afterward cremated After
giving the order, however, he received a
letter from Nellie Lowery, Of Cleveland,
who is reputed TO have been his mistress,
asking that his body be sent to her
She had been refused the pleasure
of seeing him alive, and she claimed
1t was no more than right she should see
his face after death. Morgan changed his
mind after reading the letter, and asked
the physician to relinquish his claim,
which was done A post mortem, how
ever, will be held this morning.
The execution was witnessed by thirty
persons, Morgan was on the scaffold when
the spectators entered the execution de
partment He looked like high-toned
gentleman dressed for an evening ball.
The warrant was read, and Morgan re-
fused to say word, but stood like statue
as the ropes were adjusted. When all
was ready the cap drawn down, and the
rope began to tighten, Morgan spoke in a
loud tone: Goodbye, Nellie" and passed
through the trap. The work was not a
success. The body writhed in the greatest
agony and tho legs jerked, while the arms
swung and the hands clutched. He slowly
strangled to death.
1t has been discovered on good authority
that Morgan's real name was Charles Nc
Donald.
Morgan prepared letter before his exc
cution, in which he thanked the prison
officials for their treatment of him, and
again declared that he was innocent Of any
connection whatever with either the theft
of the furs, the rescue Of MeMunn or the
murder Of Detective Hulligan.
MoRGAN's CRIME.
On the night OF January % 1887, the fur store
OF Benedict & Ruedy, on Superior street
Cleveland, o.. was burglarized, and 5000
worth OF sealskin garments carried away
Just at the break OF day. The furs were
taken out of the front door and carried TO a
house on ST. Clair street, where the craftsmen
had engaged lodgings. The burglary was dis
covered in the morning at o'clock when an
employe arrived at the store. The thieves left
the city with their booty, going 10 Allegheny
City. on the Cleveland & Pittsburgh railroad.
Detective Hulligan, together with Cap
tain Hoehpe, went TO the latter place. and
the day after their arr. val arrested a young
man who gave the name of Harry Nc.
Mum. He was afterward identified by Cleve-
land shop-keepers as having been hanging
around their stores, and also as having had a
prominent part in the shipment OF the goods.
Rcquisition papers were served and the pris
oner was taken aboard the train by Captain
Hoehne and Detective Hulligan, being
shackled TO the latter. Chief OF
Police Murphy OF Allegheny City. and
lasn x.o 10 fho Nrffh ~
Cleveland officers Had they not done so a res
cue would have been attempted at the depot
The presence OF so many officers. how
ever, frustrated the scheme McMunh
behaved quietly. and seemed anxious to
make the officers as little trouble as
possible. The prisoner and his captors
were in the smoking-car. Ats o'clock in the
morning five men entered the car. There was
no recognition between the prisoner and them.
At Rayenna, thirty miles from Alliance. they
stepped across the aisle to where McMunn sat
shackled to Detective Hulligan. and draw
ing their pistols, said: GIVE him Ipr
Both Hulligan and Hoehne drew Their
weapons and rapid firing commenced Both
the officers were shot several times but would
not yield. Finally one OF the rescuing party
took a couplingpin from a newspaper and
struck bo.h officers over the head, knocking
them senscless. HulliGan was dragged TO the
car door, where the shackles were broken and
McMunn was free.
Tho wounded officers wcro brought 10 Clcve-
land, Detective Hulligan being taken TO his
home, where he ed four days later. and
Captain Hoehn 10 the city hospital where
he was carefully nursed back TO health and
strength. A reward of $4,000 was offered
for the capture OF the murderers, and
then began the long hunt for the Ravenna res
cuers as they were called. Word came from
Alpena, Mich, finally that "Blinkey
~. NJ III
Harry McMunn, the men desired In tho police
circular, were believed to be in the city. The
one supposed TO be McMunn disappeared
rather suddenly, however, and on the night Of
June "a when the arrests were made, only
Morgan and the two supposed to be Hanley and
Harrington were captured. Morgan was taken
into custody at the house where he was stay
ing, after n desperate struggle, in which he shot
Sheriff Lynch, OF Alpena, In the leg, pro-
ducing a wound which finally caused that
officers death. The other two men were ar
rested as they were about to board q boat 60
ing from Alpena TO Oscoda, Mich. Morgan and
his companions, who proved to be James Rob
inson and John Coughlin, were brought TO
Cleveland Friday morning, July !, and
after being in jail there four days were
taken IN Ravenna to await their trial for muir
der On October 3, 1887, Morgan was brought
into court at Ravenna for trial The witnesses
for the State, one after another, gave testi-
mony which connected Morgan with the bur-
glary and subsequent murder on the Cleveland
& Pittsburgh train. The jury, after having
been out one hour and twenty-five minutes, re-
turned verdict OF "guilty OF murder in the
first degree
The trials OF Coughlin and Robinson followed
that OF Morgan, and each was convicted OF muir
der In the first degree, though both brought an
array Of witnesses TO prove that they were not
present at the time the murder was commit
ted. Coughlin was afterward granted a new
trial, and finally his case was noled. Robin
son was also granted a new trial, and he is now
In jail at Ravenna.