Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-29
A MINISTER HANGED.
Convicted of Wife-surder-story of
the Crime.


DALLAS TEN, October g7-Rev g. Il.
Morrison was hanged at p o'clock to-day
at Vernon, Tex, for wfc-murder lie met
his death resignedly. On the scafold he
said TO the select party Of twenty wit
nesses permitted at the execution:
Il am innocent. Circumstances over
which ! had no control have placed me
in this position. i nave taken my trouble
In private to my God. / admit that /
have acted indiscreedy. l have done no
worse, however, than hundreds OF men
who stand high I'm tie religious. Social
business. and official circles Of your
State. have done nothing to confess.
am In the hands Of my Maker. lie knows
/ am innocent"
Morrisons neck was broken. and his
death appeared to be painless
The crime for which Rev. G. T. MORT
son paid the death penalty was the
poisoning of his wife in October. 1891 The
motive for the crime was TO rid himself
Of pretty, amiable, loving wife, IN order
that he might marry a lady possessed OF
means. 10000 Of which was in cash.
Morrison married his deceased wife about
seventeen years ago. At one time they
lived in California. Then they lived in
Oklahoma Territory, from which place
they moved 10 the Panhandle, Texas.
where the crime was committed. He was
born and reared In Illinois, and went 10
school at Carbonate. There he became
acquainted with Miss Anna Whittlessy,
who subsequently moved with her parents
TO Topeka, Kan.
In August previous TO the poisoning Of
his wife. I'm O,tOber. 1897. Morrison met
Miss Whlttlesey. his echool-day sweet
49, al
and made an offer OF marriage. He pre-
tended that his wife had been dead
eleven years; that he had quit preaching,
had been successfully engaged In tho cat
tie business for eight years, and owned
ranch near Higgins Tex. On his return
TO Texas he began correspondence with
Miss Whittesey, urging his proposition or
marriage, stating that he had for num-
Der Of years intended TO come to her
when he could do so honorably, and be-
lieved he could now see the time. This
statement was made one month before
the death Of his wife.
He procured strychnine for the ostensi-
BILE purpose Of poisoning animals, which,
he said, were destroying his chickens. On
the day previous he had procured box
OF quinine, with empty capsules. On Fri
day night before her death Mrs. Morrison
went to the Swiss Bell-Ringers' entertain
ment, leaving Morrison az home, he hay-
ing said ne had to prepare his Sunday
sermon. The next morning no took the
strychnine back to tho druggist, telling
him that he was afraid 70 use Il for fear
he would poison his neighbors' chickens.
The package had been opened.
Sunday night ne preached, and alluded
IN a pathetic manner TO the parting with
loved ones at death. About 10 o'clock
that night he called upon his noighbcrs
for assistance. announcing the serious H.
ness OF his wife. She was found In pa
roxysms and spasms. lie delayed send
ing for doctor, who arrived after the
WIie's death.
In the mean time, he had kept up his
correspondence with Miss Mhittiesey,
writing her a 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 tho
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
bond. and fed. About three months there
after he was arrested IN San Francisco,
returned TO Texas, tried, with Miss Whit
tlesey as the main prosecuting witness
and given the death penalty.