The record-union., 1895-01-19
MURDERED BY HIS own BROTHER.
Shocking Death of James Monroe
Morgan Yesterday
Shot by His Brother Harvey on Their
Ranch - The Murderer Then
Takes His Own Life.

A frightful double tragedy was enacted
yesterday morning on the Morgan farm,
about a mile north of Freeport, in this
county, in which Harvey Morgan shot
and killed his brother, James Monroe,
and then blew out his own brains.
The immediate cause of the shocking
affair was most trifing matter, being
nothing more nor less than a petty dis
pute between the brothers as to which OF
them should get out of bed first and pre-
pare the morning meal.
AS soon as the news of the tragedy
reached the city Sheriff Frank Johnson,
Assistant District Attorney J. G. Jones.
Stenographer E. B. Johnson and Deputy
Coroner Fenton FASTENED to the scene,
where the report was verified by the find
ing of the mangled remains Of the two
brothers.
Several of the neighbors were there,
and the Deputy Coroner summoned a
jury on the ground and held an inquest,
At which the facts were brought to light.
The jury was composed of T. q. Riehl,
n. Is. Hack, f. l.. Kirtlan, II. Curran,
a. Lowell, z. j. Hack, Frank Williams,
4. X. Miller, George Clark, t. IL. Hunt.
The only witness who could give any
account OF the affair was George c. Baum
CARTEL, young man who lives near by,
and who was present at the commence
Aent OF the quarrel between the brothers.
BAUMGARTEL'S STORY.
Baumgartel stated that on Thursday he
was fishing in company with Harvey
Morgan anu his brother, and went home
with them TO spend the night. The
brothers lived together on small farm
about quarter OF mile east OF the Free
port ROAD, their parents having been dead
Tor several years.
Baumgartel occupied James Morgan s
bed, Harvey sleeping in another room.
About o'clock IN the morning Baum
CARTEL awOke and aroused his companion,
who called to his younger brother:
kid, get up and get breaktastW
The latter replied: "All right, there is
plenty OF ume!"
This, however, did not seem TO satisfy
James (or Monroe, as he was generally
known, so he got out of bed and went
into his brothers. room, ana began beat
ing him as he lay in bed, bruisIng his face
and cuttingshis lip.
Baumgartel went into the room and
separated the brothers and then returned
TO the room where he had slept to dress.
BENT on REVENGE.
Before he had completed the task Har-
yey Morgan had arisen, partially dressed
L4uS6lt anu gone OuS vi l4O uOuSS Will
his shotgun IN his hand.
Monroe followed his brother out of the
house, and Baumgartel, fearing further
and more serious trouble, hastened out
while but partially dressed to interCede
for peace. Harvey ordered him To 90
back or he would shoot him. Baumgar-
tel then induced Monroe to go back and
the latter re-eutel ed the house and closed
the door behind him, as il to prevent
Harvey from following him. He then
took down his own gun-a Winchester
magazine shOtgun-and ran out OF the
house on the side opposite to that where
Harvey had gone out.
THE HURDEROUs WORK BEGUN.
He was in the act of climbing a fence
bordering on a narrow lane near the
house, when Baumgartel heard shot.
At the same instant Monroe raised one
hand to his head and cried
save me ]"
lie got over the fence, however, also
the opposite one, and struck out into the
held. making no attempt 10 return the
shot.
Harvey Morgan then placed his gun
almost against Baumgarteps body and
threatened TO shoot him II he attempted
t. follow Monroe. He said: - have shot
once, and viii shoot again ~
THE ENRAGED YOUTH
Forced Baumgartel some distance down
the lane at the muZZle Of his gun, where
he lett him.
Baumgartel then hastened to the barn.
near by, got out horse and dashed OIL 10
1.ienl, who got together several citizens,
and they fastened to the Morgan place,
where
\ SICkENING SIGHT
Awaited them. In the field, about one
hundred and fifty yards from the house,
they found the dead body of Monroe
Morgan, with portion OF his head blown
Oil, showing that after Baumgartel had
left Harvey had followed up hIs brother
aud completed his murderous work
MOurOe's gun was found not to have
been discharged.
The party then went to the house. and
there was revealed the awful SEQUEL tC
the murder. On the floor OF his bedroom
between the bed and bureau, lay Harvey
Monroe, tie murderer of his brother
with portion Of his own skull blown
away by charge from lis shotgun.
WHAT THE JURY FOUND.
After hearing the evidence Of BaumgarteI
the Corouer's Jury rendered a verdict tc
the effect that James Monroe Morgan had
come TO his death from shotgun wounds
inflicted by his brother Harvey Another
Verdict was also found that Harvey Nor
gan came to his death by a gunshot
wound inflicted by his own hand
The terrible tragedy caused q deep SEN
eatIon IN the neighborhood, where tile
Morgan family had lived for many wears
and whore the boys were reared. i3rouDs
OI men from the neighboring farms
gathered about the scene and discussed
The shocking affair until the Coroner re-
moved the bodies 10 this city.
THE MORGAN BROTHERS.
Mrs. Morgan died several wears aoo
leaving g small farm and some personal
property. She lett four sonsECieorpe
Charles ana tho two who now lie at the
AIorgue. The former has been away for
some time. but Charles resides IN tnj-
city, where he has been employed as bar
tender IN several Of the leading saloons.
For some time after Mrs. NIorgan,s
death the brothers quarreled more or less
over the administration Of their motber,s
estate, but the estate was settled a Ioua
time ago in the Probate Court. since
which time there has been no trouble he.
tween any OF the brothers, SO far a,
known.
Mr.. Baumgartei states that Harvey auG
Monroe had bad Ho.quarrels while he was
with them on Thursday, nor on that
night after their return from fshiur
IHey were sober, and Harvey particu.
larly was not in the habit OF drinking.
UNTGR on rpDu pou-c