The Washington times., 1919-04-27

Jsmes Morris was invited to the
daHcc. Edgar Morris was not. Nor
were his pals.
Failure to receive an invitation did
not deter them. They went anyway.
A Bottle Of Liquor.
When they reached the ShiffIett
home. Norris and his gang were met
at the door and invited to go to the
barn with the promise that bottle
of liquor would be served them
shortly.
According to Edgar Morris state
ment at a hearing later at the Greene
county courthouse, they remained in
the barn twenty minutes and no one
| from the Shifflett house showed up
with the promised bottle.
Norris said the crowd started TAX
ing up a collection to raise funds for
the purchase OF a quart One of the
number was selectec TO procure it,
and be paid 80 cents for his trouble.
1t was discovered, however, that
more money was needed and they
didn't have it among them. They
moved on to the dance to make up
the defcit.
Just what followed is rather hard
to learn. Many conflicting stories
are told.
These facts. however, are definite
ly known:
The intruders, led by Morris. start
ed to break up the dance. One story
is that Edgar Morris became enraged
when he saw James Morris dancing
with a girl with whom he was in
love.
ROughhOuse Begins.
At any rate. pistols were drawn
and a general roughhouse followed.
Rollins NJ Shifflett, the host, could
not find HIS. pistol. so he pulled
down his shotgun from the rack and
opened fire.
In the melee that followed a bull
let from Edgaris pistol penetrated
the right lung OF James Morris.
A load Of shot from the gun un-
limbered by Rollins ShihIett instant
ly killed Tim Shinlett. a relative.
James Morris was taken to Char
lottesville. He lay in a hospital sew
eral weeks. He is now at his home
in the mountains recovering from
the wound.
At preliminary hearing some time
later Edgar Morris was indicted on
charge Of shooting with intent to
murder. His father, George A. Nor
ris, gave bond for him in the sum
Of $500.
There followed a series OF esca-
pades in which Morris was the ring
leader. Among these was the raid on
the Dunkard mission, presided over
by the Rev. Mr.. willard.
Next in order came the killing of
Magistrate Sullivan.
Freedom Of the Hills.
Jesse James. the second. became a
fugitive from justice. He had killed
man. He had shot up a court. He
had blutfed his way to the freedom
OF the mountains.
After the excitement had somewhat
subsided, Sheriff Malone led a posse
up into the mountains. Young Shift
lett was taken. but all the informa-
tion he could or would furnish about
the fugitive was that he was on
Wyatt's Mountain
Day after day the searchers pIayed
game OF hide-and-seekwi the fugi-
tive up and down the Bite Ridge.
Each day they heard that he had
been seen in this or that district
When the funeral of Magistrate Sui |
livan was held, the whole mountain |
side was there. Edgar Morris. his |
slayer, was-near by, sitting on the |
roadside with a Winchester rifle
across his knees.
He taunted those who saw him. be
dared them to attempt to arrest him. |
They did not stop TO parley with him.
Some of those in the funeral party |
were friends OF the outlaw.
Morris went his way unmolested to
resume his wanderings through the
mountains.
1t was an easy matter to find food
and shelter among friends.
Went To See Preacher.
Il found it impossible to get in
formation from his friends, so ]
sought out his enemies" ShcIin Ma
lone told this writer.
"I went to the cabin of Preacher
Willard, ] knew he was his enemy.
After knocking on his door for some
time, Willard asked who's there?
when / gave my name. willard
peered through the peephoIe-alI the
mountain cabins have them''-he said
Its a good thing you spoke when
you did. came near putting a SO
bullet through you He had two pis-
tolls in his hands when l entered the
cabin.
ION another search through that
section, I ran into Preacher willard
out in the middle of the road. He
was looking for Edgar Morris, he
told me. He had a rife in, his hands
and a pistol was suspended from his
belt"
For three weeks the shearch con-
tinued, but the fugitive eluded cap
ture.
The April term of court was near;
Morris name was on the calendar.