The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-28
TEXAS HANGS THREE
Most Notable Victim Being the
Rev. G. {. Morrison
CONVICTED OF POISONING
His Wife That He Might Wed
a Weather Woman.

st. Louis No, Oct. ga special to the
Post-Dispatch from Dallas, Texas, says:
Rev. c. E. Morrison was hanged at L
o'clock, noon, today at Vernon, Texas,
for wife murder He met his death re-
signedly. On the scaffold he said to the
select party of twenty witnesses permit
ted at the execution: 81 am innocent.
Circumstances over which 1 had no con-
troll have placed me in this position. L
have taken my trouble in private TO my
God. l admit that 1 have acted indis-
creetly 1 have done no worse, however,
than hundreds of men who stand high in
the religious, social, business and official
circules of your state. I have done moth
ing to confess. am in the hands OF my
Maker. He knows l am innocent.
Morrison's neck was broken by the fall
and his death appeared to be painless.
Vernon, Tex, Oct N.-The crime for
which Rev c. E. Morrison paid the death
penalty here today 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
criminal Jurisprudence The motive for
the poisoning was in order to rid himself
of a pretty aimable, loving wife, in order
to marry Miss Anna Whittelsey, lady
possessed of large means, 100000 OF
which was in cash. When Morrison met
Miss Whittlesel, his school-days sweet
heart, he ascertained her financial con-
dition and made offer of marriage. he
pretended that his wife had been dead
eleven years, that he had quit preaching,
had been successfully engaged in the cat
tie business for eight years and owned
a ranch near Higgins, Texas. On his re-
turn to Texas he began a correspondence
with Miss Whittelsey, urging his propo-
sition of marriage. He procured strych-
nine for the ostensible purpose OF pols-
oning "varmints," which he said were
catchin his chickens. On the day previ-
Gus he had procured box Of quinine with
empty capsules On Friday night before
he death Mrs Morrison went TO the Swiss
Bell Ringers, leaving Morrison al home,
who said he had to prepare his Sunday
sermon. The next morning he took the
strychnine back to the druggist, telling
him that he was afraid to use 1t for fear
he would poison his neighbours chickens.
The package had ben opened. Sunday
night he preached and alluded in pa
thetic manner to the parting with loved |
ones at death. About 10 o'clock that night
he called upon his neghbors for assis-
lance. announcing the serious illness OF
his wife. She was found in paroXysms /!
and spasms. He delayed sending for |
DOCTOR who arrived after the wife's |
death. In the meantime he kept up his |
correspondence with Miss Whittlesey, |
writing her letter two days before the |
death of his wife and the day after her |
burial. asserting his love in the most law |
ish terms. In the latter letter he an !
nounced the death of his brothers wife |
and notified her of his early visit to To- |
peka On his return from Topeka he was
arrested, held few days, was released
on bond. and fed About three months
thereafter he was re-arrested in San
Francisco, returned to Texas, was tried,
with Miss Whittlesey as the main prose-
cutting witness, and given the death pen
atty.
St. Louis. No, Oct. PA special to the
from Austin, Texas, says:
Samuel Watrous, one of the murderers of
G. W. Engberg and his wife, was hanged
In the Jail yard here today. Before dying
Watrous said he was going to Heaven.
James Davidson, convicted of the same
crime will be hanged on November "a
St. Louis. Mo, Oct ga speciu to the
from Dallas. Texas, says:
Walter Ford, who cruelty murdered his
sweetheart, Lucinda Moore, at Waco. in
June, 1898, was hanged In that city to-
day. He died without faltering, saying
he was going straight to Heaven.