The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-09-22
A CLERICAL SUICIDE.
Caused by The Revelation of Three
Years Shocking CrfminalItY.

BOSTON, Sept. o, 1896 Rev James B.
Morrison, a Unitarian clergyman, of
night by inhaling gas at the Revere
House in this city
Up to September last he had enjoyed
the implicit confidence of a large circle
OF friends. On that day charges of
heinous nature was preferred against
him, and because of these he was forced
to fee the town.
Last evening he came to this city. and
going to the Revere House. was as
signed to a room on the second floor
He Immediately retired, and nothing was
heard from him during. the night
This morning he was found dead in bed
the gas being turned on full and the key
hole and the cracks of the windows
stopped up.
his friends in Laconia, in which he said
that he had been unable to bear up under
the serious charges that had been pre-
ferred against him and had come to the
an end to his life The Rev. Mr.. Morri-
son had been a resident of Laconia NJ
H, for over five years and for the most
Of that period was the pastor of the Uni
tartan Church of that city. He took
charge of the church when it was in a
declining state, and by energy and per-
slstence materially added TO the
membership and financial strength
of the society. He moved in the
best social circles of the place and he
was an able preacher.
Tie WAS a LQe1HDHT The ElIGrlDlr COM
mandery, K. T., and on the fourth of
September was installed as preiate of
the Commandery. On Thursday of last
week a yeung man who was one of the
many associates of the clergyman be-
came involved in serious trouble with his
employer and went to the clergyman in
order to secure pecuniary assistance. Be-
fore this matter was settled the father of
the young man learned of the matter
and in connection Herewith he was also
informed of the peculiar relations which
were said to exist between the clergyman
and his son. The father at once took
steps which caused the clergyman to
leave the town suddenly last Thursday
The story heard by the father was that
in Laconia and in Lakeport had
on several occasions received
hush money from Morrison and upon this
story were based charges against the
have been going on for the past three
years, and that while the facts were
known to some people in Laconia they
were not generally known His sudden
departure from town undoubtedly saved
him from rough usage at the hands Of
the citizens
Morrison was about thirty years of age,
of gentlemanly appearance. a clever con-
yersationalist and an eloquent preacher.
The residence Of his relatives is not
known here. nor has the place of inter-
thought the body would be taken to La
coma for intermert. He left about dozen
letters. Some were addressed to women
whose names could not be ascertained
from the medical examiner
Most of them were sealed and bore
stamps These were not opened by Ned
ical Examiner Harris and will be mailed
to the addresses. Letters were left to
Hon.. w. f. Knight Of Laconia, n. H;
w. A. Walker. of Haverhill: George w
Dollof. Of Laconia; Charles Al. Bailey. of
Stoneham, Mass; the Rev. W. IL Wande
No. 10 Ashburton place: the Rev. III. n.
Brown, Boston; w. II. Lassone. No. 81
Worcester street, Boston,: George W.
Noyes, Haverhill; the Rev Lucius Water
toWn, Lsaconia.
Hs also left letter directed to Mr.
Sleeper, which was delivered to him this
morning Morrison was without funds.
nickel being the only money found Lii