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APPEALS
LAST WORDS
EXECUTION
FRANK Mewrony orrice AeuPPr.yv—ootTn
MOON, Nearval, wh, elec. TX® (Hasris) April 28, 1960
They call the city “Murdertown”
and Houstonians have this latest
multiple slaying to remind them
the nickname’s no exaggeration
“KILLED
‘
‘ The body of 11-year-old Steven Appleton lies partly
"submerged in shallow water where he had been shot.
\ : / :
. ; : : town, U..S. A.” ;
* NOT LONG AGO, a newspaper writer in Houston, At about.3 o’clock on that warm, pleasant afternoon, two
Texas, gravely concerned by the city’s rapidly growing ~ men and an 11-year-old boy were doing target practice
crime rate, nicknamed it ““Murdertown; U. S. A.” The with a .22-caliber: revolver at the rifle range along Turkey
_ name stuck —and for good reason. Though this lusty, Creek near Addick’s Dam. Growing tired of shooting at
gies : j Tea paper targets, they had tossed a tin can into a pond beside
oil-rich metropolis ranks fourteenth in population among, the creek, and were taking turns firing-at it.
| the cities of the United States, it is fourth (right behind | » ron ren eae 3s, an ny vgn Stephen, 11, “oa
pane ; ate ‘ missed their. first shot, Stephen handed the 9-shot revolver
New York, Chicago and Philadelphia) 0 the total num to its owner; Lee Hanson, 40, the other member of the party.
ber af murders committed annually, Both men were well-to-do business executives.
Chief of Police Carl Shuptring has tried to explain Hous- =, Hanson took. careful aim and fired at the target. But he
ton’s unique crime problem to its aroused citizens, “Most missed too. : :
cities our size have had time to settle’down and learn “Mind' if I take a shot at it, mister?” said a soft, pleasant
respect for law and order,” he says. “But Houston is still a voice behind him. |
big boom oil town. Criminals pour in from .all over the He turned and found himself gazing at a young man who
country looking for easy money—gunmen, racketeers, rapists, had just come up along a path behind him. The newcomer,
_ murderers and dangerous psychopaths of all sorts, We’ve got who looked about 18 years old, wore.a red hunting cap and
to accept the challenge and put an end to this wholesale overalls. Under his arm he carried a .22 rifle.
lawlessness.” ; nt “Go ahead. and fire at it if you want to,” Hanson said.
An all-out battle against crime has recently been waged © The youth came-up to the edge of the pool, raised his
in the Houston area, and during the fall of 1958, crimes of . rifle to his shoulder and took aim, His shot whistled over
violence began to drop off slightly. Civic leaders hoped that the top of the tin can and struck the water beyond.
Houston might soon outlive its shameful/nickname, == ~—'| “Missed,” ~he remarked. “Seems like this rifle always
Then on Saturday, November 29, 1928, a savage multiple shoots high lately.” He lowered the gun and smiled pleas-
murder occurred on the western outskirts of the city that antly. “You folks don’t live around here, do you?”
put Houston back into the nation’s headlines as “Murder- “Well, we live in Houston,” Hanson said.
36
ry Ye! b rae
DETECTIVE CASES, March, 1959
BaP a! 8 ce Be |, DETECTIVE CASES. ~
Sh:
int
efi
The CI
, Candy Barr can’ now look only to the
U.S. Supreme Court to save her from a
15-year prison sentence for possession of
narcotics ... The marijuana was hidden in
her brassiere (Deep Trouble For the Dallas
PERE Ee
a mandate for her immediate return to
Texas and imprisonment from the New
Orleans Bourbon Street club where she’s
been working while her attorney was ap-
Pealing from. the guilty verdict handed
informant, and also that the defense has
new evidence. And her attorneys feel
she was being “persecuted” and that the
jury was trying to make an example of her,
Candy since ‘her last trial, see Are Candy’s
Dancing Days Over? June INsipe, 1959,
William Long, formérly of Warwick,
N.Y., but best known in Somerset, Tex.,
for the murders of elderly Mr. and Mrs,
A. B. Lippmann (Hello Sweetheart, I’m qa.
Killer, September Front PAGE, 1958), has
.been found guilty and sentenced to 99 years
in prison. The jury deliberated seven hours
before finding that Long was sane at the
time of the offense and sane at the time of
trial. He was tried in Cuero, Tex., on a
‘postcard,
: ©1957 VITASAFE CORP
RVITASAFE™ REG. T.M,
change of venue after a San Antonio jury
failed to agree, Also charged in the slayings,
but granted a trial Severance, is Long’s 20-
year-old girl friend, Sandra Kay Powell, ;
who was arrested with him at Brownsville,
Tenn., the day after the double shooting,
Their year-old baby is in the San Antonio
Children’s Shelter.
Fred Eglip and Pierre de Georgio have
been sentenced to life imprisonment for the
kidnap-robbery from her dentist’s office of
San Francisco socialite: Mrs. Margaret
Tayler (We'll Cut You Up And Kill Your
Wife, November Front PAGE, 1958). Su-
perior Judge Gerald S. vin imposed ‘the
life sentence for kidnaping and three five-
year sentences on each of three robbery
counts, all to run concurrently. Under Cali-
fornia’s Little Lindbergh law, both the
29-year-old Eglip and Chilian socialite de
Georgio eventually could be paroled on the
idnaping sentence since the jury found no
bodily harm was caused the victim. Eglip’s
attorney asked that Eglip be sent to.a State
mental hospital, despite the fact that the
same 12 jurors who found him guilty de-.
cided a week later that he was legally sane-
Since he tried to hurl himself. through a
third-floor courtroom ‘window at the Hall
of Justice upon hearing that he’d been
found guilty, Eglip has been confined to
the psychiatric ward at San Francisco Gen-
eral Hospital under restraint,
Frank Harris, Slayer of beat generation
girl Connie Sublette (... And Death Was
Dancing All Around, October FRONT PAGE,
1958), has been sentenced to life imprison-
ment by San Francisco Superior Judge
Walter Carpeneti.
