Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-30
Hoped His Death Will Clear Norfolk
County Matters.
lind PROBABLY UNBALANCED.
The Unfortunate Man Wrote Several
Letters just Before His Death
Asked That No Inquest BE Held
Alluded to Himself as 1:Genuinc
Unhor.ed Con1cderate',-His Re-
cord in the Confederate Army n
very Honorable One.
The Unfortunate Man wrote severa,

NORE'Obh, VA, OCt. -S.-(SpeCldi.J-
John A. Morgan. sixty-three years old.
a prominent citizen of Berllley, and
father Of Mrs. C. H. Caskie, of New
York, and Mrs. John Harker. whose hus-
band is of the big New York lumber firm
of Wiley, IIarker & Co., committed sui
eide in Berkley to-day by sending pistol
bullet through his head. He was alone
at the time and colored servant girl
found his body in a pool Of blood The
suicide left several letters. two Of which
are to his wife, now at the home OF her
daughter, Mrs. Harker, in New York. he
left a note asking T. B. jackson and
George Lacy. OF Norfolk. to accompany
his body to Hertford. y. c., because they
were such gallant ind unhorsed Confed-
crate soldiers
Fought Corrupt Politics.
Following are two of the communica-
tions written by the deceased:
Now to the Public:
mo man who has fought the battles of
straight Democracy. against the allied
forces of fusionism and corruption in Nor
folk county will probably realize the posi-.
ton occupied by me, but I want to say
to those who are still fighting the good
and only decent fight, to keep on, and II
my death can possibly clear the waters
CT Norfolk county politics. as I have fre-
quently been told it would, why, that re
suit Will soon follow. Truly, etc.
JOHN MORGAN"
ITO the Coroner who will review my re-
mains, and whom I hope will be DR..
Frank Morgan-Greeting:
"If you find me dead on the morning
of October 2ath don't hold an inquest, be-
cause will be dead and nobody to blame
but myself. Among the things that !
would ask at your hands is
and that you have T. s. Jackson. OF the
Norfolk and Western railway, and George
| Lacy, of the Surry Lumber Company. &C
company my remains to Hertford, N c.,
and see me decently buried. This is all
ask at your hands, both being genuine
unhorsed Confederate soldiers.
Very truly. etc,
JOHN A. MORGAN"
In the letter to the coroner the blank
space indicates the names of those the
| dead man did not desire to attend his fu-
| neral.
| A Brave Soldier.
Mr. Morgan was born at Nixington. N
! c., little hamlet in Perquimans county
| January 10, 1871. He was therefore IN
| the ed year of his age. He joined the
First Regiment of North Carolina Voiun-
teers. and went to the front at the out
| break Of the war. He was four times
! wounded, was promoted for gallantry IN
| action to the rank of acting captain ano
adiutant of his command, at Malvern
Hill While fighting on crutches, beng
| vet conva descent. he was captured by the
| Federals at the engagement at Plymouth
| and he was still prisoner when the wal
closed
After the war he engaged in the lumber
! business with his father, and afterwarc
! became a millwright. In 1881 he removed
to Norfolk county, and secured posi-
I ton with S. r. White & Sons. whose
foreman he was at the time of his death
| With the single exception OF year WIFI
| the Tunis Lumber Company, and one Wltf
| a concern in North Carolina. he has beer
continuously employed by the Messrs
| White since he came to this section.
! He was the first president OF the BeTh
| lev Town Council, serving two terms; wa:
past-commander of Meimyer-SnaU
Camp, Confederate Veterans, of Berkley
and was held In nigh esteem in the com
| munity. He was twice married, his flrs
wife being Miss Pattie Carter, of Muir
freesboro, n. c.. She died in 1861 ant
! his second wife, who was Miss Butt
survives him.
Made All Arrangements.
Mr.. Morgan made the most complet
preparations for his suicide. he ever
left a. memorandum showing the exac
moment that he would fire the fata
shot. It was $50 A. NJ. He had newi!
shaved, bathed, and attired himself II
new underclothing. Then he lay DOW
/ upon the bed after having removed tn
covering and fired the fatal shot Whei
the cook arrived this morning ne wa
dead. Some of the neighbors though
they heard the shot, but Mr.. Morgan
being alone in the house, no investigator
was made.
He leaves besides his wife, who wa wa
/ Miss Maggie Tucker Butt, OF North Car
/ olina. two daughters, Mrs. John HarS
er. of New York. and Mrs. Clayton =
! Caskey, also of that city. and two sons
HIassrs John C. Morgan, of Norfolk, ant
A. B. Morgan, of Petersburg.
In accordance with the note left 1or nj
/ friend. DR.. T. NJ. Morgan, the Coroner
no inquest was held. 80,
It is stated that Mr.. Morgan has bee,
! acting strangely for several days past
He has recently had political encounte
OF a personal nature, and his friends De