Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-26
PAID THE DEATH PENALrr,
James IL. Morton, the Murderer, Was Exc
cuted nt Camden Today.

cuted nt Camden Today.
CAMDEN, Nj, Aug. 26.-James r. Morton,
alias Moulton. executed this morning in the
jail building here. The drop feI at loss and
he was pronounced dead in eleven minutes and
thirty seconds
After leaving his cell the doomed man was
met by the sheriff jury and the jurors appointed
by the court, and commenced the solemn march
to the gallows. Morton said nothing on the
scafold. and Sheriff West after drawing the black
cap and pinioning his arms. pulled the trap and
the condemned man was launched into eternity
His body, after being cut down. was carried
into the hospital ward of the jail County
Physician lizard and his assistants made a
superficial examination and found that death
was due to strangulation. This afternoon a
post mortem examination will be made OF the
body. and as soon completed the remains
will be inferred in ST. Patrick's cemetery
Morton spent his last day on earth in medita-
tion and PRAYER. The doomed man expressed
no fear of death
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
The crime for which James II. Morton this
morning paid the penalty was one Of the most
brutal in the history of the country Itwas the
result Of deliberate planning Of n mind crazed
by the desire for money. In this il was not dis
similar to the crime for which the death pcnalty
was last paid in this county-the murder of
Thomas Armstrong by John Hunter who was
hanged in 1879. Morton until few months
before his crime a special officer in the lower
section Of the city and looked upon ss an
intelligent colored man. He lived at ll42
South 9th street with two daughters, his wife
being dead. Some time in April Mrs. lydia
Ann Wyatt. a seyenty-three- -yeHr-old colored
woman, who was separated from her husband.
went 20 live A. his house She owned a prop
erty which she sold an Nav for $500. In her
visits TO the lawyers in arranging the sale Of the
property she was accompanied by Morton, who
took great interest in her welfare. 80 great
was this interest impressed upon her that
the 9th Of May she made viii leaving Morton
one-half OF her estate and Camden lawyer
the other half. the two heirs To act
as her executors. Three DAYS after this,
Monday. May 9. the murder occurred. Between
o and 10 o clock on that day Morton met the
old woman as she came down stairs from her
room. Snatching from her hand a heavy rose
wood cane, which her age compelled her to use
in walking. he felled her TO the floor. In his
confession made just after his arrest he declared
that the old woman and he had a quarrel and
that il was in a moment Of passion that he
struck her. At the post-mortem examination
her skull was found 20 have been fractured and
no less than dozen wounds were found on her
body. most Of them on the head. A. soon ~
the old woman was dead Morton took S325 from
q bag she carried and left the house. He offered
q colored undertaken s75 il he would bury her
at once. This aroused suspicion and he was
placed under arrest. Ii then developed
that Morton, on April 25, attempted 20 get q
Phiadelphia medical student TO purchase -
live woman subject, seventy three years old, and
fat"
TEE TRIAL
Morton's trial took place on June q He
pleaded not guilty, but just the first juror
entered the box he withdrew this and pleaded
guilty. After two days advising the court
unanimously found him guilty Of murder in the
FIRST degree. He was sentenced 90 be hanged
on July 2s. but through the intervention Of
Father Kelley he was granted a reprieve until
today. About O'Clock last night the three
daughters of Morton called on the condemned
father. They remained with him until nearly
midnight and bade their father an affecting
farewell After they had gone and a few
moments spent IN devotions Morton threw him.
self upon his hammock IL was not great
while before he WAS wrapped in slumber. All
through the night he slept well. He arose 81
o'clock this morning refreshed by his sleep.
He exhibited strong nerve from the time he
arose; at O'Clock one Of the prison ofiicials
told q reporter that he did not believe any man
wae ever nervicr than was Morton then He
are heartily Of breakfast Of fsh prepared for
him