., Dr. Rodrigo Sarmiento has_ withdrawn
his plea of guilty to the charge of man-
Slaughter in the first degreé in the fatal
stabbing of nurse Margaret Kabak (The
Passionate Doctor and His Reluctant
Nurse, August Front PAGE, 1958. After
the guilty plea was entered, the court said
that the district attorney’s office was fully
Satisfied, noting that there was no proof
of premeditation, Brooklyn, N.Y., Judge
Nathan Sobel commented that the Filipino
doctor spared the state “a lengthy and ex-
Pensive trial . . . It is obvious that this is
not a cold-blooded killer or a killer for
eanup Spot
profit. This was a crime of passion. This
fact and the plea of guilty will receive the
, court’s consideration,” Subsequently, how-
ever, Sarmiento requested permission to
change his plea to not guilty to first-degree
murder ,
prison. Sarmiento. and Miss Kabak were:
both employed at the same hospital. Police
said that last year she tried to break off a
friendship with the doctor when she learned ,
that he had a wife,
Mrs. Vera Owen Wilson, the 5 7-year-old
Little Miss Acid From Nowhere (April -
FRONT PAGE, 1959). who robbed a bank by
threatening to throw, acid in the teller’s ©
face, has pleaded guilty to third-degree
robbery in the $3,420 heist of the bank
right across the Street from New York
City’s famed Macy’s Department Store:
Judge Mitchell Schweitzer held Mrs. Wilson
without bail for sentencing; she can get up
to ten years. Mrs. Wilson was Caught ds she
fled from her second bank holdup attempt.
Nearvel Moon has been sentenced to
death in the electric chair for the murder
of 11-year-old Stephen Appleton; Moon
FRONT PAGE, 1959). The 18-year-old mur- |
derer - was tracked by four young girls
riding in the woods where the Appletons
and Hanson were target-shooting before -
Moon shot them for $48 and their car,
;
- . thus risking his life to avoid _
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MOON, Nearvel, white, elec. TX@ (Harris) April 28, 1960
Gail, Pat and
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IS FA
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president of
SE
THE MASKED MURDERER
I never dreamed Id need the help of the police
and I’m sure they never thought I'd be able to help them
catch a triple killer
BY SUZAN ARMSTRONG
which flattened and distorted his features,
giving me the impression I was looking upon
one of the masked worshipers at some ancient rit-
ual. But I am sure those ancient pagans did not
carry shotguns, as this one did. For I was looking
right down the baleful bore of the weapon. The
gaping muzzle of the gun was no more menacing,
however, than the narrow eyes above the barrel
that regarded me through the sheer stocking. And
the voice that issued from the masked countenance
was flat and devoid of inflection, more ominous in
its very lack of tonality. “Get out of here,” he said.
“Or I'll kill you.”
I did not ride out that afternoon to meet death face-to-
face. Danger is a new acquaintance of. mine, and I did not
seek the introduction. Of course, if you believe what was
said in the Houston, Texas, newspapers, I and the three
other girls with me “galloped to the challenge like an old-
time Western posse,” and emerged heroines. But to tell
the truth, in the last act of that drama of violence, triple
murder and danger in which I was an unwitting actress, I
was scared, more scared than I’ve ever been in my 20
years.
I don’t think I’m a heroine. I did what I did because
there were those who would have expected it of me, not
because I am overly brave. The prudent thing to have
done would have been to run. There was some running,
at that. But there are times, I know now, when caution
4 H: FACE WAS COVERED by a sheer stocking
_ is not the better part of valor.
My dad, K. P. Chinn, wouldn’t have run. He never ran
away from problems, duties or troubles in his life, and no
doubt that’s one of.the reasons why he rose from messen-
ger boy for the Southern Pacific Railroad to executive vice
president of the S. P. lines in Texas and Louisiana, the
' position he held at-his death. I’m an only child and I
guess I was spoiled by dad, but he also taught me never to
shirk life’s responsibilities.
My husband, Raymond Armstrong, now an army private
undergoing basic training at Fort Carson, Colorado,
wouldn’t have run, either. And even though, after it was
all over, Raymond gave me heck by long-distance, I could
tell he approved of my actions. Actually, Raymond de-
serves some credit in the affair, for he prepared me for the
emergency I met that day.
’ It was a beautiful, crisp day in Harris County, Novem-
ber 29th,.1958. A wave of mountain-sweet air had swept
in from the Rockies the night before, dispelling the humid
clouds which had covered the Gulf Coast plains for most
of the month. The day dawned cloudless. The sun gave
the appearance of a sparkling gold coin, thrown carelessly
on a blanket of Navajo blue. It was a day for doing, for
living.. And for three innocent people, a day for dying!
But death was the thought farthest from my mind as I
heaved my saddle and other riding gear into my car
around noon that Saturday. Earlier in the week I had ar-
ranged with a blacksmith to shoe my palomino gelding,
Mr. Bugs Bunny, and trim the feet of my husband’s roan
mare, Fancy. I was due to mfeet the smith at the pasture on
Dairy-Ashford Road at Katy Road, U.S. Highway 90,
where I keep the~herses. It’s only a few minutes’ drive,
however, from nry mother’s home in Spring Branch to the
pasture, #f@-TI arrived before he did. :
pasture where I keep our two horses belongs to Mr.
