Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-21
TROOPERS PATROL
| COURTHOUSE YARD
TO DEFEAT MORRIS
Alleged Slayer of Justice
Sullivan Expected to
Fulfill Threats.
FUGITIVE KNOWN AS MAN
OF DESPERATE COURAGE
If Mountaineer Does Not Appear
Today New Posse Will
Go Forth.
TERROR OF HIS COMMUNITY
Hillsman Is Mere Youth in Years,
but Crack Shot and Often
in Trouble. 9-
TERROR OF HIS COMMUNITY
Hillsman Is Mere Youth in Years,
but Crack Shot and Often
in Trouble. .r9-
by STAFF coRnEspoNDENr.

STANARDSVILLE, VA. April 90
With the reported threat Of Edgar
Morris the alleged slayer of Magis-
tratc S. c. Sullivan, that he may de-
scend tomorrow from his hiding place
in the mountains and bring terror to
the Circuit Court of Green County, this
quiet little village. in the shadow OF
the Blue Ridge, has become in the last
few minutes an armed camp.
Probably for tho first time in--all
It's uneventful history the court yard
feels tonight the muffied tread of SEN
tries on post and the villagers hear
sharp soldier commands. The Abe
marle Rifles. OF Charlottesville. under
command cs, Of Captain ). G. Cochran, ar.
the way from their home station by
automohile. There are in the com
Though Sheriff 4. a. Malone and
posse of ten nren have been securing
the moantains around Morrls:a home.
their man No wheel viii pc .Iefs ! .,sn;;@s
his reporred+ threat. 70 come. ne .n1Ithout w + out
violent Intent tomorrow when his pal.
grand jury. on the charge of acting as
an accomplice to Morris. 4.i-
Rumors Are Numerous.
The surrounding country is filled
fugitive will do. The authorities be.
iieve these reports Will not pan out,
man whose desperate courage they
think may carry him to any length. ,
1t Is said that Morris has number
or friends OF his same general stripe,
but how far these can be induced to
support him there is no way OF find
Morris would have little chance OF
eluding the authorities this long. it is
thought, had there been any adequate
Malone and his little band sailed forth
70 the mountains with nothing more
own lair armed to the teeth with the
best OF defensive weapons. 1t is said
that Morris. knows the hills better
than any animal in them, and that he
Morris is said here to have become
the TT terror re ,,. Of the entire session .tn
OF mischief seems. from reports, to
have been left undone by him. He
him for every escapade from selling
whisky to pulling out the whiskers OF
Dick Snow.
Sullivan Sought Conviction.
Though the opinion of the. commun-
ity is that Norris is typical bad man
OF the wild mountain sort, there seems
no ground for belief that there will
be any sort of violence against him by
citizens. 1t develops that Magistrate
Sullivan himself was not trying Morris
on the day the justice met his death.
The warrant charging the fugitive
with carrying concealed weapons. was
issued by sullivan. but the hearing
was before two magistrat from Ruck-
ersville, in another district.
Sullivan however, had cone to the
trial. 1t is reported, tn use his inhu-
ence in seeing that Morris was suffi
clently punished. He had faced magis-
terial courts many times. but. in the
opinion of the dead justice, had come
off entirely too lucky. considering the
character of his escapades.
S,,lIt
ing the court; it is said, when the
man on trial shot him six times. two
or the bullets entering the region OF
the heart 1t is said Morris had two
warrant was sworn out in connection
with church disturbance which Nor
ris is alleged to have created last
summer.
Sought Heavier Sentence.
Dissatisfied with the light fine i'm
posed upon him for cursing the pastor
OF Evergreen Brethren Church. after
the minister had declined to descend
from his pulpit to drink with hhn, The
of1cers OF the institution had another
warrant issued against him for CARRY
Ing Ing concealed weapons It was upon
justices were trying Morris The con
cealed weapon charge, however, had
not been pressed. it is said. until after
escapades by wounding James Morris
at Christmas dance. That seems to
have brought the patience OF the ooun-
tryside to the breaking point. At this
same dance the host. Rollins ShifIett,
Is said to have killed man.
The elements were in favor Of Norris
on the day of the tragedy. Spectators
In the courtroom were stunned and
didn't recover in time to apprehend
him. Outside the wind was blowing
a gale and few people were in theayii,
laEe. as is usual on Saturday. Conse-
Quently. Morris had q comparatively
easy time walking to the ountasrs.
Morris is twenty-five years old and
- said to be an intelligent man. but
has little or no education. He has n
number of friends in tho mnnnt aana