The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-10-03
CHATS AND 3 KETCHES
About Town and Elsewhere.
THE ANTI-MAsoNIC CRUSADE OF
1926 '32.

Upon the first OF October, 1927, GOV.
De Witt Clinton, (who was Mason ot
high degree), issued his proclamation
removing Sheriff e. Bruce, who bad
been concerned in the abduction of
Morgan. An incidt Mt of an unlocked
for, and in its consequences, OF most
extraordinary character, followed close-
w The heels of this proclamation. Ga
the seventh of October, the BODY OF n
stranger who had been drowned and
washed ashore by the surf was discover
ed on the beach of Lake O1lario, at
Oak Orchard Greek, about 40 miles
from Niagara, on the American terri
tory. 1t was thereupon decently in.
tered. II was much bloated and in a
highly putrid state when found. SO
far, there was nothing worthy Of note
in the occurrence.
The little mound had hardly been
raised and the turf planted on the
strangers grave, before it was unluck-
lily suggested by somebody, that the
body might possibly be that Of William
MorgsnI The name was no sooner
pronounced than the report spread, with
lightning rapidiiy, that Morgan's body
had been washed ashore at Oak Or
chacd Creek, and that he was hastily
buried by those who had known him
while living. "The utter improbable
ity"-O quote from the distinguished
Atti-Mason whose book l have already
referred to)-"or rather the physical
impossibility, that the body o! drown
ed man could have been so far pre-
served in the waters of the lake, from
the hunger of the fishes, the action of
the waves and the heat of summers
sun for the long period of thirteen
months, as to be identified, seems never
once to have occurred to the people on
this occasion. 1t was iercely contend
ed that Heaven itself had directly in
terpOsed miracle, that "the hand OF
justice might be laid upon the guilty
murderersl' The whole countryside
rang with the exclamation, Morgan is
foundi Morgan is fOundl'
AS soon as the news reached Roch-
ter and Batavia, several committees of
investigation fastened to the spot, and
on Saturday, The 18Th of October, the
body was disinterred and examined. A
variety of striking re-emblAnces was
at once discovered between the body,
putrld, black, and bloated as it was,
and their TecOllectionS OF William Nor
gan. Mrs. Morgan was sent for, with
other witnesses from Rochester aud
Batavia, who had known Morgan dur
ing his lifetime. On Monday, October
Is, a second inquest was held, in the
midst of large and excited collection
of people. The examinations were
long and minute-several witnesses
who had known Morgan were sworn,
among whom were two physicians of
whom he had been q patient. Mrs.
Morgan pronounced it to be her bus.
bands body. 1t was bald, and had
gray beard, with long, gray hairs in the
ears. 1t had much hair upon the
breast-the left arm had the mark of
incubation upon it - the teeth we're
"dopble all round and in oil their
points the resemblsnces were said to
be perfect. Two of Morgau's teeth had
been extracted. The dentist who had
extracted them was present, having the
teeth with him! The body had had
two teeth extracted on the same side
of the face, and the teeth brought by
the dentist fitted the cavities exactly.
A surgical operation had been per-
loIneu upOu Vic piS lOo vi IHe leAV
foot, which gave it peculiar contor
nation; and precisely 80 it was said to
be with the body under examination.
Only one difficulty remained, and that
was a mere trifel There was not a
single article of the clothes found on
the deceased, that had belonged to
Morgan. Neither the shoes, stockings,
shirt, cravat, vest, coat nor pantaloons,
corresponded with those of Morgan, in
form, texture, or material. A number
of religious tracts was found in the
pockets; not of American, but OF En-
glish print, and issued by the Brit
ish Tract Society,""
These discrepancies, however, were
not of the least consequence The in
vestigators had come to find Morgan's
body, and they had found it'll And as
for the stranCe clOthinp-'tthe Mason