J.D: High, a Houston businessman and Appaloosa horse
breeder. Mr. High’s daughter, Elaine, and I both work for
the. Gulf Oil Corporation. We’ve been friends for over
two years, and not altogether because we’re both horse
crazy, although horses are the one big thing we have in
common. Or had in common. Before the day was out, we
were to have another mutual bond—the sharing of a ter-
rifying adventure. But neither Elaine nor I had an inkling
that our actions that afternoon were to be interwoven with
25
EWR, sere
26
Bertram Appleton, 38, a construction
firm manager, had been shot four times
Young Steven Appleton’s body, pulled
from the creek, had 12 bullets in it
" od al
High has nine of his herd at the pasture, five brood mares,
Apple, and three young studs, a bay and blue, a leopard
spotted and a red Appaloosa. Someday Raymond and I
hope to have our own herd of registered Appaloosas. We
don’t have to own one of the breed to be a member. In
Apple and Fancy, we see the beginning of our own herd
I walked on past Apple’s pen. Bunny, in the end pen,
greeted me jealousy, butting me with his head. “Quit
that,” I scolded the big, golden horse. “You needn’t be
jealous of those old Appalouseys.” Bunny is dear to my
heart. He was given me by Dad, and that alone would
make him something special among horses, even if he
weren’t one of the best all-around mounts in Texas.
The smith arrived and set up his portable forge and laid
out his tools. Bunny stood docilely while the man worked
to shape and fit the light steel shoes to his feet. Elaine
saved our lives. For while we waited for the smith, the
opening scene.in the grim drama in which we were to be
unwillingly
away.
I was give
a killer. TT
pull on man
them were
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Except for a
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at.
Sheriff Kern (/.
May MOOTRY, black, hanged at Georgetown, Texas, 3X%8 March 27, 1896
ROLLY, Albert, black, hanged at Georgetown, Texas, March 20, 1896
"Georgetown, Williamson County, Peaas, March 20, 1896 = At 11:5 today Sheriff Purl sprang
the trap of the gallows and a 5=feet fall ended the life of Albert Rolly, one of the mre
derers of Andrew Prykle., The programme as previously arranged, called for a double hang-
ing but thepersistency with which both negroes have continued to deny Max Mootry's
connection with the crime had Governor Culberson last night to grant a respite of Max
Mootry's sentence until Friday, March 27, awaiting developments.
"The negroes were placed in different cd ls last night and were not informed of the
governor's messageuntil this morning, Mootry received the news stolidly and Rolly heard
his death warrant read without any manifestations of fear or nervousness.) Several
ministérs visited him, admonishing him not to die with a lie on his lips. Still he ad-
hered to the.same story, but not so vigorously as’ before. When on the gallows Sheriff
Purl asked him if he washed to make any statement, he said 'No,' that he had told’a man
in the jail the true story! of thekilling. Local members of the press urged him to tell
the whole story of thekilling. After considerable persuasion, he said that he and Mootry
did the killing; that Mootry had 2. pistols and gave him ones that he struck the Bohemian
with a rock and that Mootry shot him with the,pistol; that,he (Rolly) shot Tom Prykle,
who got well, “e said the story he told at thetrial and ever since was manufactured by
Mootry, who urged him that it would save both their necks.
"A colored minister led in prayer. Rolly follwing with a prayer of his own, | They sang
'Oh, How I Love Jesus,'!and-Rolly espressed resignation to his,fate and hope ofa full
pardon, The trap was sprung, there was a momentary quiver of the lower limbs anil the
soul of theignorant negro passed into the great unknown, The body was cut down in 20
minutes, plaed in the waiting coffin and carried to the county farm for burial.
