Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-11-06


ing. l killed Matilda first, the old lady
second and Jimmy at the Iog pen.
killed them in self defense. / done the
crime in defending myself.
JOHN F. MORGAN.
Morgan was taken to the court room
this morning at eight o'clock, where he
plead not guilty. He looked well, but
seemed nervous. After making his for
NAL plea, court adjourned until 1870 p.
NJ, in order to obtain some State wit
nesses. Everything is now ready for
speedy trial.
The jury secured last night from a
jury already engaged in another case,
is composed of George Gatchel. A. D.
Arnold, ]. N. Province, ]. w. Lambert,
w L. Saford NJ A. Pinrell, j. d.
Bradley, G.. w. Franklin, A. L. Arnold.
John Alexander, S. D. Carter and J..
B. Casio
1t is understood that Morgan is now
trying to implicate young man named
Andrews in the crime. The crowd is
orderly and all seem disposed to let
the law take its course. There was
considerable demonstration last night,
and should the court lag in the trial
or the jury disagree, Morgan's fate is
sealed
| When court convened at 1:50 both
| sides were ready. and Morgan was
| brought into court surrounded by sew
! eral officers. D. A. Brown, who was
| coroner at the inquest, defended the
| murderer John A. Seaman, prosecu-
tor. presented a splendid case, and al
together the trial only consumed five
| hours.
| After the evidence was given the at
torneys made brief arguments, and the
case was given to the jury, who re-
NAMED out one hour, and returned the
| following verdict: yu;1.
I'VE, the jury, find the Pr degree as
i ty of murder in, thin Indictment"
charged Blizzard. in instructing the
J ,ory. informed them that if they re-
| turned verdict of murder in the first
| degree, it meant death or life impris-
| onment, and if they did not recommend
| life Imprisonment the penalty would be
| death.
Morgan took the verdict coolly and
! appeared unconcerned.
! The daughter of Mrs Green who es-
! capped. although her skull is fractured
| and the physicians probe entered one
half inch, appeared in court and told
| the story of the awful crime.
Morgan's wife and little babe were
! also present and testified in behalf of
! her husband The defense tried to
make out a case of insanity, but fell
| far short.
Morgan's wife told of how he tritd
| to kill her on his return home after
committing the deed.
In the court room were many women
and when the verdict of the jury was
read the crowd cheered for a time, hats
were thrown aloft and it was some time
| before the court could secure order.
Morgan will be sentenced tomorrow
morning.
The statement of Alice Green in
court varies somewhat from her former
statement. She stated that after Nor
gan's return from the pig pen, where
he killed James, he remained in the
house for some time, and then went
out and whistled for James. Return
ing, he entered the kitchen and, secur-
ing the Ratchet, dealt her sister Matilda
blow on the head, knocking her down.
He then struck her. but she fed. Nor
gan again struck Matilda as she lay on
~, ,.,,,, floor, screaming for Alice to get the
S"'i "t.N nm iii e'i'N oa,,l1 90 by I q
lamp-light from where she was Hiding
in the chicken coop, that Morgan was
going tC her mothers room, and pretty
soon Morgan came out on the porch,
followed by old Mrs Green. who was
trying to defend herself, and where
she was afterwards struggling in a pool
OF blood by John Chancey, to whose
house Alice had fed for help.
The trial will 60 down IN history as
one netting out the swiftest justice to a
murderer ever known in the annals of
criminal history in West Virginia.
w. A. E.