Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-04

When Supper Time Come -6ooe
a Horse Away and Got Good
Start Before the Escape Was Dis
covered-Every Effort Making to
Recapture Him.
Special to the Register.
klpley, w. Va, December 3.-Wheres
Morgan?" "He has escaped" These
were the words that rang out on the
surroundings in the Jackson county
Jail shortly after last midnight, when
the death watch over John w. Morgan
were making Shift for the night.
The escape occurred between o'clock
and midnight.
The condemned man was in charge of
Charley Jewett and Jailor Riley, He
told them he was going to bed and not
to wake him for supper. Morgan had
paced dummy in his bed before he
SO informed the guards, who had been
playing checkers, and then, climbing
upon the cage, awaited the shift. Upon
the cage was the suit of clothing to
be worn by him when he was executed,
and, attiring himself in the new cloth
ing, waited until the guards left his
CELL They peered at the dummy and
locked the cell and left, leaving the jai,
door unlocked, as Morgan knew was
the custom. Clamboring down, he
walked out unnoticed.
He had received $25 from o. ]. Nor
rison just before his escape, for his
confession.
Sheriff Shinn, who lives two miles
from the Jail, was notified and is using
every effort to recapture Morgan, but
as he is familiar with the country he
will make difficult fugative to recap
ture
Morgan is the murderer of Mrs
Chloe Greene and her daughter and
son, near Grass Lick, the murder hav-
ing been committed only recently, and
he was sentenced to hang on December
16, Just two weeks from the time of his
escape. Ever since his attorney in
formed him Governor Atkinson would
not interfere with the verdict on his
plea of insanity, he has acted very
suspicious, and his guards were appar-
emily very careful in their watch, but
Morgan's cunning thwarted their dill
gence and one Of the most brutal MUIR
derers ever known in the history of the
State is at large.
The most intense excitement exists
in Ripley, and as soon as the escape
became known, crowds gathered and
posses were started out in every direc-
ton, and from the threats that were
heard, Morgan will not have a chance
to cheat the gallows if he is caught.
The escape was easily accomplished,
but betokens a shrewdness on Nor
gan's part that will dispel any doubts
as to his sanity.
Morgan's father, when confined in
Jail awaiting his execution several
years ago, made a similar escape, and
it is believed when Morgan related
this to Morrison in making his con-
fession, that it occurred to him that
he could do the same, and he tried it,
with the result that he is now breath
ing the pure air of freedom among the
hills of old Jackson.
Morgan left his shoes and hat near
the stove to deceive the guards
Flood hounds were brought up from
Huntington and are on the trail of the
fugitive. After escaping he was track
ed to his home. having stolen horse
from a farmer soon after escaping.
At his home he procured a shotgun,
which he loaded heavily and left in
the direction of the mountains. He
threatened death to his family if they
made any cutlery or informed on him,
and had several hours start. 1t is be-
lieved that he will fight to the death
rather than be taken alive. The citi-
zens are doing all in their power to
capture him, and will take him dead
or alive.
News Ncomes tonight to the effect
that Morgan was overtaken late this
afternoon by Sheriff Shinn and his
posse. and after hot fight. in which
the sheriff was badly wounded by the
gun in Morgan's hands, the triple
murderer was shot by Shinn and al
most instantly killed.
WATCHING THE TRAINS.
Special to the Register.
Huntington, w. Va, December s.
Officials from Jackson county are here
tonight on the lookout for John Nor