"Rolly was.a small negro, unmarried, and about 20-yearseold, Conservative sshimates are
that. fully 7,000,people witnessed theexecution, People began coming in yesterday, Several
tents were pitched last nightz and hundreds of campers put in the‘ night in almost the
shadow of the gallowse" 3 zie ve
THE CRIME
"Themurder for which Albert Rolly today paid thepenalty with his life was one of the most
atrocious in the criminal annals of Williamson County, The deed was committed about dusk
on May 8, 1895, on the banks of the Gabriel River, about 6 miles from Taylor, Andrew
Prykle, a Bohemian, was beaten with a rock over thehead and face and then shot twice
through the neck and breast. Either wound would have proved fatal, Jom Prykle, cousin
of Andrew, was shot in theback as he turned to run, He fell into the water, where a
second shot was fired at him, but missed its mark in the semi-darkness, Andrew died
instantly. Tom was supposed to be dead and the mrders fled from the sceneés
"Thewounded man dragged himself across the creek, through a field and to the house of
another Bohemian who gave the aaarm. In a short time the entire neighborhood was aroused
as the ckrcumstances of the murder in all its horrible detials became quickly knewne
Deputy Gamble and Constable Zimmerman of Tayler were soon on thescene,. The wounddd and
supposed to be dying man, in reply to theih questions, told the officers that the
shooting was done by two negroes with whom they had had trouble a short time before
though he did not know their names, Other circumstances also pointed to the man executed
today as the guilty party. He, with several other negroes, was carried before Tam
Prykle and he indicated that he thought Mootry and Albert Rolly were the parties who did
the shooting,
"Thenews of the murder excited the large Bohemian settlement almost to desperation,
The night thenegroes were brought to jail sixty or more Bohemians started to Georgetown
to settle the matter by lynch lawe Officers and others prevailed upon them to attempt
nothing of thekind, as they would fail to get possession of the prisoners, They were
assured also that if the negroes were proved guilty they wuld be punished to the full exe
tent of thelawe
"As shown by the testimony in court the trouble referred to by Tom Prykle and supposed tp
have led to the tragedy had been about as follows: The negroes had been making the
Prykles' field a public highway. TheBohemians objected and ordered them to keep out of
the field, They gave Prykle to understand they could pass through whenever they likede
Andrew went into thehouse and came out with his gun, but the negroes were disappearing
into the distances ,
"On the evening of thekilling, the Bohemians were fishing, Tom Prykle s statement reveals
the story of the crime in its horrible details. He said the negroes came up and one_
sékad rihy did you draw that gun on me?! and at the same time struck Andrew with a rack,
ry ] wl . @ ¢ e
8 c 8 g ev C
knocking him downte He begged the negroes not to kill him for the sake of his wife
and little ones, While pleading-for his life, Andrew was struck again witha rok
and two pistol:balls went through his body; that Tom heard the blood gush out ashe
turned to run, He was thea shot and fell in the edge of the water as a second shot went
whizzing by him, He lay still in thewater and the negroes fled. When they had gone
he dragged himself to the nearest house and gave the alarms
"A ripped shoe with the.sole flapping made a peculiar trap. When arrested Mootry had
on these shoes, “olly claims that the shoes were his and that he had them on on the
occasion of the murder, Much other testimony was introduced, some. corroborating and
some $ontradicting the various points of the negro's evidence, A great deal of very
damaging testimony against theprisoners. was. in evidence and the sum total of,it all
showed that Mat Mootry and Albert Rolly were themrderers of Andrew Prykle, Thetrial
in July consumed only two days, but created the livliest interst and attracted great
crowds’'to the court house,. Thejury were unanimous of the belief of the guilt of
‘Mootry and Rolly and their vedice was rendered without delay, In dersrocs the
court of appeals affirmed the verdict of the district court.
"Before pronouncing sentence, Judge R. By Brooks asked the prisoners if they had any=
thing to say, Mootry, amid sobs, still protested his innocence, Rolly‘deglared that
Mootry had nothing to do with.thekilling; that he (Rolly) did it, On last Saturday.
“lbert Rolly’ made affidavit before an officer still asserting Mat Mootry's innocence
of the whokte transaction," DAILY NEWS, Galveston, Texas, scaler (6=7)
BK 33 SOUTHWESTERN 877 (Under Mootry's name.)
MOOr RY HANGED
"Georgetown, 3-27-1896- Mat Mootry, the confederateof Albert Rolly, who was excuted
here last Friday, was hanged today in the presence df about 3,000 people, Mootry made
a talk on the gallows, admiting his sharkwin the mrder of Andrew Prykle, and thanked
Sheriff Purl for his kindness to him while in prison, He was thoroughly composed and
said he was confident of going straight to heaven, " Paper further states that Mootry
confessed to Sheriff on day before exefution saying that Rolly's confession from the
gallows was correct. DALLY NEWS, 3-28-1896 (l-7).
—— Ie, Yor Ee, em ee ee en ae A, Fae ee *.
213 SOUTHWES! BRN -2nd= 8));
“MOORE, Wilson, 29-year-old black man, electrocuted Texas Prison (Harris) on Feb, 1, 199.
~"Four patrol cars. filled with deputy sheriffs were sent about noon Monday to the eastern
. outskirts. of, the city to check a report that a negro sought in connection with a 16-year-old
while girl had been signted in that neighborhood, The sheriff's department earlier issued
a state-wide alarm for the negro, following the girl's report Saturday night &hat she had
been raped and her 19-year-old boy friend tied up by the negro, © ¥
"The assault is reported to have taken place about 11:30 p.m, Saturday just after the couple
turned off Humble Road onto Labadie. The negro, described as being about 28, 6 feet tall an
weighing about 200 pounds, jumped on the running board of the car, brandishing a .)5-caliber
revolver, the girl told deputies, She said the negro made them stop the car by a vacant
lot and forced them out of it, He then tied the boy with bailing wire and rope and wrapped
a blanket around his head, she reported, The negro raped her, she said, and then drove off
with the car, going north on Jensen, The girl wastreated at Jefferson Davis Hospital," CH
CHRONICLE, Houston, Texas, Feb, 2h, 197 (1/7. )
"Two negro companions of Wilson Moore, negro, charged with the rape of a white girl, were
with him in county jail Wednesday, each charged with carrying a pistol, Moore, 26, of
Almeda, was charged before Justice™, C, Ragan with rape, robbery by firearms and carrying a
pistol Tuesday after he signed a statkment that he tied up a 19-year-old man Saturday
night, assaulted his l6-year-old girl companion, then stole their car, In his statement to
Sheriff Neal Polk, who led a posse that arrested him at 7 a.m, Tuesday, Morre said after
the attack he drove around in the stolen car with Aason Jones, 35, and Leroy Allen, 28, of
111) Victor, Jones was arrested Monday night by a city patrolman as he drove the stolen
auto, His arrest led to the apprehension of Moore, Allen was arrested Wednesday mornings
The pistol carrying charges against Jones and Allen were filed before Justice Thomas I,
Decker." CHRONICLE, Houston, Texas, Feb. 26, 197 1B/2.)
