The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-22
CHARGED WITH
WIFE MURDER.
Rev. A. E. Morrison of Panhan-
die, Texas,
Is Arrested in the Topeka Post
office Lobby
WHILE GETTING NAIL.
Detectives Had Been on His
Track For Some Time.
He Was Here During the Re-
cent Fall Festival,
And Renewed an Old Love At
fair With a Topeka Girl.
LEFT HERE OCTOBER 4
Four Days Later His Wife
Died Suddenly.
Had Promised to Return Short
Iy to His Old Sweetheart.

y
of medium height, dressed in good
clothes and having the appearance of a
refined person, walked into the post
office and asked the lady at the general
delivery window: rs there anything
here for A E. Morrison, Rev. A. E.
MorrisOn?"
The latter nodded her head and hand
ed him letter. AS Rev. A. E. Morr1-
son turned to leave the window, Detec-
tive James KessOh stepped up to him
and said: Mr.. Morrison consider your
self under arrest" The minister was
much surprised at tnis and he quickly
made some mistake" You will have TO
go with me to police station said kes-
son, land then we can find out further
about this
The man demurred, but finally agreed
to go with the detective. At police sta
ton Chief Steele took the man to ms
private Office and there informed MIN
that he had been arrested on the tele-
graphic order of the sheriff at Panhan-
die Texas, on the charge OF murder.
Rev. A. =. Morrison started back much
affected and denied that there could be
such a charge against him. The chlef
then showed him two kilograms he had
received ordering his arrest. For safe
keeping he was taken to the county
Jail.
Chief Steele talked with the prisoner
but the latter was not inclined to DIS
Rev. A E. Morrison is to be taken back
to Texas, is that of wife murder. On
October 8 last his wife at Panhandle
died suddenly after an illness OF just
four hours Soon after that Mr.. Nor
rison left Penhandle and upon inVestl-
CATION it was deemed advisable to de-
tain him. His whereabouts were un-
known until a short time ago when it
was found that he was receiving mail
at Topeka. Detective KessOn had been
watching for him some time when he
\ hi Gseafr fl,Xy
Rev. A E. Morrison was in topeka
during the Fall Festival While here
he called upon Miss Anna Whittlesey,
who is a sister of the WhittleSey broth-
ers who run a grocery at Second and
Madison streets. They had met at a
school years ago in Illinois and at that
time they formed for each other a
warm friendship.
When the preacher came to Topeka
during the Fall Festival he renewed
his prOtestations of love. The family
did not take to him but they did not
make any great objection. The couple
were together great deal and it is
said they were betrOthed- On October
4 the Rev. A. F. Morrison came to the
WhittIesey residence at Second and
Madison streets and stated that he
would have to leave Immediately for
Texas as he had cattle there which
were dying rapidly with Texas fever
He said he would return. 1t is said
that he was to have been married to
Miss Whittlesey during the Fail Festi-
peka October q and on October 8 his
wife died at Panhandle, Texas. He
again came to Topeka October "a and
registered at the Fifth Avenue hotel.
He made frequent calls upon Miss
WhittIesey. Last Saturday he brought
a horse and phaetOn to the w WhIttIeSey
residence and put them in the barn
He told Miss Anna Whittelsey that he
would give her that.
1t is said that the marriage date was
set for some time near Christmas. That
Cd
terward an owner appeared for the
horse and phaeton. The revered man
had not paid for it.
To Chief Steele, Mr.. Morrison admit
ted that his wife had died very sud
denly in Texas. He also admitted that
he had been keeping company with
Miss Whittlesey. In searching him,
the police found several deeds for land
in Texas, which, however, did not have
the official signatures on them He
had his ordination and installment pa
pers as a Methodist preacher and a
clergyman's railroad half fare pass. The
theory of the officers is that Rev A. E.
Morrison is a much married man. He
was married to a woman some ten
years ago and lived in California. This
wife is said to have died suddenly. The
officers say that they think he lost his
nerve as the date of his marriage aD-
preached and that if he murdered his
wife as charged, he did it to clear his
title for the new marriage. This even
ing the sheriff from Panhandle will ar
rive and upon receiving requisitiOn pa
pers from Gov. Leedy, viii take him
back to Texas.
Mr Harry Whittlesey, a brother of Miss
Anna WhIttlesey, sald today to re-
porter: This is a case in which I do not
ike to say anything. OF course it is not
any of our fault that the man is in trOu-
bIe I will tell you something about it.
Ny sister Anna met this fellow years ago
in Illinois They attended the same
school. They became we'll acquainted.
Some time ago he came to Topeka and he
called upon my sister We were not pleas
ed with his appearance but no serious. OBJ
lection was made. I didn't like his looks.
The old friendship was renewed, much TO
our dissatisfaction. Saturday, much
against our wishes. he brought a horse
and buggy here and put in our barn for
our sister AS soon we found out
about it we returned it to its owner.
'Of course we didn't know anything
about him. My sister had known him.
and it was the old friendship renewed.