The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-12-08
Murderer Morgan Free.

PARRERsBURG, w. Va, Dec. 3.-John
Morgan, alias Raines. the triple murder
er Of the Greene family in Jackson county,
who was sentenced to hang December I6,
escaped from the Ripley Jail this morning.
The greatest excitement was aroused all
over the county when Morgan's escape
became known, and crowds Of men start
ed after the murderer from every hamlet
in the county.
The escape was iGade between the hours
Of u and a. IN. by means of dummy
fixed in Morgan's cell cot. Morgan re-
tired at 5 o'clock last evening, and asked
the guard not to waken MIN for supper.
lie left his shoes alongsidethe stove in his
cell. Morgan told the guard that he want
ed 10 take a long sleep. Frank Riley was
~ turn as death watch when he retired.
lie left the murderer alone, asleep as he
supposed, for a few minutes, during the
evening Morgan seized the opportunity
and quickly arranged a dummy Of some
old clothes which he covered up in the
bed. Then he climbed on top Of the cell
cage and waited for the night watch, Phil
io Riley, to come on. In the meantime
Aiorgan's supper had been put in his cell
by one of the Jail attendants, who left the
cell door unlocked. Philip Riley looked
in Morgan's cell at u o'clock and mistook
the dummy for the murderer. Later he
went out of the jail corridor 70 eat lunch
aud while tins engaged he heard one of
the hsll doors in the Jail open and close
lie did not pay any attention to the noise,
thinking that Morgan was sound asleep.
II is supposed now that Morgan wake:
out Of the Jail while Philip Riley was
eating lunch. The escape was not discov-
cred until , a IN.
Morgan had S2j in money, which he re-
ceived fora confession Of his crime and
the story OF his life, when he escaped. and
was wearing the suit ofclothes he expect
ed to hang in. He was tracked to his
home, where he got double barrel shot
gun. which he loaded with buekshot and
left for the hills, after stealing a horse
and threatening to kill his wife If she in
formed on him. Il is known that Morgan
viii tight desperately before being cap
the pursaers more determined
Morgan murdered Mrs. Marian Greene,
her son James Greene. and Matilda PfOst,
a daughter by former marriage. az Grass
Lick n Jackson county, on November
8. For anmber of years he had beer
given home by Mrs. Greene. He
wanted 10 marry Sne of the daughters
and when his suit was rejected he left the
Greene homestead, though apparently
without any bad feeling, and often visited
at the house. The night before the nIur-
der he slept there. In the morning he
went into the fields with James Greene
and killed him. He returned TO the house.
and while Mrs. Greene was upstairs he
slaughtered Matilda PfOst with hatchet.
Alice PfOst was struck with the hatchet
but escaped. Morgan then killed Mrs
Greene. He made little effort 30 escape,
and would have been lynehed but for
speedy trial promised by Judge Reese
Blizzard. 1t was just - hours after the
commission of the crime until Morgan
was sentenced to hang. At his trial Nor
gan pleaded insanity
MORGAN CAPTURED
PARKERsBURG, w. Va, Dec 5.-John
Morgan was captured last evening near
Walton by Constable Crum, Of Jackson
county. He made no resistance, but SEEM
ed greatly terrified. He begged the ofii-
GERS to protect him from the mob. Crum
got a strong posse Of armed men and took
the prisoner 10 Spencer. The people
there, learning by telephone that Morgan
was captured and on his way TO that town
turned out en- masse, openly threatening
10 lynch him.
Instead Of taking the prisoner in over
the main road the posse went around by
paths and got Morgan into town before
they were seen. Thousa nds Of men be-
gan 10 shout Lynch him!' but Crum and
the sheriff surrounded Morgan and
marched in hollow square, guns and
pistols to the front, up to the Jail and sue
ceeded in landing their prisoner safely.
They then surrounded the prisoner and
kept everybody away.
Congressman Miller, who arrived from
Ripley this afternoon, thinks that no fur /
ther demonstration viii be made and that /
Morgan viii be allowed TO legally hang |
on December Is.