The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-28
HIS MOTIVE FOR THE DEED
WISHED TO MARRY A WOMAN
Of WEALTH.
POISONED HIS WIFE WITH STRYCHNINE
Samuel Watrous, Also Hanged for Murder, Said
He was Going to Heaven. Walter
Ford, Who Killed His Sweet
heart Dies Game.


Dallas. Texas, Oct 27-Rev. G. E.
Morrison was hanged at II o'clock to-
day at Vernon, Taxes, for wife murder.
He met his death resignedly. On the
scaffold he said to the select party of
twenty witnesses permitted at the execu-
ton:
II ann innocent. Circumstances over
which / had no control have placed me
in this position. / have taken my trouble
In private to my God / admit that /
have acted indisUeetly. I have done no
worse, however, than hundreds of men
who stand high in the religious, social,
business and official circles of your State.
have done nothing to confess. / am in
the hands of my Maker. He knows
am innocent"
Morison's neck was broken and his
death appeared to be painless.
The crime for which Rev. G. e. Nor
rison paid the death penalty was the
poisoning of his wife in October, 1897.
Ihe motive for the crime was to rid
himself of a pretty, amiable, loving wife.
in order to marry a lady possessed of
means, one hundred thousand dollars of
which was in cash.
Morrison married his deceased wife
about IL years ago. At one time they lived
in California. then i'm Oklahoma Terri
tory, from which place they moved to
Panhandle, Texas, where the crime was
committed He was born and raised in
Illinois and went to school at Carbondale.
There he became acquainted with Miss
Anna Whittelesey, who subsequently,
moved with her parents to Topeka, KAN
sas. In August, previous to the poison
ing Of his wife, in October, 1897 MOri
SON met Miss Whittelesey, his school
days sweetheart, ascertained her fnan-
cial condition and made offer of marriage.
He pretended that his wife had been
dead eleven years, that he had quit
preaching, had been successfully engaged
in the cattle business for eight Years
and owned a ranch near Higgins, Texas.
On his return Ito Texas he began cor
respondence with Miss Whittelesey, urg-
ing the postponing OF marriage, stating
that he had for a number of years, in
tended to come to her when he could do
so honorably, and he believed he could
now see the time. This statement was
made one month before the death of his
wife.
He procured strychnine for the ostensi-
b.e purpose of poisoning animals which
he said were catching his chickens. On
the day previous he had procured a box
of quinine with empty capsules. On Fri
day night before her death, Mrs. Morri-
son went to the Swiss Bell Ringers, leav-
ing Morrison at home, who said he had
to prepare his Sunday sermon. The next
morning he took the strychnine back to
the druggist, telling him that he was
M,
his neighbors' chickens The package
had been opened. Sunday might he
preached and alluded in pathetic man
ner to the PARTING with loved ones at
death. About 10 o'clock that night he
called upon his neighbors for assistance,
announcing the serious illness of his wife
She was found in paroxysIns and spasns
He delayed sending for a doctor, who
arrived after the wife's death. In the
meantime he had kept up his correspond
ence with Miss Whittelesey, writing her
letter two days before the death of
his wife and the day after her burial,
asserting his love in the most lavish
terms.
In the latter letter he announced the
death of his brothers wife and notified
her of his early visit to- Topeka.
On his return from Topeka he was ar
rested, held n few days, was released on
bond and fled. About three months
thereafter he was arrested in Sam Fran
cisco, returned to Texas, tried with Miss
Whittelesey as the main prosecuting wit
ness and given the death penalty.
FOR A DOUBLE MURDER.
Austin, Texas. Oct. 27.-Samuel
Watrous, one of the murderers Of G. w.
Engberg and his wife, was hanged in
the Jail yard here today. Before dying
Watrous said he was going to heaven.
James Davidson, convicted of the same
crime, will be hanged November 9th.
MURDERED HIS SWEETHEART.
ST. Louis. Mo-, Oct. PA special to
the Dispatch from Dallas, Texas,
says:
'Walter Ford, who murdered his
sweetheart. Lucinda Moore at Waco,
Texas, in June, 1898. was hanged in
that city today. He died without falt-
ering."