Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-11-10
KILLED JOHN e. YORK IN JULy
NEAR CITY PARK.
THREW BODY In THE RIVER
Jury Out But 40 Minutes on Verdict
Of Murder In First
Degree.

Mike Morgan's doom was signed
sealed and delivered Friday morn
Ing shortly after o'clock when the
slayer of John e. York stood before
Judge F. M. Calkins in the circuit
court room in Grants Pass and was
sentenced to die on the gallows
January 5, 1912, hangman's day.
Time set for sentence had been
placed at 10 o'clock, but Judge Calk-
ins, on arrival from Ashland, Friday
morning, went directly to the court
house and announced that he was
ready for Morgan. The prisoner
was escorted from his cell to the
circuit court room, where a number
of persons had gathered, including
several of the jurors who had found
Morgan guilty of murder in the first
degree.
The painful scene was of short du-
ration.
mike Morgan, stand up" said
the court of the culprit.
Morgan stood up. Judge Calkins
then said
"The grand jury of this county
found an indictment against you,
charging murder in the first de-
gree. You have been given a fair
trial hefore jury of your peers.
That jury found you guilty of mur-
der in the first degree, as charged
in the indictment Have you any
thing to say why sentence of death
should not be passed upon your"
Morgan shuffled slightly and then
replied in the following words:
'T did not kill the old man as they
said. done II in self defense. That
Is all have to say"
Judge Calkins then pronounced
sentence of death; that Morgan be
taken to the state penitentiary at
Salem and there hanged until you
are dead. and may God have mercy
on your soul" The court Instructed
that the condemned man be taken to
the state prison sometime within 20
DAYS and delivered to his execution
ers. Sheriff Smith stated few
minutes later that be would SEND
Morgan to Salem on the first tram
consequently, the prisoner was
placed in charge Of William Ingram
Friday evening, who departed Tor
the north with Morgan. The pris-
oner was shackled securely as II was
recognized that the panther-like
man-slayer would take advantage OF
the slightest chance to escape, even
II he had to brain one or more men
to do so.
No appeal for Morgan was made
by Attorney Wurtsbaush, neither
was new trial asked, the attorney
seemingly recognlsine that no nope
whatever existed. Executive elem
ency may be asked Of the governor
by some Of Morgan's relatives IN II
llnois, his native state. The doom
ed man has an old mother In MI
Carmel. Illinois, who today sit'
moaning that the babe OF her DOS
ON had travelled to manhood only &C
die like a dog on the gallows anc
far away from the parental home
She will probably never see her Oo'
again, for cher boy he is' as NJ
crime on this old earth stands j
the way of mother love. IN thi
connection the scene IN the eoor
room, when sentence was pronouu'
ed on Morgan. was pathetic IN ON
sense. in that the man was cona'inI,
ed to die with neither friend nor rel
atlve by his side 20 comfort n''
when the awful wordo came iro.
the lips of The court that 'vof sa'.
be hanged by the recf until ro' '
dead" There was mo- mo'h.r +.
brother sister nor father '' o''s'.
nor share his grief q grioi there '
tn the breast of p ie''ha-a'" m'.
or The man took N'r af n
stolid manner and was as stol''I p