Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1901-03-22
.OOKS LIKE MURDER
p. I. McGann Kills J. L. Morrison in
. Land Dispute.
|sHoT HIM In THE BACK.
|EcGann Ordered Morrison off the
Ground and Then Shot Him as
he was Leaving.

Lewiston, March 18.--The body
III John Il, Morrison, who was kill
I'd near Stuart last Tuesday by
Daniel McGann, arrived on the
Clearwater train last evening The
body had been brought from the
scene Of the killing on pack horse
10 Stuart and was embalfned there
by G.. J. Vassar, Of the Lewiston
Undertaking & Furniture Co. The
remains were met here by Mr.. and
Mrs. c. H. Edwards, Of Missoula,
Mrs. Edwards being sister Of the
deceased, The body will be in
tered in the city cemetery here,
4 the funeral being held from the un-
dertaking parlors at 2:30 o'clock
81 This afternoon.
r. Fitting, pf stuart, accompa-
4 hied the remains to this city yes
terday, He was neighbor Of
Morrison and was one Of the first
parties to reach the scetie after the
tragedy occurred. He was also a
member OF the coroner's jury which
found that the killing of Morrison
was committed by McGann with
criminal intent. The preliminary
examination of McGahn on the
charge of murder was held nt stuart
|, The feeling of the people Of
Stuart is most pronounced against
McGann, the opinion being that
the killing was entirely without
justification. From the informa-
ton brought out at the coroner's
induest it appears that Morrison
had simply gone on the disputed
land to assist Nrls Heather con
struct fence and NaB retiring Mt
the command uf McGdnn when the
latter shot. 1t seems that Heather
had built cabin on the tract and
that barn owned by McGann was
also on the land. Aftet deciding
to fence the tract, Heather secured
the services of Morrison to assist
him and they went ,ih the lard lii
question on last Tuesday afternoon.
One load Uf rails had been hauled
to the gtound and Heather WAS re-
turning for another load, leaving
Morrison to erect the fence, when
McGann appeared on the scene
with rife He walked up to the
point where Morrison was working.
Heather was then sufhe distance
iiway, but stopped his team. From
his Testimony it appears that Nc
Tam immediately began cursing
Morrison and commanded him to
leave the premises or he would kill
him. Morrison saidi (Which Way
shall gu?" when McGann replied:
Home MORRISON then started
toward hnme, carrying an axe In
bis hahd which he had brought
With him to use in fence construc-
tion work. McGann was seen to
follow him and when they disap-
peased from the view of Heather
over the hill the latter heard the
shot and an outtfy ffom Morrison
Heather then went I'd his home and
after unhitthing his team started
to return to the scene of the shoot.
ing, when McGann appeared and
fired two shots. Heather Thought
these shots were fired at him, but
could not swear positively to that
fact. He then started for Stuart
TO report the tragedy to the au-
tEorities. When Mr.. Fitting and
others feaehed the scehe, after being
Notified by Heather they found the
body of Morrison lying face down
ward on The hillside. The axe was
living two or three feet below hith
and pair OF working gloves we're
clhtched In his left hand. The
llullet that killed him had entered
MS fight thigh from behihd and
penetrated to the abdomen, where
it lodged.
Mr.. Fitting says Mr., Morrison
Nas peaceable man and that his
death is greatly dePlored by all
who knew himi
McGanh's defehkt. it is under
stood, will bt 10 the effect that
Morrison Mas ehdeavoring to assail
him with the axe when the shot
was fired. Tribune.
As result Of the preliminary
examination held at Stuart OH the
night Of the 18th, Dattiel MtGann,-
whn killed J. T. Mottisbh, was held
TO the district tohrt without ball on
the charge. of thhfder iii the FIRST
eegree. He is row tthhhtd In the
Mt. Idahe jail