Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-07
" BLINKEY MORGAN,
THE RAVBNNA MURDERER, IDENTIFIED BY
ANT PLEASANT MAN.
Hs Is Probably Jonathan Caruthsrs a Son Of
Wsll-to-DO Parsnts-Hs Fought for the
Union in Company q, First West
Virginia Infantry.

tootoiuay oustCc vi tuc cdCc Iduh
Mitchell, of Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson coun-
ty, Ohio, was in Martins Ferry visiting
friends, and while calling on some old ac-
quaintances who had lived in Mt. Pleas
ant in childhood and early manhood, the
conversation naturally turned to the
whereabouts and circumstances of old time
mutual acqusintances. Among those
talked of in the presence of REGISTER
reporter was one johnson Carruthers.
One of the ex-residents of Mt. Pleasant
inquired of the Squire if he knew any
thing of the whereabouts of "John's" Car
ruthers.
Mr.. Mitchell answered in a manner
which surprised all his listeners, and gave
the reporter the ground work for good
item. He stated that Carruthers had been
supposed to be dead for years till Joseph
Gill, another Mt Pleasant citizen, un-
earthed him short time ago. Mr.. Mitch
ell stated that Mr.. Gill had occasion to
visit Columbus a few weeks since, and
while there he took advantage of the op-
portunity to visit the penitentiary, and
while going through, of course, went to
see
BLINKY MORGAN,
the now famous convict, under sentence Of
death for the murder OF Detective HULL
gan, at Ravenna, Ohio, on the fourth Of
February, 1887.
Mr.. Gill, according TO Mr.. Mitchell's
statement, as soon as he laid eyes upon the
condemned man, concluded that he had
seen the face before, and that he thought it
was familiar to him. He studied
the face a few minutes, and then spoke to
Morgan, saying: "You are Johnson Car
ruthers, and your old home was Mt Pleas
ant, O." Morgan answered by asking in
a sullen tone, "Is it; and who are you?"
Mr.. Gill told him who he was, but Morgan
refused to talk further concerning the mat
ter.
The reporter took his cue from the con-
versation of Mr.. Mitchell, and went to
Marshal William Burns, of Martins Ferry,
and procured a picture of "Blinkey" Nor
gan which had been sent to the Marshal at
the time Of the murder. This picture
was taken to Alex, Davidson, who
it was learned had been COM
panion of Carruthers when boy,
and on up till he went to Join the Union
army in the late war Mr. Davidson,
upon looking at the picture, but not know
ing who it represented, pronounced it a
perfect likeness of Carruthers. John Arm
strong, who knew Carrhthers we'll, pre-
nounced the picture an almost perfect
likeness of that individual William
Coates, who fought with Carruthers in the
war, stated that Blinkey Morgan's picture
resembled Carruthers 80 much that they
are in all probability the same person
Several Others asserted that the picture
favored Carruthers greatly, and Mr.. Gill's
statement, being so positive, that there is
but little room for douht.
From persons who knew Csrruthers it
was learned that he was the sou of respec-
table parents in Mt Pleasant. They were
we'll to do and owned considerable prop
erty about Mt. Pleasant, and johnson
WIS always well provided with pocket
money and good clothes. Early in life he
formed a liking for strong drink and
games Of chance, and after he entered the
army he soon ea rned himself a reputation
as thief and general hard case. He
would fight at the drop of the hat, but
when be liked man he was
a good friend, and would fight
for him as quickly as for himself.
He fought through the war in Company C,
First Virginia Infantry, and aside from his
general unruly disposition was a good and
brave soldier. After the war little was
heard of him, and he was supposed by
many of his old acquaintances TO be dead,
and he probably would have died unknown
had not Mr.. Joseph Gill discovered him in
the penitentiary. Carruthers has a sister,
Miss Barbara Csrruthers, living in Nj.
Pleasant. Mr.. Carruthers is described as
good looking, prepossessing, and OF good
manners. He was when young splendid
dancer, and few social gatherings in his
were considered complete
without his presence. His present condi-
ton of depravity ia attributed by his old
as the direct result of the
habits of idleness and prohigacy contracted
in youth.