Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-10-28
A PREACHER HANGED.

! AS stated in the Gazette of that date
Rev. G. E Morrison was hanged at
Vernon, Tex, yesterday for wife MUIR
der. He met his death resgnedly. On
the scaffold ne said to the selec. party
Of twenty witnesses permitted at the
execution:
II am innocent. Circumstances over
which had no control have placed me
in this position. I have taken my
trouble in private to my God. l admit
that have acted indiscreetly. have
done no worse, however, than hun
dreds of men who stand high in the re-
lieious, social, business and official Cir
Giles of your State. / have done moth.
| ing to confess. l am 10 the hands of
nv Maker. He knows / am innocent"
Morrison's neck was broken and HE
death appeared to be painless.
The crime for which Rev. &. r. Nor
rson paid the death penalty was the
poisoning of mis- wife in October, 1897
The motive for the crime was to rid
himself of pretty, amiable, loving
wife, in order to marry lady possessed
| of means, one hundred thousand dol
lars OF which was in cash.
Morrison married his deceased wife
bout seventeen years ago. At one
ime 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
1T Carbondale. There he became &C
uuainted with Miss Anna Whitteesey,
who subsequently, moved with her
parents to Topeka, Kan. In August,
previous to the poisoning OF his wife,
10 October, 1897, Morrison met Miss
Whittelesey, his school days sweet
heart, ascartained her financial coDd-
ton and made offer of marriage. He
pretended that his wife had been dead
eleven years, that he had quit preach
ing, had been successfully engaged in
the cattle business for eight years and
owned a ranch near Higgins, Tex. On
lis return to Texas he began a CORE
spondence with Miss Whittelesey, urg-
ing his proposition of marriage, stating
that he mad for number Of years in.
tended to come to her when he could
do so honorably, aud he believed be
could now see the time. This state
ment was made one month before the
death OF his wife
He procured stry chpine for the o.
tensible purpose of poisoning animals,
which he said were catching his chick
ems. On the day previous be had pro
cured box of quinine with empty cap
sules. Ga Friday night before her
death Mrs. Morrison went TO the Swiss
Bell Ringers, leaving Morrison at
home, who said be had to prepare his
Sunday sermon. The next morning he
took the strychnine back to the drug.
gist, telling him be was afraid to use i.
Tor fear he would poison his neighbours
chickens. The package had been
opened. Sunday night he preached
and alluded in pathetic manner to
the parting with loved ones at death.
About ten o'clock that night he called
upon his neighbors for assistance, an
nouncing the serious illness of his wife.
She was found in paroxysms and
spasms. He delayed sending for doc
tor, who arrived after the wiie's death.
In the meantime he had kept up his
correspondence with Miss Whittelesey,
writing her 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 the
death OF his brothers. wife and notified
her of his early visit to Topeka.
Ga his return from Topeka be was
arrested, held few days, was released
on bond and fled, About three months
thereafter he was rearrested in San
Francisco, returned to Texas, tried,
with Miss Whittelesey as the main
prosecuting witness, and given the
death penalty.
MILD FoRM.-One of the best known
and most prominent physicians in
Richmond yesterday said that there
were q great maIy sporadic cases of