Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-08-03
At Last Pays tas Penalty Of His Crime
His Identity Finally Established-"nsh
viii His Aceomplices Follow Hims


COLUMBUS, O., August s. :" "Blinky'''
Morgan, one of the men who killed Detec-
tive Hulligan in the attempt TO rescue Pat
McMunn, the Cleveland fur robber, on q
train at Ravenna one year ago last Febru-
ary, fell through the trap at the State
Prison at 80 this morning, meeting al
most instant death. He passed his last
day calmly and scorned John I. Norris
proposition to confess and implicate Others
in consideration of respite. Thisends one
of the most noted criminals ever in this
State The following letter written before
he died, is of great interest, being the first
authoritative news as TO his real identity:
ONO PENIrKsTrAKY. CoLuNBus, o.,
June ID 1888.
Mr. Tom Draper, Thirtieth Street and Sirth
Avenue. Nep York City:
FRIEND SHANs-In view Of the fact that
my chances for dropping through . trap
appear inevitable, have concluded TO pen
yor line and ssk you to attend to few
simple matters for me in case the worst
comes to worst. OF course, old boy, you
have been aware sll the while who the
party called Blinkey Morgan is. If not,
may tell you now. 1t is Mcdonald They
have me done up dead wrong here, and the
prejudice is strong against me. l feel sure
they intend to put me away for good
what my fate is, providing am hung. Also
send word 70 people in Hoboken
and Jersey City; and whstever
may be found in my apartments
at Philadelphia / would like sent to
Mrs. Nellie 1owrey, Cleveland, Ohio. II
the parties who were with me the last time
visited your place, come there again, ad
wise them for me to give this country
wide berth, tor they will certainly do them
IL they flash up in this direction. Well,
shang. the press will keep you fully posted
as to the results ofmy attorneys efforts In
my behalf. And il all efforts prove fruit
less, please attend my requests. E
s Remember me TO friends in 42nd street
and the Bowery. also drop 8 note to Ed.
Smith, Canal street, Buffalo. and tell him
who Blinky Morgan ia would like to zee
yourself and the boys enee more, but fear
the red letter day il here.
Twill bid you farewell. Wishing You the
best successes in life. Your friend,
CHARLIE McDoNALB.
HISTORY OF THE CRIME
On the morning of January 2s 1887, the
employees who came early TO the fur store
Of Benedict a Ruedy. 245 Superior street.
Cleveland, Ohio. were astonished to dis
cover that during the night, burglars had
forced an entrance to the store and made
away with about 5000 worth of furs.
ible. was the fact that Immediately in front
Of the building was a hack stand where
carriages were seen at all hours of the night
A few feet away was q corner that was con-
stantly watched by police officers, and in
addition to this, private wstchmen pa
trolled the street faithfully. 4
1t was found that the burglars had bored
through the wood Of the front door. insert
ed . set screw, and had then knocked of
the catch. After making futile effort to
crack the safe, the men then turned their
attention TO gathering up the priceless fur
garments that were scattered everywhere
in endless profusion. Finding that they
had secured more booty than they could
get away with, the thieves left eight gar
ments on the floor and fed, taking with
them thirty-si1.
CAPTAIN HoEHN WAKES UP.
As soon as the affair became known,
Police Captain Hoehn, of the Cleveland
force, gave orders for his men to carefully
watch all roads leading of toward the
south, as he had every reason TO believe
that such crooks rs Mollie Hoey, ,::McPhel-
laney and the like had escaped before, tax
ing the Cleveland 4 Pittsburg and the Nyp-
ano railroads at suburban stations.
The burglary occurred on Friday morn
ing, and ON Sunday at a. m. two patrol
men watching beats in the south end of
Cleveland. noticed q covered express wagon
being rapidly driven toward the city. The
rig was halted but the driver gave such
lucid explanation of his previous
whereabouts, that he was allowed
to go. Subsequently he was arrest
ed by order of Captain Hoehn and
found to be Thomas Storey, an Ohio
street coal dealer. Storey was very reti-
cent at first but aftewsrd made . confes-
sion, IS will be seen, On Sunday morning
young man, John Matthews by name,
living at Bedford, a small station six miles
ont of Cleveland on the c. & p. road
called ct the central station, and stated
that shortly before the midnight express
for Pittsburg, had pulled up at Bedford
Saturday night, covered wagon had been
rapidly driven up to the station. Four
men hsd leaped out and helped 10 swing
car. From the appearance of the horses
that drew the rig il was evident that they
had been made 10 travel at their best pace
Three of the men bought tickets for AllsS
gheny City, Pa. D'A =
Storey finally confessed to Captain Hoehn
that he had been hired to haul, three
strangers and two trunks to Bedford in
time 10 catch the train. He was told TO /
ask no questions, and so kept his mouth
shut When about half way there, one of |
his horses gave out but one of his passen-
gers leaped out, entered farm barn that
stood near, and borrowed fresh animal. |
Coming back Storey recovered his horss |
and placed the other one where 1t belonged. |
HARRY MMUNN ARRESTED.
In response TO telegram from Pittsburg |
10 the effect that one of the trunks had |
gone to Allegheny City and the other 70
he Smokey City, Chief Murphy and Chief |
Of Detectives Karnmsn went to work on
The case. and were joined soon after By |
Hoehu, and q railroad man who |
knew something about the case.
The efacers found after tire |
some search, one empty trunk at Q |
house in Balkham street. The woman |
who kept the place claimed that on the |
prior, two men had rented the
room of her and afterwards brought two |
trunks thers. One of the latter was after |
ward removed. Harry McMunn, 9 noted
crook, was then arrested as one of the prob |
abls burglars who so successfully did the |
ssalshin job at Cleveland. The proper |
requiiten papers were secured, and CAP |
tain Hoshn, who had been Joined in the |
meantime By Detective Huliigan, Of Clevs. |
prepared to take their man back to the
scene of his crime. i
THE RESCUE.
When McMunn had been captured, and |
on Friday, just week after the fur rob- |
berry, Captain Henry Hoehn, and Detective, |
William Il. Hulligan, went to Allegheny, |
and having secured requisition papers. left |
that night on the IL o'clock train for Cleve- |
land. As the train went rushing through |
the darkness, the officers were thinking |
no doubt that one of the robbers at least |
was going to pay the penalty of his crime.
In the smoking car sat ten passengsrs. |
md among them . man dre0sd
In light overcoat and cap |
and holding ticket to Ravenna, Hulligan, |
with the prisoner handcuffed 70 him, at |
facing the baggage car, and in fyont of the
pair, Captain Hoehn had taken his seat fac
ing Hulligan. When the train had steamed
Into Alliance and come to Q stand, three /