The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-25
A FEARFUL CONFESSION,
Hiram H. Morrison Said That He Choked
His Wife 10 Death.

BosroN, March 25.-The police net set
tied over Hiram ii. Morrison at Station
last night in an effective manner, under
the guidance OF special oa.cer Gilmore.
e The prisoner confessed TO officer Gil
more and officer Daniel Houghton that
he murdered his wife, Mrs. Florence H.
Morrison, at their home at 1l6 Cambridge
street, Monday afternoon, by stranghng
her to death.
BY his confession the mystery surround,
ing the death of the woman Is cleared
up. save few minor details which Will
undoubtedly lie arranged TO the satisfac-
tion of the police and TO the law today.
Realizing to the fullest possible extent
the importance of the statements he
made, Morrison sat in consultation with
special officer Gilmore, who has charge
of the case since II was first reported 10
the police by the confessed murderer him.
self, and told in detail of the manner In
which he committed the deed.
After Morrison had detailed the story
OF the crime for the first time In most
graphic and picturesque manner, as an
additional safeguard special officer Gil
more summoned TO his presence oihcers
ABBOTT and Danforth, and the prisoner
again related his story.
The crime was first called to the atten-
tion of the police OF Station Monday
night by Morrison himself, who, In calm
and collected manner appeared at the sta
tion house and called Tor an officer.
Yesterday the officers closely cross-ex-
amined Morrison, and he accounted for
his whersa bouts up TO o'clock. Between
that time and the time that the death OF
his wife was reported TO the police at o:5o
he was unable TO explain his whereabouts
IL was apparent that this question was
the all-important one to be settled, and
II remained for Special Officer Gilmore 70
solve It. With his police experience OF
the past TO guiue him, he last night at
$3.50 o'clock called for officer Daniel
Houghton, who was an acquaintance OF
the prisoner.
Morrison was brought into the private
Office OF Captain Westcott. There Omcer
Gilmore'told him the evidence In the pos
ession of the police. step by step he
traced the workings of the department,
and arrived at that point where Morrison
could not account for his whereabouts.
AT this juncture Morrison broke out,
saying, "My head Is in a whirl. lf had
some rest / might be able to remember
some things. My nerves are all un-
strung"
AT once officer Gilmore summoned DR..
Thompson, who prescribed medicine for
the prisoner. lie was taken TO bis CELL
At o'clock he was again brought before
officer Gilmore and officer Houghton.
81 am feeling first rate now. My head
Is perfectly clear" he said, "and can
tell you just what happened. have slept
about SO much," indicating picturesquely
a distance of about four inches on his
hand, "and when woke up everything
came back to me-"
Officer Gilmore told him that he did
not want him to tell anything that would
hurt his case, but that II he was willing
to tell the truth he would be glad to
hear 1t.
swell i will tell you what i know
about the mater. killed my wife. Now
that you have mentioned 1t do remem-
ber passing those two women In the hall
way. was smoking at the time.
az entered the bedroom and went to my
wardrobe for the purpose OF getting an
other stem for my pipe. as the one was
using was loose and the bowl was apt to
drop out.
"When I reached the wardrobe some
object grabbed me- Igrabbed the object.
j was mad and had a strong hand. You
know that when a man Is mad he Is
strong, don't you? Well just grabbed
the object by the neck and forced ii
down-forced II down on the bed"
As Morrison spoke he convulsivcly
twitched his lower jaw and spread out
his fingers to the view OF the officers.
COntln- ing ne salu:
81 waited until the thing was all quiet.
Then i went across the street and took
three or four drinks. thought to myself
that 1 had killed some one. Gould II
have been my wife, / said to myself.
decided that it Yves.
''Of course i wanted to protect myself.
] first went back to the house and made
sure that she was dead and my wife.
Then went to the station house"
After he had finished officer Gilmore
queried him in this manner: "Are you
not pretty sure that you knew it was your
wife when you were choking her?n
'sWell, yes, was the ansve er.
Officer Gilmore they called In Inspec
tor Abbott and officer Danforth. Morri
son was asked to again tell the story. HI
did so in precisely the same language thai
he had at first told 1t.
"That Is all that i can tell tonight, >
said the prisoner. "Perhaps tomorrow
morning ] will remember some lttl,
things that are blank to me now."
During all the time that he was talking
| the prisoner was very earnest In his man
ner. In appearance he Is about 8 feet
inches in height, with weeks growth o
beard on his face. He is bald, with tn,
| execution of fringe OF gray hair abou
| the crown OF bis head. He has deep Sc
| ewes He is about 81 wears of age ant