The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1892-06-24
JUDGE j. .. MORGAN KILLED.
Henry Foster Sent Bullet Through His
Brain-He Approached His Victim
From the Rear and Fired Two Shots.


From the Rear and Fired Two Shots.
HkRNAfDo, June ts.-Probab1y the
most shocking tragedy that ever figured
in the criminal annals of Upper Missis-
sippi occurred near here this morning,
when'Judge James Bright Morgan was
shot and instantly killed while sitting
in crowded railway car by Henry G.
Foster, fellow attorney. Sensational,
because of the high social and business
standing of both the participants; thrill
ing, because of the unusual surroundings
of the crime, and tragic, because of its
| fatal termination. Back of 1t all there
is story of professional disputes, and
some say of professional jealousy, and
Of a public Gaming that was finally
wiped out by the blood of him who ad-
ministered it. Tonight in this usually
peaceful little hamlet the rain is falling
softly on a bereayed home, while its
melancholy patter is heard in the jail
| across the town by two brothers who
are incarcerated there on the charge of
| murder. Shorn of the fringe of preju-
| dice woven about the crime by those on.
both sides who are interested in it, the
story is substantially as follows: Early
yesterday morning Judge Morgan, who
has been lifelong resident Of the
county, bade his wife goodbye, and,
with some little joking remark to an
other member of the family, walked
down to the railway station, intending
to take the morning train for Memphis,
whore he was engaged in the practice of
law. This morning he stood and
chatted with various friends while wait
ing for the train, and. appeared to be in
excellent health and absolutely with
out suspicion of the doom that awaited
him.
Finally when the train which was late
rolled up to the station Judge Morgan
boarded it and entering the ladies' coach,
took the second seat from the front door
on the left going north, sharing it with
his friend Col. Ira d. Oglesby, promi-
nent attorney of Mississippi. Judge
Morgan sat next to the aisle of the car
while Col. Oglesby occupied the place
beside the window.
Immediately behind them sat Mr.. and
Mrs. p. P. Van Vleet, of Memphis. The
train had proceed about seven miles and
half, and was just pulling out from
Alden's station, when Henry r. C. Fos-
ter, who had boarded the train at the
above mentioned point, came down the
aisle. He looked neither to tho right
| or left, but seemed to know where the
man for whom he was searching sat.
Behind Foster was his brother, Albert.
Foster reached point beside Judge
Morgan and with an exclamation that
was drowned in the roar of the train
drew a 44-caliber revolver, aimed de-
liberately at Judge Morgan's head and
fired. The ball entered back of the
ear, and passed through the head COM
ing out on the left cheek. The wounded
man without cry or word fell side
ways against Col. Oglesby. But Foster
was not satisfied with this, for, stepping
quickly forward, he fred again, hitting
the already dead man in the right arm.
The ball also pierced the body through
and through, coming out about the left
hip. Instantly the crowded car was
thrown into tho widest excitement.
Men shouted and women terror stricken
cody about with his smoking wear on
in his hand. No one made an effort to
molest him, but when the little station
of Horn Lake was reached he left the
car, and accompanied by his brother,
gave himself up to Squire Halliday.
Sheriff Rollins, of DeSoto County, was
at once telegrapbed for, and upon arriv-
ing at Horn Lake, took charge of the
prisoner. Meantime the body of the
murdered man was stretched out on two
seats that had been turned face to face,
and covered with shawls and papers.
The wounds bled profusely and by the
time the train reached the Illinois Cen
trail depot in Memphis, the floor of the
car under the body, and the cushions of
the seat whereon it lay were dyed Grim
son.
The cause which led to the tragedy
had it's origin in lawsuit in which
Henry Foster and Judge Morgan were
opposing counsel. Foster, the attorney
of T. L. Wright, desired to regain for
his client charge of the fathers little
girl, years of age, who had been with
its mother since her divorce from
Wright, two years ago. Foster instl-
tuted habeas corpus proceedings, and
while in the clerks Office at fernando
became engaged in quarrel with
Robert 4. L. Morgan, a son of Judge
Morgad. They would have come to
blows had not Clerk Maxwell and Sheriff
Rawlings separated the two com batants.
AT that time Foster, 1t is alleged, was
very abusive of Judge Morgan. His
language was repeated by Robert to his
father the next evening on the arrival
of Judge Morgan at fernando from
Memphis. He saw Foster at the depot
and went to him and said he desired to
see him. Foster, who was with some
ladies, remarked, ST will see you tomor-
row." Judge Morgan replied, mo, sir,
you must see me now," and as Foster
turned from him Judge Morgan struck
him with q heavy cane which he car
ried. Foster tried to get out of his way,
but Judge Morgan followed him up and
gave a terrible beating. The result of
this was that Foster was confined to his
home for several days from the effect of
the wounds received.
THE chairman of the naip+ar,s branch