The record-union., 1899-07-24
A WIFE BEATER'S SUICIDE.
CAR CONDUCTOR WIN. NOR
RELL ENDS HIS LIFE.
He Had Been Discharged for His
Brutality, So He Fired a
Fatal Shot.

William Morrell, conductor on car
l09 of the P street line, committed sui
eide at his home in Oak Park yester-
day afternoon by shooting himself
through the head. There was no one
at the car office to answer questions
last night, but the widow, conductors
and others said he was discharged at
IL o'clock yesterday. Newspaper art
icles and citizens complaints had
brought to the company's knowledge
the fact that Morrell was a notorious
wife beater
He was universally despised by the
car men, his associates generally and
the people of Oak Park, because his
abuse of his wife had long been known
to them. OF all who knew him in his
various moods, none of those seen by a
"Record-Union reporter yesterday
evening had a kind word to say of
him, and the only nourner was the
outraged, bruised, beaten, but faithful
widow.
Morrell lived on Cypress avenue, be-
tween Thirty fifth and Thirty-sixth
streets, in a new house which ne had
occupied for only two months with his
wife and little girl of Z years. 1t was
he fired the fatal shot. The story is
best told by F. H. Jenkins of 2221 J
street, who was the first person on
the scene Of the suicide.
Il had known Morrell for many
years, and knew him in the East"
said Jenkins, "for his wife was a
friend Of my folks. / came out here
to see him about o'clock this after
xx-jf1 fo
j. Frisbee of Illinois. Morrell was not
home when we came, but pretty soon
he drove up to the barn and put his
horse away.
He did not seem to care to come in,
so my aunt walked out to the barn
to speak to him. He was friendly, but
told her he did not feel well. In few
minutes he abruptly went into the
house, shut himself in his bedroom and
fired the shot that ended his life.
His wife seemed to know what it
meant, for she said he had often
threatened to kill himself I ran in
and found him dead in the bedroom.
That's all I know about it. He sat on
the bed and fired a shot into his right
temple"
Mrs. Frisbee corroborated Mr.. Jen-
kins' story
Immediately after the tragedy Jo-
seph Calderwood and Mrs. Calderwood
consoled the widow, and she, AMI her
child We're taken to a neighbor's house
The unfortunate woman tainted and
seemed deeply grieved over what
caused others to say We'll DONE
"Morre1 bought the revolver to-
day." said Jenkins, "and many Of us
believe he would have killed his wife
had visitors not been at the house.
He sat on a bale of hay at his barn,
as if in deep thought. His little daugh
ter Inez was with him, and he kissed
her many times. with much affection,
telling her he was going away"
Coroner McMullen was on the ground
within an hour, but the hysterical
widow did not want the dead man s
remains removed, and refused her con-
sent until friends interfered and i'm
pressed on her the fact that the Cor
oner had to perform his duty.
Financial matters caused his bru-
tality," said Jenkins, land the truth
is his little wife took in washing, un-
known to him, and applied her earn
ings to the grocery bill. He objected
if the bill ran over SIS month, and
abused her for it
Among conductors and Oak Parhers
many stories are current concerning
the dead mans brutality. 1t is said
that he broke his wife's shoulder blade
and refused to have doctor treat
her; broke her nose two years ago.
blacked her eyes a week ago, and
knocked her down for appearing Oh
the street before she was well.
Stories of Morrells brutal deeds were
frequent. Car men urged his dis
charge. citizens thought of running him
out of town, and all who knew the man
despised him as an overbearing, ILL
tempered creature. He was selfish
and stingy, if reports are true-a cum
ming, arbitrary man of few kind words.
He was about 80 years of age, and
had no relatives in this country.