Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1897-11-20
CLINTON'S MYSTERIOUS
....JUROR=DOCTOR....
EEEaz

Even as far back as 1870 Clinton was
one of the most important interior
towns of Missouri Its people have al
ways been hospitable to the stranger
and encouraging to newcomers. 3"
Therefore, when ID. 7. II. Morrison.
young, handsome and skilled in his pro-
fesSion, sought home in Clinton in the
fall of 1870 and hung out his shingle,
he was not pestered by the usual ques-
tons of curious old women as to Wheth-
er or not he was married. nor by the
often embarrassing inquiry of garru-
lOuS old men about his antecedents and
prospects. In fact. nobody bothered
Doctor Morrison with prying questions
of any nature when he rented and
handsomely fitted up an office in the
principal building of the town. Every
body he met extended Il warm welcome
to him and hoped he would do well.
Even the medical fraternity. headed by
Doctor Britt, joined in welcoming Doc
tor Morrison TO Clinton, and besides
manifeSting natural interest to know
from what college he had obtained his
Diploma. none of the doctors in cOmpe-
tition with whom he was bound sooner
or later to come annoyed him with
questions about his former home or
how long he had been practicing.
From the very first there was an air
of mystery about Doctor Morrison
which less gentle people than those of
Clinton would have insisted upon pene-
trating. He was reserved in manner,
answered politely but in monosyllableS
all questions asked of him. showed
neither interest nor contempt for the
affairs of others. kept "A light burning in
his office hours every night after even
the night owls of the town had gone
to bed, formed no companionships, yet
was agreeable and always approacha-
bic. and in a thousand other ways de
ported himself In such a manner as
would have excited to the point Of fren-
Nv the curiosity of the ordinary coun-
try town. Some of the more gossipy
Clintonites predicted when Doctor Nor
rison first hung out his single that he
wouldn't stay in the town long, for the
reason that nearly all of the doctors
then there except Doctor Britt were
almost starving to death One of
them tentatively remarked this to Doc
tor Morrison one day, and the Doctor
only smiled and said something about
she supposed he would manage some
how to live"
Weeks rolled into months, and snll
not citizen of Clinton or of Henry
County called Doctor Morrison to at
tend a case of sickness. Sui ne con
tinued to live at the principal hotel ana
TO he the best dressed man in town. lie
u-ore Prince Albert suit of black and
shimmering silk stovepipe hat lie
Maid all of his bills promptly, ana ask
ad nobody for the loan of dollar. II
ho had an account at the bank there is
no record of it. 1t is remembered that
ba bought four new suits year one
for each season, though he always
draesad in solemn black, and that the
how who cared for his horse and buggy
always got his pay promptly. lie al
tended all the meetings of the town
ond district medical societies ana as
coursed learnedly on the various phases
If therapeutics. He was regular at
tondant at church. showing no denomi-
national bias and patronizing the fairs
of all churches alike. His conduct was
~ oonteeI in all respects as to dlsarm
irving curiosity, even if the people OF
Clinton had possessed their full snare
f+ho+ common human trait. His walk
and talk were too conventional to give
~ieo 70 unusual comment or to excite
undue interest in him.
doctor Morrison was permltteu 10
uro his life in Clinton as he saw NJ 10
i've f. AS before remarked, nobody
hotbered him with questions about MS
49, or future. Not a soul in the town
p~cent himself knew where he came
80, In the course of year MAJOR
e,s,.r,on observed that Doctor MORRISON
rnnnaged to get on every jury except
tho Grand jury, summoned IN Henry
tnS He also noticed that every
,""r Of which Doctor Morrison was a
1ul hor returned verdicts that were de-
u,erod Inv the lawyers TO be the most
enrnrising in the history OF 1urispru-
So,p The Major remarked TINS 70
uent Rritz one day and that worthy
Gentleman said he was gong " Nl"AS