Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-08-03
GAME TO THE LAST.
"BLINKBY" MORGAN DIBS PROTESTING HIS
INNOCENCE
Hung at an Early Hour This MOrning-gmplOymsnt
in Dis Last Hours-An Open Lsttsr-Ths
Execution Declared Judi
eial Murder.

COLUMBUS, o, August Charles, alias
Blinkey Morgan, the principal figure in the
Rsyenna rescue and the murderer of Detec.
tive Hulligsn, Of Cleveland, was executed
at the Ohio penitentiary at an early hour
this morning. The prisoner spent quiet
day, refusing to see visitors except those
with whom be had been intimate, and who
had taken an interest in the com.
mutation of his sentence. To all with
whom he talked, he protested
his innocence of the crime. He interested
himself part of the time in writing auto
graphs and preparing souvenirs to send
10 friends. These consisted of buckeyes,
on which were painted the names, ''Cleve-
land aud Thurman, 1888" and in the CEN
ter = nearly painted bandanna hsndker-
chief. They were made by one of the
prisoners and are strung on blue ribbons.
Yesterday morning he made out an
order turning his body over to DR.. Glenn
mer, the physician Of the prison, with the
request that it be used for the benefit of
the sciences and aftsrward cremsted,
though he did not want it used in way
which would cause notoriety. After
giving the order, however, he received a
letter from Nellie Lswery, of Cleveland,
who is reputed to have been his
mistress, asking that his body be sent to
her. She had been refused the privilege OF
seeing him alive, and she claimed that il
was no more than right that 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,
however, will be held in the morning.
Morgan left paper to be made public
after the execution. In it, after thanking
the warden and his deputies for favors
rendered him, he says:
"To satisfy the curious, as well as to re-
lieyet the overburdened minds of the inter
ested, l rsasseverate my previous declara.
ton of entire innocence of any connection
whatever with either the theft ol
the furs, the rescue of McMunn,
or the murder of Detective Huligan.
There will doubtless be some people who
will not hesitate to declare that died with
falsehoOd on my tongue, simply because
my assertion Of innocence cannot CORE
spOnd with their apparent belief and pref
udice. To all such permit me to say,
Wait. Time will eventually substantiste
my declaration of innocence. Had sue.
ceeded in obtaining another hearing cf my
case would certainly have acquitted my
self, as l expected TO prove beyond any
possible doubt that ] was in the city OF
Philadelphia at the time of the rescue and
for some time previous and subsequent to
that event"
The lseter then goes on to make an elab'
orste defense, and accuses Captain Hoehr
OF swearing falsely.
The procession started to the annex at /
%. m. The execution was witnessed
by about thirty persons. Morgan
was on the scaffold when
the spectators entered the execution
department.. he looked like high toned
gentleman dressed for an evening ball
The warrant was read and Morgan refused
to say q word, but stood like statute
a. the ropes were adjusted
A friend of his raised some disturbance and
talked loud until he was put out, but was
readmittsd at the request of the condemned
When all was ready and the cap drawn
down and the rope began to tighten, Nor
gan spoke in loud tone: Good bye,
Nellie" and he passed through the
trap. The work was not success
full. The body writhed in great
est agony and the legs jerked, while
the arms swung and the hands clutched
He slowly straDgled to death. The scene
WAS horrible one.