The Butler Weekly Times Newspaper, December 11, 1889, Page 1

; 4 yoL. X11. (| The Butler Weekly Cimes, BUTLER, MISSOURI, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER Il. 1889. he Double Tragedy Additional Particulars in the Killing of Marshal J. H. Mor- gan and J. P. Willis Together with the Testimony Before the Coroners Jury. §. S. Price Held as Accessory to the fd Crime. f The double killing last week has asta pall of gloom over our entire ty, the indignation and anger which was the prevailing sentiment stfirst has given place to sorrow forthe princpals in the deplorable tragedy and sympathy for the af ficted families. Our people, at all times law abiding, are determined that the fair name of the community shall not suffer by any overt act ofa few het heads. Consequently the feeble cry of mob law was frowned down in its incipiercy. The facts of the killing and the uses which led up to the deplora ble tragedy were correctly, though dycessurily briefly given in the ‘flues supplement of last week, as {ite paper had already gone to press md only ashort time was given to wllecting details. Mr. Willis and Capt. Hannah had wpersonal difficulty on our streeis ‘fmthe afternoon of the 2nd. A hort time afterwards Marshal Mor- fancame upon the scene and ar- ested Willis for disorderly conduct. his was about four o'clock At about seven Mr. Willis’ friends suc- foeded in obtaining his release by giving a bond of ‘Ipearauce on $200 for his ap Saturday. Par- ties who were present when Willis was released say he made threats against Morgan’s life, and one gen- qtleman informs us that he (Willis) recalled an old covenant entered into between he and John Stanley, ears ago thatnooneshould live that uld ever place either behind the pars At any event, whether this as true or not, subsequent events iow that Willis was highly incens #edand very indignant and deter- wned to even up scores with Mor gan, even to the shedding of blood ir. Willis went to Kansas City the ext morning and made an affidavit before U.S. Commissioner Childs that Capt. Hannah and Marshal Mor- nforcibly detained him while in ihe act of serving papers as Deputy U.S. Marshal. On this affidavit wrrants were issued for the arrest 4% Hannah and Morgan, but District “Attorney Neal refused to approve em unless Willis would consent to Capt. Malloy, another deputy shal, serve them. Mr. Francisco ilso advised this course of proceed e, and expressed the fear that illis and Morgan being enemies, ouble might ensue if Willis tried serve the warrants. After hold- a short private consultation ith Capt. Malloy, Willis apparant- consented to this, but stayed and t the warrants from the the com jioner himself. He then took the first train for Butler, in company ith S. S. Price, a friend whom he Rputized to come with him tomake me arrest. The porter on the train idently overheard some conversa- =ion between the two which alarm- #d him, for on arrival at Butler he nta negro boy post hast to see gCapt. Hannah and Morgan to warn them that Willis and Price were coming. The latter rode over in the tus and Price stopped long enough “att the Laclede hotel to register and eave his grip,when they went direct © Morgan’s home. What passed tween them and the part which ice took in the affair is best told the evidence given by eye wit- ses before the coroner's jury and te ante mortem statement of Mor- Morgan was called from his bed by Willis and informed that he had Warrant for his arrest. He went to door with his pistol in his hand, Bad after‘. few words the shooting gan. The first two shots were fir- almost simultaneously, when City were summoned and came on the noon train the next day. Dr. Smiley hastened to see Morgan, while Dr. King was driven to Willis’. Dr. Smiley saw that Morgan was past medical aid, however, and went to assist Dr. King. After consulta- tion a heroic operatio:; was decided upon and Willis was placed under the knife. It was discovered that none of the intestines had beeu punctured, but that he was suffering from internal hemorrhage. He sur vived the operation only a short time and died at 4 o’clock. The funeral of J. H. Morgan took place from the Methodist church at 2o’clock Thursday. the center. closed by the mayor's proclamation. Short addresses were delivered by the clergy of our city. neral service over the remains of John P. Willis were conducted from the family residence on East Dakota | strect, and was attended by alarge | number of friends of the family. | The procesions which followed both | to the last resting place were very | large. J. P. Willis was born in Culpeper | county, Va., in 1851; from there, his { parents moved to Orange county, | and from there to Saline county, Mo., before the war. At the begin- ning of the war, they moved to Mc-| Donald county, Ill, and after the | war Mr. Willis came to Bates coun ty, where he has since resided. He | moved to a farm two miles from this city. He married his present wife, | Miss Eliza Whetstone, in 1874. He was a farmer, then wept into the mercantile business, saloon, and was appointed Deputy U.S Marshal by Col. Gates not long after the latter’s appointment, and by whom is said that Willis was one of his best of ficers. He was a generous, genial, whole-souled fellow with the courage of his convictions when sober, but when drinking he was quarrelsome overbearing and was ever ready for trouble at the least provocation. J. H. Morgan was born at Sabas- tapol, Ind., Aug. 4. 