The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-28

| which I had no control have placed n1e
in this position. 1 have taken my trou-
BILE in private to God. 1 admit chat
] have acted indiscreetly. I have done
no worse however, than hundreds Of
men who stand high in religious, So
clal, business and official circles Of
your state. / have done nothing to
confess. | am in the hands of my
maker and he knows ! am innocent
Morrison's neck was broken by the
1all and his death appeared to be pain
less
The crime for which Rev. G. r. Nor
rlson paid the death penalty was the
poisoning of his wife in October, 1897.
The facts show that for deliberate
hendishness they are almost without
parallel in the annals of criminal jur-
isprudence. The motive for the poison
ing was in order to rid himself of a
pretty, amiable, loving wife, in order
10 marry a lady possessed of large
means, 100000 of which was in cash.
Morrison married his deceased wife
ABOUT II years ago. At one time they
ilVed in California, then in Oklahoma
territory, from which place they moved
to Panhandle, Tex, where the crime
was committed He was born and
raised in Illinois and went to school
at Carbondale. There he became ac-
quainted with Miss Anna Whittlesey
who subsequently moved with her par
ents to Topeka, Kas In August, pre-
vious to the poisoning of his wife in
October, 1897. Morrison met Miss Whit
tlesey, his schoolday sweetheart, ascer-
an offer to her of marriage. He pre-
tended that his wife had been dead il
years, that he had quit preaching, bad
been successfully engaged in the cat
tie business for eight years and owned
ranch near Higgins, Tex.
On his return to Texas he began
correspondence with Miss Whittlesey,
urging his proposition of marriage,
stating that he had for a number Of
years intended to come to her when
he could do so honorably, and he be-
lieved he could now see the time. This
statement was made one month before
the death Of his wife. He procured
of poisoning "varmints," which he said
were catching his chickens On the
DAY previous he had procured a box of
qulnlhe with empty capsules. On Fri
"a! hlght before her death Mrs Nor
rlson went to the Swiss bell ringers,
leaving Morrison at home who said he
mad to prepare his Sunday sermon. The
next morning he took the strychnine
PACK 70 the druggist, telling him chat
ne was afraid to use it for fear he
would poison his neighbours chickens.
Inc package had been opened
SUNDAY night he preached and allud-
cd in a pathetic manner to the part
ing with loved ones at death About
10 O'Clock that night he called upon
his neighbors for assistance, announc-
ing the serious illness of his wife. She
was found in paroXysms and spasnls
He delayed sending for doctor, who
arrived after the wife's death.
In the meantime he kept up his cor
respondence with Miss Whttlesey
a tyxo
the death of his wife and the day of
ter her burial, asserting his love in the
most lavish terms. In the latter letter
he announced the death of his broth
ets VINE and notified her of his early
visit to Topeka. On his return fran
Iopeka he was arrested. held a Few
days, was released on bond and fed.
About three months thereafter he was
arrested IN San Francisco. returned to
Texas, tried with Miss Whittlsey as the
main prosecuting witness, and given
the death penalty.