"Charges of rape, robbery by firearms and pistol-carrying were filed Tuesday against Wilson
Moore, 26-year-old negro ex-convict, in connection with the rape of a 16-year-old white girl
Saturday night near Jensen and Labadie, on the northern edge of the city, The girl identi-
fied Moore positively as her attacker at the Criminal Courts Building shortly before noon,
Her escort had previously identified Moore, The girl viewed the negro, along with several
other negro prisoners inthe sheriff's office, After a whispered conference with Sheriff
Neal Pohk outside the room, they returned and the sheriff walked over to Moore and laid his
hand on him, ‘'Is this the one? Are your sure about it?' he asked, 'Yes, that's the one,!
the girl answered. 'Is this the girl you raped?! the sheriff asked Moore, 'She was about
that size,' the nggro responded calmly,
"Moore was arrested about 7 asm, Tuesday at his home near Almeda by a posse of officers
headed by Sheriff Polk, Brought to Criminal Courts Building and questioned by Sheriff Polk,
District Attorney A. CG Winborn and several officers, Moore signed a statement admitting
hehad raped the girl after tying up her 19-year-old escort, He also admitted that he had
driven off in their car after the rape. 'I'm sorry I did it,' Moore told reporters, 'I
wouldn't have done it if I hadn't smoked a marijuana cigarette,' He said that he and Za
30-year-old negro, whom he had known in prison, planned Saturday night to steal a car to
use in a robbery, and he and his friend smoked a marijuana cigarette, They happend to see
a parked car near Jensen and Labadie, Moore said, and while his companion waited at a bus
stop a short distance away, Moore took a pistol and approached the car, He said he ordered
the girl and her escort out of the car at pistol point and then the marijuana cigarette
gave him further ideas.
"He said he tied up the escort in some bushes near by, then raped the girl and finally drove
off in the car. 'I was going to give his car back to him,' Moore told reporters, ‘I just
wanted to use it for a job and I told him I'd leave it on the Hempstead highway after I was
finished with it.' However, Moore said, he picked up his négro friend and loaned him the
car, without carrying out his original robbery plan. The friend, a 30-year-old negro, was
arrested in the car Monday night by Patrolman C, E. Kuehn at Bagby and Jefferson, Patrolman
Kuehn recognized the license number and knew that a statewide alarm had been issued by the
sheriff8s office. Questioned by officers, the negro denied knowledge of the rape and said
he had borrowed the car from a negro he had known in prison, A check o the rison, records
failed to reveal any former prisoners by the name he gave officers and fina 1y; early
Tuesday, deputy sheriffs took the frrend to Huntsville to go over the prison records with theme
"They discove ed that the friend and Moore had both been released on the samd day, June l,
1916, Moore: was given a conditional pardon after serving a year and two months of a two-year
| burglary sentence from Fort Bend County, Moore's arrest followed and officers discovered a
pistol which Moore said he used Saturday night in his house on Almeda Road. Moore's 30-year=
old negro friend is being held for further questioning by the sheriff Justice, W. C. Ragan,
before whom the charges were filed against Moore, did not set bond in the cases. Dr. 0. Ae
Dwyer, county psychiatrist, who examined Moore after his interrogation Tuesday, said the
negro appeared to him to be legally sane. tHe told me he was sorry for what he had done,' Dr,
Dwyer said," CHRONECLE, Houston, Texas, 2/25/19),7 (1/8.)
58 HEADQUARTERS DETECTIVE
5 a Sues
bs 8
CES MORCES ee
, "
a ifs hae I
og hi 1” Rhy ‘
me
. bi 3 OR Ny e,
Miss Mary Slater, 68-year-old resident of San Fran isco, Cal., at arraign-
ment on charge of murder in connection with slaying of Lucien Doyer, 38,
father of three. Noise coming from apartment was said to be fight cause.
or whatever, like as not we’d been
investigating another murder over in
jig-town by now. Anyway, she did
what should have been done a long
time ago. Threw it in the trash bar-
rel, and sent it to the city dump.”
“With the cord?” Chitwood de-
manded sharply.
“With the cord,” Haynes said dis-
gustedly. “It would have been nice,
for us, if she’d kept it to skip mee
with, or something, but she didn’t. So
that meant Fuller and I had to go.
prowling the dump, which is sure a
sweet smelling place on a July morn-
ing! But here’s your missing robe,
anyway.”
HITWOOD grinned easily at the
C two tired and dishevelled detec-
tives. “I haven’t had any sleep,
either,” he pointed out. “But one way
or another, we’re going to get this
damned case closed by nightfall. And
don’t ask me how, because I’ don’t
know!”
He went home then, long enough to
bathe, shave, and change into fresh,
linen for his luncheon appointment
with Alfredo Castillo. That interview,
when it occurred, was abortive and
unsatisfactory. Castillo admitted
readily enough coi, Pan an alter-
cation with Callon organ a few:
nights before—admitted, too, that it
was because he had paid flowery com-
pliments to Morgan’s wife.
“She was worth a compliment,” he
assured Chitwood with a smile. “But
not, I fear, a black eye. Attractive
women with jealous husbands are a
dangerous combination, my friend.”
“As you discovered,” Chitwood re-
marked. “So, possibly, you planned
revenge?” .
The. Mexican smiled slightly as he
shook his head. “It wasn’t worth it
for me—the chance that she meant
what her eyes seemed to promise.
There are always other adventures.
A wise gambler, senor, wastes no time
regretting losses. Rather he thinks
of tomorrow.”