1838. He was married January 26th 1880. Little is known of Mr. Morgan's history before he came to Butler eleven or twelve years ago. Since his resi dence among us he has livedan hon orable upright life. He was a strong republican, but has held the office of City Marshal in Butler for eight Long before | the hour appointed the church w:s/ full and the street was crowded to/ The stores had all been | The fu- | ee ' | —— | ——_—_—_—_—_—_—_—_—_— | iti | ALL BOYS OVERCOATS, SIZES | 4 T0 12 YEARS, AT ACTUAL COST. ALL MEN'S PEA JACK- | ETS AND VESTS, AT ACTUAL We feel jubilant over our trade this Fall—it hus been immense. or nine years, though the democrats have a majority in the town. It is admitted by his worst enemies that he made a@ood officer, tended strict ly to his own business at all times, was never dissipated or quarrlesome. He was member of the M. E. church since 1884. He leaves a wife and three children to mourn his untime ly taking off. Col. Gates, while in our city Wed- nesday informed one of our prominent citizens that he was sur- prised and dumfounded when he heard of the killing; that Willis had not been intrusted with any of his business for over a month, but had been working for a building and loan company, and he did not know of the Morgan warrant. District Attorney Neal was in the city the last of the week and said that S P. Francisco did not sign the affidavit and advised against letting Willis have the warrant. Testimony taken in the inquest held upon J. H. Morgan, deceased, Dec. 5th, 1889: MRS. J. H. MORGAN. Mrs. Sallie A. Morgan being sworn testified as follows: Mr. Morgan was my husband. I was in the dining room just ready for bed. My hus- band was in bed asleep, across the hall from me. Just as I opened the door to go to my bedroom I heard footstepson the porch. I called my husband and told him some one was rapping. He rose, sat up in bed and then said, “what's wanted?” He had gone to the door, not the front one, but the door of the bedroom. There wasno reply. He stepped back to the bed, got his revolver in his right hand, went through the parlor to the door opening onto the porch. He opened the door and the | men said something, I did not un-j Millis clubbed him over the head | his pistol. He was dragged | Om the house and iu the scufile/ tensued Willis shot him twice! Both Willis and Morgan were | pot through the bowels,the wounds | very similar. Willis thea gave ms pistol to G. W. Tucker and with Ae assistance of Price and Tucker HP walked a short distance up the et where he fell and was carried Price wes xf- Sarrested at the home of Willis and lodged in jail. 8. Smiley and King of Kansas ihe said “I will.” derstand what, and he said, “hold on, wait a minute,” and tried to shut | the door. There were two and they | pushed it open. Then I thought they jerked him onto the porch, and | Lheard shots. It seemed two at} the same time. across the porch and there seemed to be others shots. I ran and there saw him on the ground and John! Willis was on him and they were} both struggling for a pistol, and I said “Don’t kill my husband,” and) standing near and when I screame Then they rushed ver. ‘Another man was/ ition and when we passed Vantrees | LOW PRICES ON UNDERWEAR | AM E R | F A i i SUITABLE HOLIDAY GIFTS. | | | 50c UNDEWEAR 374 | “TAILOR-MADE SUITS, NOBBY | TBe ie 50c | ) f _ OVERCOATS AND PANTS, SILK $1.00 “ 7Be 0 | In OR CASHMERE MUFFLERS, | $1.50 < $1.00 | SILK UMBRELLAS, SILK AND | 92.00 $1.50 | | PLUSH NECKWEAR, KID i Gloves, Jewelry, A tine hat or plush e i is | Cap. he threw up his hand and in it was arevolyer and he said, ‘See here, you hush.” Iran for help to Mr. Nichols and when I came back saw them leading Willis away. The man was a stranger who pointed the re volver at me, If he said anything else I did not hear it. He took no part, standing about 10 feet from the men onthe ground. I saw flash but heard no report while I was there. They were fighting for the pistol at that time. I think five shots were fired, two at first and three afterwards. I ran to Mr. Morgan and soon others carried him in and laid him on his bed. He was rapidly taken off the porch and two must have taken him off, but I could not see the struggle. GEO. W. TUCKER being sworn testified as follows: I knew J. H. Morgan. I saw him about 10 o’clock of Dec. 3rd, 1889. He was lying in hisown yard. From his appearance 1 thought he was dead. J. P. Willis was standing over him with a revolver in his hand. Saw Willis fire no shots, but saw the flash of a shot and think from his position he fired it. I was 15 or 20 feet from Willis at this time. The parties were in the dark and I came very near before seeing them. Willis was standing with his back to me and I said, “Is that you, John?” He turned and I saw whoit was and said, “Give me that revolver.” He gave itto me and I put it in my overcoat pocket. Another man was ; standing about six feet away, north. | Willis stood between Morgan lying on the ground and the stranger. I noticed that Willis was reeling from what cause I don't know. The first words of the stranger were, “give it to him.” when I asked for the revol- | Told the man to take hold of ! Willis and we carried him north, | through Vantrees’ lot to the side/| walk and laid him down there. Mr. | | Dickerson came up and I told him } that Morgan was dead. As we car- | ried Willis he seemed in a bad con} ’ (continued on page 8.) HOLLIDAY GOODS, N. NO. 3 | AMERICAN |Clothing :: HOUSE. |» nothing but a little time and may save you money. | $22.50 SUITS & OVERCOATS, $18. “ww o $16. The people have appreciated our low prices an< bought liberally—and no wonder. Never have we made such low prices. Not- withstanding our already very low prices, we have still further reduced them as above. We want to close out entirely, if possible, and have given prices, an extra, hard squeeze. They will surprise and please you. These “TAILOR-MADE” suits and overcoats, will make excellent CHRISTMAS GIFTS for husband, father, brother or son. Be sure to get our prices before buying. Ii will cost you CALI, WILL_LAST ALIFE TIME, AND ARE LESS THAN WALF THE COST OF Sterling Silver. SPOONS -AND- s FORKS. 2 HAVING A PIECE OF é 3 s & STERLING SILVER Inlaid in the back at points exposed to wear, as shown by cut. Then Plated Quadruple, Cuaranteed towear 25 Years. Each article bears the Trade Mark SEWARD Manufactared only by The Holmes & Edwards SILVER CO. Bridgeport, - Conn. For Sale only, by N. B. JETER Cut showing silver inlaid before plating, B. (THE JEWELER.) West Side Square, Butler, Mo. i JETER. =