The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-10-17

the murder OF old BsrriJe Loker, was
executed at the Uniontown Jail the 9TH
er day.
The crime for which Morris hanged
was committed in Bullskin Township,
Fayette County, Pa, just two years
ago. Young Morris was frequent WIS.,
ltor at the home of Mr.. Bernard Loker,
an inoffensive old German, who came
to the United States a few years ago,
aid settled near the home of the father
OF Frank Morris. The old man was
Industrious, and as an employe at the
coke works he accumulated money
enough to buy little home. He made
the purchase from the father of Nor
ris, and when young Morris saw Mr..
Loker pay the purchase money from
his little store Of hard earnings, he
concluded that the old man had an un-
limited amount of money, and he deter
mined to rob him. He had been read
ing the low, criminal class of Jesse
James literature, until his mind had
become completely demoralized, and at
nineteen, when he committed the muir
der, he was hardened criminal. He
told some of his companions that he
would like to have Barney" Loker's
money, and that he intended to get two
revolvers and make his living In that
way. He cultivated the friendship of
Mr.. and Mrs. Loker, and spent much
time at their home. They treated him
very kindly and welcomed him to their
humble home. One day in September,
1894, he went to their house and car
ried with him shotgun and a revolver.
He found the old folks busy at work on
a cellar wall under their house. He re-
manned for some time talking TO them,
and when Mrs. Loker had gone out to
get kindling wood he shot Bernard
Loker She heard the shots and re-
turned in few moments and asked
what caused the shooting. He then
shot her twice, the bullets entering her
head and neck, as in her husbands
case. After shooting and, as he sup
posed. killing them, he hunted for the
money and in his search tore every
thing to pieces, but found only $50 and
some jewelry, all of which he took. She
| finally regained consciousness and
crawled to the cellar, where she found
her husband lying on the ground with
bullet hole in his head and the blood
running out of the wound She then
crawled to the home of Abe Morris, a
neighbor, and brother of the murderer,
where she related what had occurred.
Several persons went to the Loker
house and found Mr.. Loker dying. Mrs.
Loker lay near deaths door for long
time, but finally recovered, and her tes-
timony was chiefly instrumental in
Morris conviction, and she was present
at his execution.
Morris was tried at December court,
1894, before Judge Ewing. and was
| found guilty. His counsel took the plea
| OF insanity, but it was established
clearly that he was not insane, but
that his greatest desire was to kill and
rob people, and that his craving for
crime was fed on dime novels and
other low class, yellow backed litera-
ture. His attorneys exhausted the tech
nicalitiee of the law in behalf of their
| client, and finally carried II to the Board
| of Pardons, and a respite was granted
until they could send an insanity ex-
pert to Uniontown. This was done, and
his report was that Morris was sane
and responsible for his act,
Morris spent his last days on earth In