The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-08-08
A LIFE FOR A LIFE.
"Blinkey" Morgan Expiates in Awful
Agony the Murder of Detective
Huligan.
A. Brief History OF the Crime, and
Biography Of the Grim.
inM.
columbus Ohio special

l'oiuihDus lOnlol special
Charles Morgan, better known as -Blinkey'
Morgan, was executed in the annex of the Ohio
Penitentiary at Columbus. The execution was
witnessed by thirty persons. Morgan was on
the scaffold when the spectators entered the
execution department. He looked like u high
toned gentleman dressed for an evening ball
The warrant was read and Morgan refused TO
say word, but stood like a statue as the ropes
were adjusted. When all was ready, the cap
drawn down, and the rope began 10 tighten Nor
gan spoke in n loud tone, "Good-by, Nellie, and
pass through the trap. The work was not
success. The body writhed in the greatest
agony ana the legs jerked, while the arms swung
ana the hands clutchod. He slowly strangled 10
death. he was as game u criminal us ever
stepped upon II scatfold.
Charles, alias "Blinkey," Morgan was born in
New York State In 1878 he was convicted in
philadelphia for robbing a safe, and was sem
fenced TO hve years in the penitentiary. After
serving his term he went 70 Cleveland, and there
became associated with Jack Connolly, an old
time Thief, and through him With Nellie Lowry,
the daughter of Connolly and the wife of Charles
Lowry, noted bank robber now serving an
eieNen-year solitary confinement sentence in a
Phlladelphia prison for the Osceola, Pa. bank
robbery, in which one of his accomplices was
Eddie HaNill OF Chicago. Morgan also became
acquainted with the late Tom Foster, one OF the
most notorious safe operators and desperadoes
IN the country, who shot dead by police
officer in Cleveland about two years ago while
resisting arrest.
After safe robbery at Wellington Ohio. by
Foster, Lowry, and Morgan, and hot encounter
with the police aud posse, in which Tom Nor
gan, one OF the gang, was killel, and another OF
the gang and several OF the pursuers We're
wounded, lowry and "Blinkey' Morgan went to
Canada, staying there for quite while.
After robh ng II safe at Ingersoll Lowry and
Morgan were pursued and overtaken by several
railroad men. Morgan drew his pistol and tell
ing Lowry TO make of while he held the fort, I"
FACED the pursuers and literally shot his way
through them efecting his escape. Lowry was
captured Morgan went TO the Jail where he was
confined, and working from the outside got his
pal out. Some time afterward Lowry had n row
with a police officer in Toron W lie drunk
drew his revolver, fired at tile officer and killed
a hackman. For this he was sentenced 10 long
term in the Kingston prison.
While there he became acquainted with a
young Detroit burglar named Matt Kennedy,
who was serving term for n safe robbery near
Windsor. While in Jail at Sandwich they at
tempted 10 escape, and in 80 doing shot and
killed jailer. IL being proved that kennedy
dld not do the shooting, he got off with long
term in prison.
Years afterward he met Morgan The two
escaped from prison and went TO Detroit where
they stayed long time under the protection Of
noted gambler. They also passed consider
able time in Cleveland, where they stopped at
the house of Nellie Lowry.
he was next heard from through the robbery
of the safe in the jewelry store of Mr.. Green Of
Greenville, Mich, So 600 worth of property being
taken This plumber was carried to Canada by
Nellie Lowry, and sold there. Morgan staid in
land fur robbery, which occurred the night of
Jan. 20 1887, when the fur store of Bene let q
Ruedy, on Superior street, Cleveland, was
burglarized, and so worth OF sealskin gar
ments taken. After the murder Of Hulligan a
reward OF $4,000 was offered for the capture OF
the criminals.
Detective Hulligan traced the plunGer 10 n
small town outside of Cleveland. from where il
had been shipped to Allegheny City This Off
GER together with Capt. Hoehne vent TO the
latter place, and the day alter their arrival ar
rested young man who gave the name of Harry
McMunn. He was afterwards identified by
Cleveland shopkeepers us having been hanging
around their stores, and also having ha a
prominent part in the shipments of the goods.
