The Red Cloud chief., 1897-10-15
MORGAN Is HANGED.
SAYS NO WORT MS TO HIS
GUILT OR INNOCENCE.
In Ills Gailows speech Tie said lie Was
Ready to Dic-The Sad iHpectacie
Viewed by Many Ills Last Words
Wonderful Composure to the Last.

George ". Morgan, the murderer Of
eleven ycar-old Ida Gaskell on the Sd
of November. 1895, in n dilgpidatcd
and ~unoccupicd house at 1907 Half
Howard street, Omaha, last Friday
paid the penalty OF his crime. lie met
his end with apparent fcarlessness in
the full hope of future spiritual we'll
being aud without having uttered a
syllable to indicate guilt or innocence.
MT least so far as his uttcranccs on the
scanold are concerned.
The report of the death watch says
that the condemned man passed the
night in a composed slumber that left
him much refreshed to meet the dawn
Of his last day of life. lie awokc at q
u. m, when Father Peters. the veneer
able Catholic priest who has served as
his spiritual advisor, called and held "a
conversation of considerable length
with him His conference with the
priest left Morgan in splendid spirits
and he had soon dressed himself in u
new black suit that had been provided
for the function of the day. He wore
~ frock coat with u rundown collar
aud black bow tic. After having com
plcted his toilet with care, he ate the
breakfast that was brought MIN com
prising eggs. oysters, coffee and bread,
and appeared to be refreshed thereby.
The approaches to the Jail were
guarded by policemen, but in spite of
that fact when the hour for the ordeal
arrived the walled enclosure, thirty
feet long and twenty-four feet wide,
was crowded with spectators who had
on one prctext and another secured
admission.
Upon reaching the scuffold Morgan
ut once placed himself upon the drop,
but n moment later was led to the rail
ing to speak.
II was difficult for the observer to
conceive that this man was about To
die. lie was certainly u fine looking
man, tall, erect inc well formed,
weighing probably $50 or 1870 pounds,
with broad high forehead. glossy black
hair and heavy black mustache and .
coniposure that was truly wonderful.
As he spoke his voice ut times trem-
blcd slightly. and his features twitchcd
perceptibly, but only for a moment.
hut once or twice did he falter and he
controlled his emotion until he uttered
his last words, which were addressed
as "a farewell to his attorney. Then IL
was that he burst into tears and cov-
cred his face with his hands. in one of
which he held n crucifix, which he
placed upon his forehead.
A young lady seated in II window of
the Jail took down his last words and
witnessed the execution. just before
speaking Morgan took out his hand
kcrchief and wiped his face. This he
repeated several times while talking.
Holding aloft the hand containing
the crucitiX and locking upward, Nor
gan exclaimed: AS God is my wit
ness | have told all, and this is my tcs-
timony that my soul is prepared to GO
to heaven. Friends. ! ask you all to
pray for me. Farewell, Mr.. Patrick. -
n q look of anguish ovcrspread his
features.
They were the last words he uttered.
Good bye, George came from the
attorney, who stood near the Jail door,
twenty feet away in the crowd.
The officers laid hold of Morgan and
directed his steps back upon the trap.
He folded his arms, the black cap was
slipped over his head, his arms and
legs were strapped. the priests mean
while mumbling their Offices until they
were interrupted by a swapping sound
as the trap sprang and n kissing Of the
rope as the body shot downward.
The scaffold had done its work per-
fectly. There was not u culver Of n
limb nor movement of muscle. The
crowd surged forward toward the
scaffold TO get n closer view the sway
ing body. In ten minutes the physi.
clans pronounced him dead. The body
was cut down and turned ovcr to I'm
dcrtaker Taggart. Before his death
Morgan had b~cqueathed his remains to
Father Peters.