The San Francisco call., 1899-10-28
DIES PROTESTING
HIS INNOCENCE
Rev. @. E. Morrison Exc
cuted for Murder.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

DALLAS. Tex, Oct. 27-Rev. C. e Nor
rison was hanged at u o'clock noon to-
day at Vernon, Tex, for wife murder. He
met death resignedly. On the scaffold
he said TO the select party OF twenty wit
nesses permitted at the execution:
II am innocent. Circumstances over
which have no control have placed me in
this position. have taken my trouble in
private TO my God. l admit that I have
acted indiscreetly. I have done no worse,
however than hundreds Of men who
stand high in the religious, social, busi-
ness and official circles of your State. I
have done nothing to confess. 1 am in
the hands of my Maker He knows am
innocent"
Morrison's neck was broken by the fall
and his death appeared to be painless.
VERNON, Tex, Oct. 27.-The crime for
which Rev. G. r. Morrison paid the death
penalty was the poisoning of his wife in
October, 1897. The facts show that for
deliberate fiendishness they are almost
without parallel in the annals of Grim
inal jurisprudence. The crime was COM
mftted in order to rid himself Of a pretty,
amiable, loving wife, in order to marry
a woman possessed Of large means, 100000
of which was In cash.
Morrison married his deceased wife
about seventeen years ago. At one time
they lived 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 acquainted with Miss
Anna Whittelsey, who subsequently,
moved with her parents TO Topeka, Kans.
In August, previous to the poisoning of
his wife in October, 1897, Morrison met
Miss Whittelsey, his schoolday sweet
heart ascertained her financial condition
nd offer Of marriage He
tended that his wife had been dead eleven
years, that he had quit preaching, had
business for eight years and owned
ranch near Higgins, Tex. On his return
to Texas he began a correspondence with
Miss Whittelsey, 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
believed he could now see the time. This
statement was made one month before
the death of his wife
He procured strychnine for the osten-
sible. purpose of poisoning 'yarmints,"
ems. On the day previous he had procured
a box of quinine with empty capsules. On
the Friday night before her death Mrs.
Morrison went to hear the Swiss bellring-
ers, leaving Morrison at home He said
he had to prepare his Sunday sermon.
The next morning he took the strychnine
afraid to use ii for fear he would poison
his neighbors' chickens. The package had
been opened.
On Sunday night he preached and allud-
ed in a pathetic manner to the parting
with loved ones at death. About 10 o clock
that night he called upon his neighbors
for assistance, announcing the serious III
ness of his wife. She was found in
spasms. He delayed sending for a doctor,
who arrived after his wife's death
In the meantime he kept up his corre-
spondence with Miss Whittelsey, writing
her a letter two days before the death Of
his wife and one the day after her burial
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 a few days. was released on
bonds and fed. About three months there
after he was rearrested in San Francisco,
returned to Texas, tried with Miss Whit
telsey as the main prosecuting Witness
and given the death penalty.