Requisition papers Were served and the prisoner
was taken aboard the train by Capt Hoehne and
Detective Hulligan, being shackled TO the lat
ter. Chief OF Police Murphy, of Allegheny City,
and several detectives went TO the depot with
the Cleveland officers. Had they not done SO "A
rescue would have been attempted at the depot
The presence of so many officers, however, frus-
trated the scheme. McMunn behaved quietly
and seemed anxious 20 make the officers as little
trouble rs possible. The prisoner and his cap
tors were in the smoking-car. At o'clock in the
morning five men entered the car There was
no recognition between the prisoner and them
At Ravenna, thirty miles from Alliance they
stepped across the aisle 10 where McMunn
sat shackled TO Detective Hulligan, and draw
ing their pistols, said, Give him up" Both
Hulligan and Hoehne drew their weapons and
rapid firinI commenced. Both OF the officers
were shot several times, but would not yield.
Finally one OF the rescuing party took n
coupling pin from n newspaper and struck both
officers on the head, knocking the III sense
less. Hulligan was dragged 20 the car door
where the shackles were broken, and McMunn
free.
Morgan's picture was identified by the train
men, who had seen him the night of the attack
on the officers. Mr.. Pinkerton suggested that a
watch be kept Nellie Lowry and all letters
addressed TO her be intercepted. few days
later two letters were stolen from her house.
They were from a thief who threatened that il
she did not right an injustice that had been done
him be would communicate with w. A. Pink
erton, and give him the full particulars OF the
affair at Ravenna. He gave / is address rs
general delivery, postofiice Kansas City and
demanded an immediate answer These let
tiers were sent to Mr.. Pinkerton by Capt. Nc
Harmon, and the former at once commune
Gated with Chief Of Police Spears OF Kansas
City asking him TO watch for any mail adj
dressed 10 the person who had written the
Lowry woman. That same day a thief
known 10 the police all over the country
was arrested at the Kansas City Post office
he was badly scared and with little persuasion
told tina: the rescue Of McMunn, alias Kennedy
had been devised at Cleveland by Nellie Lowry
whom he characterized the head and brains
Of the gang. He told of those who participated
in the crime the leader of the gang being
"Blinkey' Morgan. His accomplces were Pat
Hanley, a Dayton, Ohio thief, Bob Dickerson
also notorious Ohio criminal, and two others
This information being sent 70 Mr.. Pinkerton
forwarded by him 10 the Cleveland police
together with photographs taken from his oN 4
rog1es gallery.
IL appears that after the rescue the gang SON.
arated, McMunn, Hanley and Dickerson going
70 Europe. When last heard from they were in
London. Morgan, on account of his pecul-
iarly marked appearance thought best 10
stay in this country. He organized new
gang and made his headquarters with a sister of
Nellie Lowry at AlIena, Mich. The Cleveland
police sent word 10 the Sheriff at Alpena tell
ing MIN who the men were, and Detective Reeves
and Capt. Hoehne went TO assist in their
capture. Coughlin and Robinson, two Of Nor
gans new gung, the former IL cousin of Nell
Lowry's, and the latter a distant rela-
tive of hers. stsrted to leave Alpena
by boat. The Sheriff got these men and
then slipped back 20 get Morgan. The latter at
cnce opened fire. one of his bullets striking the
Sheriff in the thigh inflicting n wound from
which he died three weeks later Morgan was
captured, however, and taken 10 Cleveland
identified, md Oct 3, 1887, he was taken into
court at Ravenna for trial The witnesses for the
State, one after another, gave testimony which
connected Morgan with the burglary and
subsequent murder on the Cleveland and
Pittsburgh train. Notwithstanding this fact
~Morgan's stiorneys refused to call single wit
ness in bis defense, not even attempting TO
prove an alibi, and at the conclusion OF the tes-
fimony for the prosecution, Morgan's counsel
announced their Willingness 10 subinit their case
without argument, which done. The Jury
after having been out one hour and twenty n We
minutes, returned n verdict of guilty OF murder
in the first degree Morgan protested his inno-
eence TO the last.