New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-13
MORRISON UNDER ARREST.
MOUNT VERNON BIGAMIST HELD FOR
GRAND JURY ON CHARGE OF
MURDER IN FIRST DEGREE.


Alfred Morrison. the Mount Vernon teacher
of languages and biganist, who killed his sec
ond wife. Aida Morrison was arrested yester-
day afternoon the charge of murder in the
first degree. He taken from his boarding
house. No Z Rich-ave., Chester Hill, at $40
o'clock by Policemen Grant and Lynch and
Court Marshal Won Garell, to the City Court In
a closed carriage
Long before the arrival of the accused man
the City Court room filled with people anx-
ious to hear the proceedings. Nearly all of the
city officers including the Mayor, were present.
The warrant had been sworn to by Chief of
Police Foley, who information and belief
charged Alfred Morrison, alias Frederick Cor
don with the intentional shooting of his wife on
December %, 1899
The prisoner entered through a rear door and
took place at the bar before City Judge
Schatz. He did not appear to be so near a coll
lapse as had been reported by the policemen
who have been guarding him since ne killed his
wife. When the warrant was read to him ac-
cusing him of the crime Of murder Morrison
trembled perceptibly and tears filled his eyes
But he held firmly to the brass railing sur
rounding the bar and did not break down
Judge Schatz offered to read the dispositions of
the witnesses on which the warrant was issued,
but ex-City Judge Appel, counsel for the ac-
cused man, said that 1t not necessary as
his client waived examination and desired to
have his case submitted to the Westchester
County Grand Jury.
Il desire to state, however" said Judge Ap-
pell, that my client denies the statement con-
tanned in the deposition Of Chief Foley that he
Intentionally killed his wife, and 1 ask that he
be discharged on the ground that ne is not
guilty"
Judge schatz denied the motion and Judge
Appel promptly took exception to the ruling
and with his client and Policemen Grant and
Lynch left the court. carriage took Morrison
and the policemen to the New-York and Harlem
Railroad station, whence they went by train to
White Plains, where the prisoner was lodged in
the county jail to await the action of the Grand
Jury, which will convene on February B. The
prisoner as he was leaving the courtroom was
asked whether he had any statement to make
before going to jail. He replied:
81 don't deserve 1t! I don't deserve 1t! It
all dream, a terrible dream
The District Attorney said that he would pro-
duce in court a witness who heard Morrison tell
the woman after he shot her that she should say
that the shooting was accidental, and that he
had had dream about burglars being in the
house. According to this witness, 1t is said the
woman afterWard admitted that Morrison had
concocted the story of accidental shooting
Chief of Police Foley made the following
statement last night:
The police have the strongest kind of evidence,
and although much Of it Is circumstantal l be-
imnortant discovery was made to-day when Mrs.
Welis neighbor told the District Attorney and
the dying woman the night of the shooting she
saw a large black powder mark on her nightgoWn.
This would indicate that Morrison must have crept
up to his wife in the darkness and fired at her
from close range It certainly disproves his state
ment that he shot her while he was lying In bed
dreaming of burglars and she was in her bed. ten
feet away. 1t is that Mrs. Morrison ex-
onerated her husband, and said that the shooting
was accidental but she had 1t only from his lips
He told her he was dreaming Of burglars. and she
believed him, and repeated 1t to the Coroner doc
tors and neighbors. Mrs morrison never knew OF
her husbands dual life,
When searched In jail Morrison had two pint
easls Of whiskey To a reporter he said in jail:
.sT am innocent and am being bounded by the
napers" Morrison was put in murderers' row