Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-28
ILLICIT LOVE FOR A HOAA!

|nL|Cn lOVE lux \ NOAAA
Who Had Ben the Sweetheart of His
Boyhood School Days,
AND DESIRE TO POSSESS HER
WEALTH CAUSED REV. c. E.
MORRISON TO POISON HIS
WIFE SHE WAS A LOVING
TRUSTING LITTLE WOMAN AND
TOOK THE DEATH-BEARING
DOSE FROM HER HUSBANDS
HAND-THE WOMAN FOR WHOM
MURDER WAS COMMITTED Sc
CURED MORRISON'S CONVIC-
TIoN, AND YESTERDAY HE
PAID THE PENALTY ON THE
SCAFFOLD.
DALLAS, Texas, October 27.-Rev.
G. E. Morrison was hanged at II o'clock
noon to-day at Vernon, Texas, for wife
murder.
He met his death resignedly. On the
scaffold he said to the select party OF
twenty witnesses permitted at the exc
cution:
Il am innocent. Circumstances over
which l had no control have placed me
in this position. l have taken my
trouble in private to my God. l admit
that have acted indiscreetly. ! 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. l am in. the hands OF my
Maker. He knows / am innocent"
Morrlson's neck was broken and his
death appeared to be painless.
The crime for which Rev. q. r. Nor
rison paid the death penalty was the
poisoning of his wife in October, 1891.
The facts show that for deliberate
fiendishness they are almost without a
parallel in the annals Of criminal juris-
prudence The motive for the poison
ing was in order to rid himself of a
pretty, amiable, loving wife in order to
y
100000 of which was in cash.
Morrison married his deceased wife
about IL 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 Carbonate. There he became ac-
quaintetd with Miss Anna Whittlesey,
who subsequently moved with her par
ents to Topeka, Kan.
In August, previous to the poisoning of
his wife in October 1897, Morrison met
Miss Whitteiesey, his school days sweet
heart, ascertained her financial condition,
and made offer of marriage. He pretend
ed 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
ranch near Higgins, Texas On his re-
turn to Texas he began correspondence
with Miss Whittelesey, urging his propo-
sition 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 be-
fore the death of his wife.
He procured strychnine for the ostensible
purpose of poisoning 'varmints,' which he
said were catching his chickens On the
day previous he had procured a box of
quinine with empty capsules. On Friday
night before her death Mrs. Morrison went
to the Swiss bell ringers leaving Morrison
at home, who said he had TO prepare his
Sunday sermon. The next morning he took
the strychnine back to the druggist, tell
ing him he was afraid TO use il for fear
he would poison his neighbors' chickens.
The package had been opened. Sunday
night he preached and alluded in a pa
thetic manner to the parting of loved ones
at death. About ten o'clock that night
he called upon his neighbors for assist
ance, announcing the serious illness OF his
wife. She was found in paroxysms and
spasms. He delayed sending for doctor,
who arrived after his wifes death. In the
meantime he kept up his correspondence
with Miss Whittelesey. writing her let
ter 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 a few days, was released on
bond, and fled, About three months there
after, he was re-arrested in San Francisco.
returned to Texas, tried with Miss Whit
telesey, as the main prosecuting witness
and given the death penalty.
AUSTIN. Tex, October 27.-Samuel
Watrous, one of the murderers of G.
W. Engberg and his wife, was hanged
in the Jail yard here to-day. Before
dying Watrous said he was going to
heaven. James Davidson, convicted Of
the same crime, will be hanged on No
vember a.
DALLAS, Tex, October 27.-Walter
Ford, who cruelty murdered his sweet
heart, Lucinda Moore, at Waco. Tex,
in June, 1898. was hanged in that city
to-day. He died without faltering.
CHARTERS GRANTED.