“There’ll be no .tomorrow for
Eleanor Morgan,” Chitwood reminded ~
harshly. “She’s dead.”
There. was nothing more to be
gained talking to this gay cabellero,
Chitwood decided irritably. Later,
perhaps, if some more definite link
could be~found.
On‘the way back to pemeaecsers:
it occurred to him that the andlady
of the apartment house might have
noticed a Mexican lurking around the
place. It was worth a try.
But again it was a fruitless lead.
The landlady was definite in her as-
Sertion that she had noticed no
strangers around the house the eve-
ning before. :
“Did you ever notice anybody—any
men, for instance—calling on Mrs.
Morgan when her hiatnedt Was away
at work?” ;
Again the answer was no.
“Did she ever talk to you about
_anybody—anything?” Chitwood asked
finally in dull desperation.
“Well—she used to talk a lot about
her little girl, who’s been in New York
some place. Used to say how much
she missed her—how much she
wanted to see her.”
Chitwood nodded, and turned away.
As an after-thought he asked over his
shoulder, “What was the little girl’s
name? © you. remember?” ”
Fi a Said the ladlady. “It was
ice.”
f
Chitwood had taken three steps be-
fore the significance of the name
struck his tired mind. Alice. Alice
. .. beginning with A.
He got in his car and sat for a long
moment, meditatively scratching his
cheek with a forefinger. Then, with
sudden determination to clear his
mind of the confusing theories that
were cluttering it, he turned the car
about and headed for the city dump.
It took less than five minutes. Three,
to be exact, Chitwood found on
checking with the clock on the instru-
ment board of his car.
He, parked for a moment on the
edge of the dump, where the latest
load of trash and rubbish had been
deposited. It was here, approxi-
mately, that Fuller and Haynes had
discovered the bathrobe. Chitwood
turned, and with his eyes followed the
road where it turned, and twisted
down into a gully, and up over a rail-
road track, and then forked, one
branch losing itself in the maze of
tracks leading out of the railway
yards.
The railway yards where Callon
Morgan worked on the night shift,
from 4 o’clock in the afternoon till
midnight. The railway yards from
which Callon Morgan had been sum-
moned home aor bb the discovery
of his wife’s mutilated body.
Slowly Chitwood nodded his head,
then bs back into his car and re-
turned to headquarters. He had one
important call to make—needed in-
formation from the foreman of the
railway shop.
After that it was clear sailing.
T was 3:30 in the afternoon when
| Chitwood sent for Callon Morgan.
Less than eighteen hours since the
discovery of the murder. A murder
apparently without motive, appar-
ently without clues...
Yet Chitwood’s first words were
definite enough.
“Tm arresting you for the murder
of your wife, Morgan,” he announced
flatly. “And I warn you that any-
thing you say will be used against
you. But you don’t need to say any-
thing.”
Morgan stared at him. “You're
nuts! I was working—I was at the
shops when it happened!”
“You were at the railway shops
when the murder was discovered,”
Chitwood corrected. “But from 7:30
to 8 o’clock you men have off for sup-
per. Some of you eat in the restau-
rant in the yards. And some of. you
bring your own lunches from home.
Where did you eat last night, Mor-
gan?”
The man looked at him, paused,
started, “I—in the yards, like I always
do, I took my own lunch .., .”
“What lunch?” Chitwood snapped.
“The lunch that was left in-your ice
box at home? The sandwiches and
tea that are still there?
Then, as Morgan glared at him in
stubborn silence, Chitwood continued
softly, “Let me tell you what you did.
a 7:30 bp ot ina pnd drove home
y way of the city dump, stopping
long enough to pick up something for
a murder weapon. That would take
five—ten minutes at the most, Maybe
you hoped to catch your wife enter-
taining somebody. Maybe you just
wanted to spy on her—see if she
was home. nyway, you had your
A ego lunch for an excuse—and
God knows what went on in that
jealous, mad mind of yours. God
knows” w!
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he sud-
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HEADQUARTERS DETECTIVE 51
I was never in Donlan’s home—I
wouldn’t know the man if I saw him!”
“Oh, yes, you would, Eddie,” Chief
Yoris said quietly. “Look at this!”
As he spoke, he suddenly reached
into his pocket, held out a picture of
‘Donlan_ sprawled on_ the floor,
wounded and dying. “You remember
it now, don’t you? That’s how he
looked when you left him!”
Young Griffis glanced at the photo-
graph and his eyes seemed to almost
pop out of his head. It was plain he
was breaking now—and Chief Yoris
worked fast.
Whipping out two more photo-
graphs he pushed them in front of the
cowering youth. “See this, Eddie?
It’s his widow—and the other’s his
daughter—the girl you robbed of her
father!”
Young Griffis tried to. speak but
his jaws only worked up and down.
Then Yoris played his trump card.
A close-up of the valiant officer show-
ing the ghastly, jagged wound under
the heart. “
“And here’s what did it!” he said.
It was too much. More than the
youth’s tortured nerves could stand.
A sobbing cry broke from his lips and
he buried his face in his hands.
Yoris waited. Was he going to talk?
Presently he lifted his head. “What
would I get if I admitted it?”
“T don’t know,” Yoris told him.
“That would be up to the jury.”
Young Griffis hesitated a minute,
then brushed his hand over his fore-
head. “All right” he said slowly.
‘““You’ve got me. I’ll talk.”
The Chief heaved a sigh of relief.
They had won!
