The Helena independent., 1893-11-19
WAS JOHN R. MORRISON
Identity Of the Man Found Dead
Near Holmes Guloh Fully
Established.
The Question Of Suicide or Murder
Still Under Consideration
by the Jury.
Important Lettsrs Bearisg ON the Case
Thst Have DISAPPEARED. - Have
Morrison's Money and Watch.

Inn mportant Letters Bsarisg ON the Case
Thst Have DISAPPEARED. - Have
Morrison's Money and Watch.
The body Of the man found In ths VI
cinity OF Holmes RuIch, Friday morning,
was fully identified before tho coroner's
jury yesterday ss that Of John u. Morrison, |
who has been q resident OF Montana for
abont twelve years, working both at Wiokss
and at East Helens. His old home Was at
Bsnesville. Ont, whore he has mother,
father. two sistsrs and two brothers. He
was member Of the Wiokss lodge. A. o.
U. W. and in good standing. He was
identified by Miles MoGinnis. Miss Mamie
Wilson. Mrs. Jennie McClelland. Dr.. W.
NJ. Builard and several Others.
Bat while bis identity has thus been
clearly established, there IL still con
siderable doubt 90 TO whether he
killed himself or was murdered.
The testimony ~ 10 his finances
bsfors the coronsr's jusv yesterday was Of
the post conflicting nature, ~ wss also
that In relation TO bis disposition. Dr..
Billiard testified that on Wednesday after
noon Morrison paid him bill aad At that
time he was In bright and ehsstful frame
of mind and showed . SoIl Of bills which
the doctor said must have contained at
least S75. A former fellow workman also
testified TO she fact shat ON Wednesday
Morrison had received from the East Hell
ena smslter between e75 and $10O in the
shape Of wages. On the other hand John
Mcdonald. who elsimsd TO be . near friend
of Nor ison. said he did not have any
money. Miss Wilson and Mrs. Mcclellan
say he had threatened to kill himself be-
fore. Two letters Morrison IL alleged 10
have written to Miss Wilson and Mrs. No
case.
The hrst witness before the soroner's
jury yesterday morning VAS Miles AcGin-
mis-, who identified the dead man 20 John
D. Morrison. Mr.. Mo0innis testified that
he had known Morrison for about . year;
whore hs was working at the smslser. He
said he saw him last week ago. whom hs
told him he WAS working at East Helena,
aud was going back thst day. Hs said he
never told him he Was going to kill him.
sslf. MeGinnis said he did not know that
Morrison had . watch and chain week ago
yesterday. AoGinnis said he never know
Morrison 10 drink or gamble.
Mis-. Jennie Mcclellan. Of 533 Broken
| ridge street. testified that she recognized
the dead man a. John ID. Morrison. whom
she had known for over four years. The
last time she saw him alive was three or
rour weeks ago. she said he had bsen dos
pondent for some time. because his health
was bad, 40 he had bsea "isadsd" At the
East Helena snslteT. He had watch on
which he raised some money, but she said
she thoseht he afterwsrd redeemed it. Mrs.
Mcclellan said he told her once that he
would commit suicide. She also testified
that she received letter from him Thurs
day, which she had mislaid. In the letter
he said he was going to kill himself at
eight p. m. Ihursday By taking laudanum.
Mrs. Mcclellan said after receiving the
letter she and her sister went down town
and spoke to an enioes abeat il. asking him
il they eoald not prevent Morrison taking
his life. Mrs. Mcclellan said she also went
to the proprietor Of the Hotel Rodney and
told him about The letter from Morrison.
Miss Mamie Wilson, Ms. MoCleilan's
sister, testified to the same effect as the
pre- vious witness.
D.. W. M. BullaId made superficial sx-
animation of the body and identified il -
that of John d. Morrison, . patient Of his
at Wiskes from 1881 to 1889. "A month
ago." said ths doctor. Morrison went to
81. Peter. hospital. ssffering from lead
POISONING. 4Wo 00I0 ukOs 0OAbb000u
she doctor, Morrison came TO my ofios
and paid his bill. He had quite roll Of
money, should judge mot less than S7b
He WAS In good spirits and said hs thought
ne would not 40 back to the smslter. but
would take "trip homo this winter" The
doctor said Morrison had always been 4
sobsr. industrious man, who took good care
of his money aua saved il. having money
10 loan. The Doctor said Morrison was
member Of the A. o. U. w. At Wiokes at
the time of his death and was Ia good
| standing. The doctor also said Morrison
had ON watch chain whom hs was At his
Office. The doctor said he was of the
opinion that il Morrison had shot himself
there would have been powder burns on the
cheek, and hs did not believe the marks
on his nose wsre powder burns. The doc
tor said the wound In the msR's head
would produce almost instant death. and II
il was case Of suicide he did not see how
found after shooting himself through tho
| head. Again, II case OF suicide, the doc
tor said there should certainly be powder
burns.
John Mcdonald. q big man with shifty
eye, testified that he had known Morrison
for four years. He said he saw him alive
for the last time on Saturday last. when he
mes him in Con Kelly's place between three
and six in the afternoon. Mcdonald testi-
ned that he was much surprised when Nor
rison drank four or five glasses Of beer. as
hs seldom drank anything stronger than
lemonade. In roply to question a. TO how
much money Morrison had about him,
Mcdonald said very litsls. Hs he owed him
(MeDonald) q little bill. which he said he
could not pay. Mcdonald said Mrs. Mo-
Clellan told him on Main street Thursday
evening Of tho letter she had received from
Morrison. in which ho said hc WAS going TO
kill himself. but he told her there VAS
nothing in IL. and TO so homo.
At the conclusion Of McDonald's tssti-
nony = recess was taken by the corner till
four D. II. Al that hour County Attorney
| Nolan was present. DUing the recess
Marshal MeCann had foand 0st where the
revolver came from, and &. Abrahamsop.
the Main street pswnbrokes, was the frss
witness. Mr.. Abrahamson's story WAS 10
the effect that in October Morrison had
pawned . gold fllsd watch with him, bat
| had redeemed ID before tho time expired.
IAftssvArd Morrison had bought . revolver
| from him for 80, but had brought 1t
| back and Iesold H. Last Wednesday MOI
! rison called again. saying he wanted 10
buy a good revolver. that weuld not go
back on him when needed. He said he was
making frequent trips TO East Helena, and
as there were . good many Aafd oases
around he thought he lad better carry a
revolver. Abyahsmsou said hs sold him
| The aAn that was found beside his body
for S2.5O and Had given hin sene cart.
ridges, which Morrison had pat in his