The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28
FACES ANOTHER TRIAL.
Mrs. Morrison Charged With Atrocious
Murder Still in Jail

Butte, Mont, Dec. 2s-Mrs Elizabeth
Morrison, beautiful, stylish and associ
ated with many of the best people OF
Butte City, Mont, has just emerged
from a most sensational murder trial
only to find herself confronted with an
other.
After six months imprisonment pend
ing the trial and ten days of sensation
al testimony-taking the jury has failed
10 agree and has been discharged.
Inc disagreement, however means
that she will again have to go through
the trying ordeal of trial for murder
in the first degree
All Montana is taking sides for or
| against Mrs. Morrison whose sensa-
tional trial for the murder of Richard
F1nnegan has occupied Judge McCler-
mans court and score of lawyers for
the past two weeks
silver Bow county and Butte City are
rife with theory, argument and debate
as to the guilt or innocence of the de-
fendant, as Butte is the scene of the
tragedy. 1--
Richard Finnegan was murdered in
the summer home of Mrs. Morrison, sit
uated on the level tract of country
south of Butte, near the Country club
and other fashionable stamping
grounds.
INTO a saloon on the roadway, shot in
the breast, the head and the hand,
smeared from head to foot with blood
and absolutely naked.
Finnsgan had run 200 yards down the
pubic road and women who saw him
1alnted at the sight and one has been
a nervous wreck ever since. The sa-
Ioonkeeper wrapped him in a blanket
and tried to make him talk, but the
man refused. He was then taken to a
hospital and died that night after in
tense suffering.
Just before he died he made a state
ment, accusing Mrs. Elizabeth Morri-
SON, well-known widow of the city of
having shot him while he slept with
the intention of wiping out a debt of
81, 900 she owed him.
He stated that Mrs. Morrison had al
owed him the use of her house a cour-
tesy she had often extended him, and
that on the evening of the tragedy she
had come to the house and they had
been drinking. Empty wine and beer
bottles about the room tend to confirm
this latter statement.
Finnegan's antemortem led to the ar
rest of Mrs. Morrison. She was found
hiding at the home of her sister, and
was placed under arrest and has since
been prisoner at the county jail, bail
being refused by the court.
Mrs. Morrison transformed her rooms
at the Jail into bowers of beauty, and
the hairdresser, massage woman and
occupied the dull hours of
her captivity.
The Morrison country house the day
following the tragedy disclosed a scene
which evidenced the fiercest and most
CORY battle. Blood beSmeared the !
floors, the walls and the bed clothing,
and handfuls of gold coin aggregating /
$3.50 were found scattered about the
floor.
A trail of blood led from the bed to |
the saloon. Furniture was broken, win
lows smashed and articles lying about |
the room were smeared, showing that |
they had been used as weapons of war |
fare.
Bottles, f1atirons and kitchen utensils, |
md even a hand saw, had been used in /
he struggle. Mrs. MorriSon's, body was |
bruised and her eyes were blackeued.
The trial opened to a crowded court
DOM, standing room was not obtain
ible. After a fierce legal struggle the
lying statement of Finnegan was in
with the money consideration
stricken out.
The testimony showed that Finnegan
md Mrs. Morrison retired on the even
ng of June % after considerable drink
ng. Finnegan did not awake until
,ullet tore open his forehead Another
truck him over the ear. He saw Mrs
fire the second shot. He feign-
d death, thinking she would go away.
after an hour she returned to the bed
ide and shot him in the breast. He
hen attempted to escape and the
,ioody struggle of an hours duration
olIowed- In this he was shot in the
and.
The wound in the breast caused Fin
egan's death. and he died at the hos
ital a few moments after giving his
to the county attorney.
On the stand Mrs. Morrison declared
hat she had been occupying the coun-
ry house alone and that Finnegan had
listed her there early In the evening.
lie left at 10 O'Clock and, returning at
in the morning, broke in the door, She
dmits she killed him, but claimed she
7as defending her life and her honor. I
The trial consumed ten days and Mrs.
Iorrison spent two days on the witness
tand.