In another minute his confession
came tumbling forth. He had not
meant to kill Donlan, he said. _He had
gone there merely to prowl and to
steal. :
“I thought the family had gone,”
he said quickly. “I jimmied the win-
dow and started upstairs. But just as
I reached the hall Donlan came out.
“ ‘What are you doing here?’ he de-
manded,
“I told him to stand back and I
reached for my gtin. But he, didn’t.
Instead, he started towards me.
“Pll take it away from you!’ he
cried. \
“IT was scared. I threw up my gun
and shot two or three times. When
I looked down he was lying there—'
dead!”
“ Young Griffis signed the confession
and later agreed to waive extradition.
-Next morning, Yoris and Himes
started back with their prisoner.
On the way he had little to say. But
once, nearing Portland, he turned to
them curiously.
.“How did you know all those jobs
were mine? I thought I was pretty
careful about leaving any clues be-
hind.”
Chief Yoris smiled. “That was
easy,” he told him. “Every time you
entered a window you left a deep
mark with your screwdriver. We got
to know ‘it as a regular brand!”
The youth’s lips curled disgustedly.
“So that was it. Instead of using my
hand, I always put my foot on the
handle and gave it a shove. It was
quicker.”
He paused, shook his head. “But I
ought to have known better. You can
bet that I won’t do that again in a
hurry!”
Chief Yoris looked at him. “No, I
don’t think you will, Eddie,” he said
slowly. “Not for a long long time!”
The words proved prophetic.
For ten weeks later, on October 31,
1934, after a brief trial, a jury in
Judge Ronald’s court in Seattle found
Eddie Griffis guilty of first degree
murder. He was sentenced to life
imprisonment in the state penitentiary
at Walla Walla.
HEADQUARTERS
DETECTIVE
belonged to a bathrobe that came in
the laundry from this residence here.”
Chitwood glanced down at the writ-
ten notation, then gave a slight start.
The name there was that of one of
El Paso’s wealthiest families.
The investigator pursed his lips, and
tried to ignore the warning “Go Slow!”
signal flashing in his tired mind. A
wealthy: family, a leading citizen...
and the almost too attractive wife of
an obscure railway worker. Such
things had -happened before. ;
Chitwood glanced at his watch, saw
that it was almost morning. He picked
up the slip of paper, handed it back
to Haynes.
“You and Fuller go out there,” he
directed. “Take the cord along. See
if he identifies it—and see what hap-
pened to the robe. And—” he paused,
then spoke slowly, emphasizing each
word. “Find out if he knew the mur-
dered woman, and what he was doing
last night around eight o’clock!”
With Fuller and Haynes gone on
their errand, Chitwood turned his
mind to the Mexican that had aroused
Callon Morgan’s fiery anger. Alfredo
Castillo, living across the border in
Juarez. It seemed a thin lead, but on
the other hand, there might have been
more-to the business than Morgan had
cared to admit, out of respect for the
reputation of his dead wife.
At any rdte, it was worth a try.
He picked up the telephone, gave the
number of a minor official in Juarez
who often co-operated with El Paso
officials in the exchange of informa-
tion regarding local criminals. When
a sleepy voice answered, Chitwood
apologized in flowery Spanish for dis-
turbing the man’s slumbers at such
an unusual hour, then asked, “Do you,
BEAUTY DRAWS THE ACE
PAGE 15
CONTINUED FROM
by chance, know a man called Alfredo
Castillo?”
“Como no, senor? Es un amigo de
mio. Why do you ask?”
-Chitwood sighed. If Castillo was a
friend of the Juarez politico, then
there was small likelihood of getting
him across the border for police ques-
tioning. Unless, of course, he was
completely innocent.
He decided to be straight-forward.
“I wanted. to question him about a
murder,” he told the Mexican at the
other end of the wire. “I wanted some
information from him.”
“Murder?” The Juarez official
sounded shocked and startled. “Who
was killed, my friend?”
“The wife of an acquaintance of
Castillo’s.”
Again there was a moment's silence,
then a laugh came over the wire.
“You may rest assured it was not
Alfredo, senor, if the woman was
murdered. If she died of love...
yes, perhaps. But to shoot a woman,
no ”
“She wasn’t shot,” Chitwood cut in
impatiently. “She was. strangled to
death. Last night, about eight o’clock.”
“Ah! Then most certainly it was
not Alfredo Castillo. He was with me
last night, from six o’clock until—
well, until but a moment ago. We
were entertaining some young ladies
—most charming young ladies, I as-
sure you.” There was a short pause,
and Chitwood was almost certain that
he heard a light feminine giggle at
the other end. Then his friend’s voice
resumed, “However, Senor Chitwood,
if you desire to converse with Castillo
I am certain he would be glad to
accommodate you. I, myself, will
escort him across the border at your
convenience. Shall we say for the
hour of luncheon?” .
“For luncheon,” Chitwood’ agreed.
As he replaced the receiver on the
hook, he swore softly to himself. Well,
it had been a feeble lead at best.
And now Castillo apparently had an
iron-clad, triple-rivetted alibi.
Chitwood closed his eyes wearily,
then opened them and picked up the
telephone again to order black coffee
and a sandwich from the all-night
restaurant next to police headquarters.
Haynes and Fuller should be back
soon with their report on the why’s
and wherefor’s of the silken cord from
the bathrobe that on occasion draped
the portly form of El Paso’s fourth
leading citizen.
Crime, Chitwood considered sleep-
ily, weaves a strange pattern.
It was well after nine o’clock when
Fuller and Haynes eventually re-
turned to headquarters. And with
them they brought the bathrobe from
which the garrotting cord had been
taken.
