Oxford eagle., 1892-06-23
JUDGE J. 8. MORGAN KILLED.
Hsnry Fsstes sent Ballet rnrs~xA His
Hrsia-Hs Aprroaehea His Victim
Fr~n the Rear saa rtr~d Two shss.


HrHSAypo. June ts-rrohabiy the
most shocking tragedy ;h., ever axur~d
In the criminal annals OF Upper Nissis-
sippt occurred near here this morning.
when Judge James Bright Morgan Vas
shot and instantly killed while sitting
in crowded railway car By Henry c.
Foster, fellow attorney Sensational.
because % the high social and ha.ine-s
standing % both the participants; thrill
ing. because OF the unusual surroundings
Of the crime. and tragic. hecarse OF It's
fatal termination Back Of IL all there
Il STORY q professional disputes. and
some say % professional jealousy. and
Of q Pahlio Gazing that w.s finally
wiped cat by the blood % him Who ad-
miniss~r~d iS Tonight in this usually
peaceful tttsle hsules the rain IL falling
softly On a h~r-aved home. while iss
melancholy patser Is hsari in the all
across the town By two brothers Who
are inearrcrzted therv on the charge os
murder >horn Of the fringe o, pr~ia-
dice woven about the crime By those on
both sides Who are Interested in IL. the
story IL substantially n follows. Early
yesterday morning Judge Morgan. who
has been a lifelong resident of the
county. bsde his wife goodbye. and.
with some litsle jolSinx remark TO an
other member Of the family. walked
down 10 the railway station. intending
Go take the morning train for Memphis.
where he vas engaged in the practice %
law This morning he stood and
chatsed with various friends while wait
ing for the trsia. and appeared TO BE- in
excellent health and absolutely with
out a suspicion Of the doom that awaited
him.
Finally when the train which was late
rolled up to the station Judge Morgan
boarded il and entering the ladies' coach.
took the second seat from the front door
on the left going north. sharing tt with
his friend Col Ira u. Oglesby. q promi-
nens attorney of Mississippi. Judge
Morgan sat next to the aisle Of the EAR
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 mile. 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 10 the right
or left. but seemed TO know where the
man for whom he was searching sat-
Behind Foster was his brother. Albert
Foster reached a point beside Judge
Morgan and with an exclamation that
was drowned in the roar Of the train
drew . s+-caliber revolver. aimed de-
hberately NJ Judge Morgan's head and
fred The ball entered back OF the
ear, and passed through the head coua-
ing out on the left cheek. The wounded
man without cry OF word fell side
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 vas
u >
Men shouted and women terror stricken
behind the seats, meantime Foster stood
cody about with his smoking weaToa
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 10 Squire Halliday.
Sheriff Rollins. of DeSoto County. was
ut once telegraphed 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 paperA
The wounds bled profusely and by tho
time the train reached the Illinois Cen
tral dspo. in Memphis, the floor OF the
car under the body. and the cushions of
the scat whereon IL lay were dyed Grim
son
The cause which led TO the tragedy
had its origin in a lawsuit in which
Henry Foster and Judge Morgan we're
opposing counsel. Foster. the attorney
of +. 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 instt-
tuted habeAs corpus proceedings. and
while In the clerks Office at Hernando
became engaged in . quarrel with
Robert T. l. Morgan, . son Of Judge
Morgad- They would have come TO
blows had not Clerk MAXWELL and sheriff
Rawlings separated the two conbasanss.
A. that time Foster, it 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 1t the depot
and went 70 him and said he desired &c
see him Foster. who was with some
ladies'. remarked. II will see you tomor-
row." Judge Morgan replied. NO. sir,
you must see me now" and as Foster
turned from him Judge Morgan struck
him with . heavy cane which he car
risd- Foster tried TO get out of his xay,
but Judge Morgan followed him up and
gave . terrible beating. The result of
this was that Foster was confined to his
home for several days from the effect Of
the wounds received