The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-06
nmoReAS' TO HANG.
,rou,pt Return OF a yerdiot-Prisoners
Name is "Eaines."

pARKrRsBIyRG, w. VA, Nov: g.
The annals OF West Virginia contain no
record OF q crime more horrible than one
committed IN Jackson county, I9I.y ni'tv9
south OF here. ut midnight Tuesday night
IA was a triple murder, committed IN or
der that the murderer might loot MS
In an isolated part Of Jackson county
lived Mrs Edward Green, WIDOW, age9
seventy. her son James. aged twenty, ana
two DAUGHTERS of a former marriage with
FRANCIS Post. OF this family, Mrs.
Green, her son James and one or the
girls were murdered I'm cold blood by
John Morgan, aged twenty-four, farm
hand, engaged on neighbOrlng farm.
Morgan went TO the Green home about
midnight Tuesday night ana aroused the
family and as Mrs. Green opened the door
he struck her fearful hex upon me hetd
with Ratchet, killing her Instantly. AS
the rest OF the family rushed 10 the
scene Morgan struck down the TWO
younger women. Young Green slipped
out another door and Morgan struck out
for him. A few yards from the mouse
he overlook Green and Drained hin with
a mattock. While Morgan was murder
ing Green one of the girls recovered her
self sufficiently to crawl outside OF the
house. where she hid until clock We'd
nesday morning. IN h ,eav,ng th Sic mouse ,,,c4
Tins in horrible manner, then rined the
house and secured $JS. Another teport
says he got 81. 500 in money.
Miss PfOst the girl who crawied oht
in the dark and hid, gave the alarm ana
a posse headed by the sheriff found Nor
gan in q short time, hiding near the
G~cen home. His hands and clothing
were spattered with blood. lie confess
ed and was locked up In the jail. Until
q few years ago Morgan made MS nome
with the Green family.
Hundreds OF people gathered around the
Jail and Morgan's life was spared by the
efforts OF Judge Blizzard who is holding
court there. The judge made an elo-
quent appeal TO the people, and assured
them that a special grand jury would
be called and the prisoner tined at once.
Yesterday morning a special grand jury
indicted Morgan for murder. me pris-
oner was brought into court, an attorney
assigned and jury empaneed. Morgan
pleaded self-defence.
The report that reached here yesterday
that Miss Alice Post, the fourth victim
of Murderer John r. Morgan. of Ripley,
Jackson county, was dead proved untrue.
Her recovery Is probable.
This morning Ripley was crowded with
strangers when court opened. The crowd
during the night. took their seats. and
Morgan was placed in the dock. lie
pleaded not guilty. Court adjourned I'M
Ill go L. NJ. that witnesses might be
secured.
Morgan appeared Indifferent. During
the long recess the spectators kept their
seats in the courtroom.
Miss Alice +. PfOst was the first wit
ness. Her evidence differed little from the
published accounts, except that the muir
derer used an axe instead Of club.
The prisoner testified that he killed his
victims i'm Matilda first
Miss Green and the boy last
The trial lasted hve hours. The jury IN
less than an hour returned a verdict OF
guilty of murder in the first degree, with
out recommendation
The announcement was received with
cheers. All is quiet in Ripley tonight.
Sentence will be passed upon the prisoner
tomorrow.
1t develops that Morgan is not the right
name Of the prisoner, his real name being
Raincs. His mother kept house for man
named Morgan. Of whom his father be
came Jealous and killed, for which he In
turn was killed by a member Of the Nor
gan family.