The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-10-14
BLOODY RECORD OF MORRISON
Desperate Whom the Courts Had at
Least TWICE Acquitted.

A special dispatch to The Sat.
from Camden says II John Morrison
the desperate who was put to deatf
by mob In Lancaster county last
Saturday night, had lived In the days
OF the James boys and po 'sessed the
daring and courage which made those
men conspicuous, he would have been
eligible to q non-commissioned officer
In that famous band. There s,ems
| to be no doubt but that he possessed
the other qualities to a marked de.
gree.
Little Is known Of his life before he
turned his back on the mountain
fastnesses of his native State, North
Carolina, Is years ago, but his career
during this period suggests little of
peace and good citizenship on his
native heath. He came across the
border bearing the brand Of Cain, and
the number OF his victims here veri-
fies the stigma.
The facts surrounding the murder
which he is said to have done in North
Carolina are not available, but that
there was such a crime was persis
tent rumor long before this last d ed
brought his name into prominence.
Twelve years ago he met n solitary
hunter In York county forest and
slew him. This victim was found some
days after with bullet hole through
his head, and suspicion rested on John
Morrison. He was tried and acquitted
on the plea of self defense. Unfortu.
nately a gun was found beside the
dead man, and this and the fact that
the victim was colOred man were
enough for the jury.
A short while after this he moved
to Kershaw and within It's environs he
gratited his thirst for blood. A kindly
providence saved another colored man,
neighbor from his bullet. Fancying
that he had q grievance against him,
Morrison proceeded to shoot at him
as bis figure was silhouetted against
the sky on nearby hill This colored
man had the courage to prosecute
Morrison, but again it was case of
white man and negro, and he went
unpunished.
Some time last year party of me-
groes were walking up the track of
the railroad on which he lived, and lie
killed one. He was tried at Camden
for the murder and acquitted. He
claimed that they were engaged In
singing vulgar songs and were other
wise riotous. 1t Is stated that With
his Winchester he chas ID the terror
lied colored men over the surround.
Ing country until he had exhausted
his ammunition. These negroes were
SO intimidated that they were afraid
to testify against him on the trial.
y short while ago, while he was en-
gagged In running the pumping engine
fJr the tank below Kershaw, he was
reported by an engineer for not having
water In the tank. After he learned
of the report he carried Ills rine 70
meet all trains and said openly that
he would use 1t on any who reported
him. His malignity was so patent
that, when he refused to leave when
told to do so by the railrca1 officials.
engineers were afraid to stop at tina
tank for water and were In constant
dread Of the trestle nearby being
burned under them.
When he was notified to leave by
the railroad officials he refused TO do
so for some TIM, and finally when he
did go admoniShed tn III 20 send cof-
Tin with his 81 ccessor.
1T is said that he had planned to
Kill his successor last Monday but was
thwarted. The circumstances sur.
rounding the killing of his last vic; i'm
are SO fresh in the minds of the peo-
pie that they need no recOunting here.