Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-26
MORGAN TALKS WELL
SON OF A DISTINGUISHED GENERAL
AND HIMSELF A RE TIRED OFFICER.
Not English But of French and Irish
Extraction-says He Killed Coles
In SelfDefsnce.

nave made strong appeals to Governor Nc
Kinney for Executive clemency, will be a
free man after the 21st day Of April.
He was received at the State prison JAN
nary 2, 1890, and his committal was for
year and half, but he will be entitled to
an allowance of rather more than two
months for good behavior.
The history of; Norgan's life is quite an
interesting one, and to Dispatch reporter
who called on him yesterday afternoon
and was accorded an interview in tho oftce
OF Superintendent Moses he talked quite
freely about his varied experiences both
here and in the old country.
WANTS TO BE CITIZEN.
"Of course desire to be released" said
the handsome young man who accepts the
humiliation of his incarceration with SEN
sible courage and resignation, but the
application for my pardon was not made
with any idea Of getting rid of the SEN
tence. II was simply done 70 be restored
TO citizenship, although when this unfor-
tunate difficulty first occurred had only
taken out my first papers.
GENERALS SON AND HIMSELF AN OFFICER.
81 am not an Englishman. as has been
often stated" continued the prisoner. ="
am of Irish and French extraction. My
WIS lbt NY,
and served through the Crimean war and the
Indian mutiny. l was born at Longford
Barracks. Longford is garrison-town in
Ireland. II is small place. only lived
there a short while. My father was deco
rated with the Victoria cross for meritori-
GUS service in war. He died seven years
ago. On my mothers side am connected
with Lord Tredagar, and am great-great
grandson of the Duke of York. My grand
&ath A / houa
brother now an officer in the English army.
WAS HIMsELr AN OFFICER.
Il myself was lieutenant in the Eng
lish army, but was retired with the homo
rary rank of captain. / have been station
ed at various places throughout Great Brl-
tain, but while on my way out to Egypt to
join the Gordon relief party | was taken ill
at Gibraltar and retired. as before stated.
have lived at many places in England, in
the Channel Island, and in France. have
been In this country six years, most OF the
time in Albemarle county. have great
many friends there, but more, believe, IN
Lynchburg. like America and Virginia,
and intend TO remain here. L did not own
farm, but was the lessee OF one before the
unfortunate affair with Mr.. Coles, who was
my friend. liked him. but he insulted
me grossly and attempted TO kill me. l
killed him in self-defence and while re-
senting an insult"
GRRyRD AT CoLEs's DEATH.
IF did not want to kill him, and was
very sorry when | discovered that he was
shot to death. and did everything | could
afterwards to relieve bim, riding long
distance to get q doctor, but he could not
be saved. Notwithstanding my Incarcera-
tion | am not a soured and bitter man.
Mr.. Moses and the officers of the prison
have been very kind to me. Certainly as
much so as they could consistently be as
officers of the institution. Really, have
found things here pleasanter than had
expected. | am assistant to Captain
Whte-rather his clerk. He has charge of
the prison yard and clothing.
My mother was here during the trial"
Morgan went on to say, but she left the
country after my conviction and returned
TO the Channel Islands. get money from
my people-as much as the prison law
allows"
GRADUATE OF OXFORD.
I'm reference TO the application for my
pardon, | think il emanated with the
French Minister. | am graduate of Ok
ford. Oh yes. speak French as fluently
as | do English, having lived so much in
France. NJ father owned place at De-
nan. France. He had q race-cOurse there.
He also had an estate at st. Morrow, off
the Channel islands, fOrty-five miles from
jersey. This, too. was used as racing
station. The horses were transferred from
there 10 Ireland. | spent good
deal of my time in Rahanderry. Ny peo-
pie have stood by me through this trouble,
so have my friends in Lvnchburg and Al
bemarle county. and they propose to do so
in the future. Just here | will remark that
the papers treated me well. The Dispatch
reports of the trial contained only one or
two insignificant errors, for which did
not care. When j came to the prison
weighed only $50 pounds, now | weigh 1877.
| am in splendid health. / am not certain
yet what will do when | get out, whether
first TO embark for England on aylsit to
mother, or whether | shall take a trip to
Albemarle county and Lynchburg. Atany
rate | shall soon pay mother a visit III the
Channel Islands-Jersey, perhaps.
KNOWS MRS. LANGTRY WELL.
"Oh, yes know the Jersey Lily, Mrs.
Langtry. WELL" replied Morgan with q
smile TO the Dispatch mans query.
"She was often with my father, who was
very friendly with her. In that way be-
came acquainted with her."
The conversation turning upon horses.
the prisoner continued: am very fond
of horses. My father before me was. |
agree with you about riding. Although
the English breed fine horses and take
great interest in racing, they do not know
how to ride horseback. The Americans
ride correctly with the toe or ball of the
foot in the stirrups. | ride that way my
self | never saw an Englishman who
knew how to ride. They stick up the
knees and put their feet too far in the stir
rups.
ACTED IN sELF-DEFENcE.
Returning TO the trouble that brought
me here, my act was purely in self-defence.
After having been insulted in the grossest
manner | repeat l did not want TO kill Mr..
Coles. The fight was forced on me and
did everything could afterwards 10 relieve
him. cannot see why he provoked the diff
Guilty. The road he objected to my riding
over was almost as much used as the
county roads. II was travelled by all the
neighbors and really did not know that
the place belonged to him, as had hesrd
that he had sold il and so told him. L did
not want to infringe on his rights. he
pulled his pistol out first. There was SO
much smoke after the difficulty COM
menced that / did not even know that he
had been struck. >.
Riding over his road was the cause OF
the difficulty. ! had no previous trouble
with him. l should not, however, have
ridden over his farm had not been IN
great hurry.
Correspondence Between Mr.. Blaine and
the Governor.
As stated yesterday. Hon. James u;
Blaine ia among those who have interested
themselves in Morgan's behalf. AZ the re-
quest of the British Minister at Washing
ton he wrote the Governor a very friendly
and cordial letter asking that the young
man be pardoned. In this communication
the Secretary Of State said:
"It Is understood that this sentence will expire
In less than two months, and az the instance Oh
the prisoners mother and family, and num-
Der of his friends, the British Minister has
sought unofficially 10 enlist my sympathy In me
case For the reasons which the papers SUD
mittsd or TO be submitted TO your Bxcellency IN
the prisoners behalf will fully disclose, it Is ear
nestly desired by those Interested In the matter
that you may SEQ your way 10 grant pardon,
This measure 10 desired In the fret place more
for the effect which Is would have upon the
young mans future than for the purpose OF re-
heying him from the remainder OF his term OF
imprisonment In tho second place it 70 stated
that II he should be released without delay an
avenue 10 employnent In Ireland VIII Dc open
to him, which viii DO closed II he cannot imme-
diaetly enter It..
NOT OFFICIAL.
"It is we'll understood that the case is one IN
which IL would not be proper Tor tne sovern-
ment Of the United States 20 interpose with oni-
clal advice or sueaestons. aud for this reason