The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-01-30
WASHINGTON NEWS.
MissouLiAN's SPECIAL SERVICE.

eciAL SERVICE.
brought To the attention of Miss Grace
". Thomas, a young business woman
of this city. who took hold Of the case
vigorously. First she wrote to Whitton
for a history of the case. which was
promptly sent her.
Whitton's Story.
After leaving Washington in the
spring nf 1898" said whittan. II
worked for time In st Joseph. Ms..
later in Greenieaf, kans.. and in
March. 1895. worked for time on a
ranch in Shields Valley. Montana. and
later moved tn Galatin valley.
in the summer of 1895. became ac-
auainted with man named Frank
/ Morgan. and In the fall Of 1896 we
located on a small ranch IA miles
from Bozeman. In fight that Nor
gan had with another rancher early
in January. 1897, he (MorganD beat
the rancher on thu head with a re-
volver. and a warrant was issued for
his arrest. Morgan escaped to Madison
county. where he stopped with a friend
and where I visited him in connection
with our ranch affairs.
Morgan requested that I keep him
posted as to the movements OF Sheriff
W. J. F'ransham and because of my
friendshinp for him l consented. Hear
ing that Fransham and his deputy.
Jack Allen. had discovered Morgan's
hiding place, l left on the evening of
/ January IL to notify him. and arrived
/ at Morgan's hiding place the next
morning. / advised Morgan to leave
t Immediately or submit to arrest But
| he replied that. owing to the stormy
weather that day. he believed the
sheriff would not venture out.
after breakfast. ] retired to sleep.
and was awakened about o'clock by
i Morgan. who said, Harvey. they are
+ here after me-
Deputy Sheriff Shot.
! After locating the officers position
through crack in the door, Morgan
took shotgun loaded with huckshot
and. throwing the door open. shouted.
Hands up Almost Immediately he
jumped back. his gun going off ac-
cidentally as he did 50. and at the
same time l heard shot outside. In
another instant. Morgan shot again.
saying as he did so. Take that. you
fool As Morgan fired the second
time | rushed to the door and saw
Allen drop his gun and fall. Morgan
Immediately closed the door and en-
deavored to reload the gun.
Il was much excited by this time
and. thinking there was going to be
more shooting. attempted to leave
the house. but did not get farther
than the northeast corner. when I
was covered by a gun In the hands Of
the sheriff. and. thinking he intended
to shoot. retreated into the house.
| had scarcel" done so when we saw
the sheriff running toward the brush
on the south side Of the house and
Morgan. going out fired two shots at
him. Upon Morgan's return he asked
why I went out, and when I told him
my reasons for doing so he informed
me that l would certainly be arrested
for aiding him to escape and probably
be held as an accessory to the crime
he had just committed. and advised
me to stay with him and leave the
country.
II knew nothing about the law cover
ing such matters. and thinking he was
right by virtue of his greater ex-
perence. / consented to. go with him.
We both then left the cabin. and after
Morgan took the two guns from Allen.
who WAS apparently unconscious, we
left, but had not gone far when we
unexpectedly ran into the sheriff.
Morgan at once covered him with Al
lens shotgun and told me to get off
my horse and get the sheriff's gun. and.
as ] was doing so. said l might just
as well get his. money also. as we
would need 1t: which l did. We then
returned to Galiatin valley. where !
remained with Morgan two days.
On the advice of friends. quit
Morgan and left that section on Jan
uary Is. 1897. two days after the
shooting,
Il went direct to Nevada, where
assumed the name of James Hall. but
the following October l was arrested
and returned to Montana vas held
in Jail until March. 1898, when | was
tried for murder in the first degree
tthe actual killing of Allenp. and con-
sicted by jury in Judge NJ. ii.
parkers court at Virginia City. Mont.
of murder in the second degree and
sentenced by the jury to so years at
hard labor.
Il was not Yet Il years of age when
this crime was committed
The only crime | was guilty of was
that of robbing the sheriff of his gun
and money. / did not shoot Allen. |
had no cause To shoot him. as the
sheriff Was not after me. and the
sheriff did not know | was in the
house until after Allen MAS shot.
| ..Mnrpan has never hann ranImreA.