Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-06-07
THE MORGAN TRIAL.
The Defendant Testifies that Shaner
Killed Goul.


positive Identification evidence. Th'
witness was sure of the false teetl
found at the scene of the murder be
longing to GOul and partially so re
garding the clothing. Lewis Schrebel
testified to the same facts regarding
the teeth and clothing, also located the
scene of the murder. VIM. Schrebel
had seen Morgan in company with
Goul Sept. 18th, in Marion. and claimed
to recognize the clothing found as be-
longing to Goul. Thos. Jessup, Hope,
deposed that Morgan and Goul stopped
at his hotel Sept. II, 1887, and left the
next morning for Lost Springs. D.
Clever saw the two men on the way to
Lost Springs. John Gillet, on whose
farm the remains were found, described
infinitely the location of the scene of
the murder and some of the articles
found.
This morning continuing his testi-
mony he said in substance:
The bones were found 120 rds. south
east from my house. The location
could not have been seen from the
house. The bones were picked up and
| put in box.
Cross examination-The first knew
or heard of any bones or clothing being
on my farm, my little girl told me
there was pair of pants up there;
then on the 18th my boy found the
skeleton and l went up to see them,
then | went to Lost Springs to tell the
people there had been body found.
The coat, hat and vest were near to-
gether also the pocketbook and cuffs
The place where the body was found
was surrounded by very tall weeds.
The time my wife and were in Mari
on after the reward. we met Sheriff
Thompson and Mr.. Shumway and We
all went up into the Jail and saw the
defendant, Morgan. He told me about
going down by my house and crossing
down by the water tank and the wire
fence in the direction where the body
was found.
The cross examination was chiefly to
test the memory of the witness as to
dates and what he saw regarding the
two men and the elevation, etc, of the
country surrounding.
Jacob Kirkpatrick sworn: Live in
Hope: know the Shaeffer House, kept
| by Jessup; recognize the register,
(which was shown; heard defendant
and Goul refuse to register; did not
see them register.
Shumway recalled: Morgan had no
money coming to him at this time, had
overdrawn.
Schreber recalled: Saw Morgan in
Salina after Sept. Is; he was there to
see some girls.
Mrs. Schreber: Live in Marion;
knew Goul for 10 years in Ohio and
Kansas. Left my place September II.
She described clothing fully.
B. r. Davis: Am sheriff of Marion
county; can identify the box of bones
and clothing shown as being the same
as received from Deputy Sheriff Thomp-
son.
Ex-Sheriff Thompson: Was called 10
Gillet's place; location of ground is
such that eight or ten houses could be
seen; was at the inquest; recognize
the box of remains.
Jessup was recalled to identify the
register of the hotel.
Mrs. Gillet: Was on the porch on the
morning of September 18th; saw two
men leave track and cross pasture, it
was or 10 o'clock; did not see any
thing of the inquest trial; spoke of see
ing the men the next day, Sept. is.
Cora Gillett: Am dauhgter of John
Gillett; l found the clothing; found
pants first.
VIM. Gillett: Am son of John Gill
lett; found all the clothing in the box;
it Mas scattered about over 100 feet;
the weeds were very thick; could not
see many houses Sept. II on account
of weeds.
J. E. Gillett, another son, testified to
going with his brother; testimony SIM
liar.
Robt. Cubbage testified that some
sleeve buttons shown him were like
those he traded to Goul last summer.
R. Hare, of Marion, had seen defend
ant Sept. 18th.
Mr.. Rankin saw Morgan talking to
Hare at Lost Springs at 1890; he left
for Marion at l o'clock.
W. II. Carpenter, Marion, opened
the case for the defense. He outlined
the position of the defense. He ex-
pected to prove that Morgan and Shaner
had formed a conspiracy to rob Goul,
first by getting him into business, and,
when that would not work, by force.
The plan was for Goul and Morgan to
go overland from Hope to Lost Springs
and on the way both be robbed by
some stranger and the money after
ward be divided between Shaner and
Morgan. The scheme was carried out
to the point of meeting the robber who
turned out to be Shaner himself, and
Morgan thinking that Shaner had given
up the robbery plan walked on toward
Lost Springs, heard shot and looked