“Took you long enough to get it,”
Chitwood grumbled. ‘“What’d you do
—wait for the family to get up before
you disturbed them?”
“We've been playing hide-and-seek
in the city dump,” Haynes retorted.
“You certainly send us swell places!”
He gave his report then, tersely,
rapidly. The bathrobe, as Chitwood
could see for himself, was pretty well
worn out. Too worn for a swell guy
of money to wear about, anyway.
“So,” Haynes continued, “being
generous he gives it to the maid in
the house. That was three-four days
ago. But, the shape it was in, it wasn’t
any use to the maid, either. If she'd
given it to her husband, or boy friend,
id
j
|
SE OE ascites oh epee
Callon Morgan stared at it, shook
his head.
“Can you think of any enemies your
wife might have had who felt bitterly
enough to kill her.”
Morgan hesitated, then again. made
a sign of negation. “I don’t—I. can’t
understand it,’ he murmured at last.
He looked down at the floor—at the
scattered cards—at a blood stain on
a rumpled cushion. ‘And—and she
was playing solitaire when it hap-
pened ... Poor Eleanor!”
For a moment he was silent, then
glanced up at Chitwood. “Is it all
right if I go down and comfort my
boy? I—he must be pretty upset. He
and Eleanor got along fine together—
almost like brother and sister, they
were.”
“Sure,” Chitwood said sympatheti-
cally. “Sure. Go ahead. We'll let
you know when we’re through here.”
When Morgan had left, Chitwood
turned back to the two detectives.
“We'll give the place a thorough
search now,” he announced. “I want
to check through the clothes closet
first. Morgan might have made a
mistake—the cord here might have
come from one of his wife’s dressing
gowns.” .
But that vagrant hope was soon
blasted. There was a woman’s dress-
ing gown hanging in one closet and
a bathrobe in another, but each had
its proper cord of matching material.
Chitwood stood in the center of the
bedroom, frowned heavily for a mo-
ment, then suggested:
“It might be that the murderer was
some man—or woman, even—living
in the building here. Some one who
knew her well enough to call on her
in a bathrobe.”
“A man,” Detective Haynes sug-
gested. “Eleanor Morgan was a
pretty good<looking woman. It might
have been one of those things...
a boy friend on the side. It’s what
happens often enough to husband’s
who have night jobs.”
“There might have been another
man,” Chitwood admitted slowly.
Then he added, “But the murder
might have been done by a woman. A
jealous wife, for instance. Don't
forget, Haynes, that that happens,
too.”
He paused, pondering, then turned
his attention to other matters. He
remembered the blood-smeared soda
water bottle, that had been used to
strike Eleanor Morgan down before
she was strangled. That had already
been sent down to headquarters, to
be checked in the police laboratory
for fingerprints.
There had been no glass.in the liv-
ing room, though, nor had there been
any drinking straws. Strange. Who-
ever had imbibed the soda water had
drunk it straight from the bottle,
which was not a womanly habit.
Another indication, perhaps, that
the murdering visitor had been a man.
Chitwood walked into the kitchen,
glanced around at its neat order, then
opened the door of the refrigerator.
On one shelf was a cardboard carton
that had originally held six bottles
of soda pop. Now one was missing.
There was a small thermos in the
ice box, that on investigation turned
out to hold iced tea. There were three
EYES GLARING——
with hate, Morgan told. officers how
he had shugged a Mexican who flirted
with his wife when he was introduced.
14
sandwiches neatly done up in wax
paper.
A midnight lunch for Morgan when
he got home, Chitwood decided. From
the looks of things the man’s wife
had taken good care of him .. . while
she lived.
There was nothing further of im-
mediate interest in the kitchen—
nothing in the bedroom, either, that
would indicate a clue, Chitwood
returned to the living room, prowled
aimlessly around for a few minutes.
A desk against one wall, by the win-
dow, attracted his attention.
ERHAPS, he considered, as he
Pstartea thumbing through its con-
tents, he might find a lead here.
There might have been something to
Haynes remark about a boy friend
somewhere -in the offing, and if so
there might be little notes or secret
love missives. . ‘
But the desk drawers revealed no
A RAIL
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A RAILROAD SHOP
similar to the one pictured above was
Morgan’s place of employment, he told
investigators seeking his wife’s slayer.
more than routine household papers
—receipted bills, casual memoranda,
and the like. There was, however, a
marriage certificate, and a duplicate
copy of the marriage license applica-
tion. Glancing over the latter, Chit-
wood learned that the dead woman
had been married and divorced be-
fore she married Morgan.
Well, that didn’t prove anything.
Beside the telephone, on top of the
desk, was a scratch pad and pencil.
The top page of the pad was covered
with aimless scrawls and designs—
the nervous, semi-automatic and sub-
conscious pencillings so common to
telephone users. Chitwood flipped
back a page. Here, too, were casual
drawings. The rough outlines of a
playing card had been sketched sev-
eral times ... always the same card.
The ace of spades!
Chitwood tried to shrug away an
eerie feeling of things supernatural.
There were those who might say the
dead woman had had a premonition
of death. For in the end, when she
had been found dead, it was with her
lifeless fingers clutching that fatal
card. It might be pure coincidence,
and then again...
Chitwood tried to force his mind
back into practical channels. That sort
of thinking was nonsense! He turned
back another page on the pad, and
once again a drawing of the card of
death met his eye.
But a name had been printed on
this page,. too. Printed and then
blocked out with heavy pencil strokes
until only the first letter A was
visible. :
The scarlet letter, Chitwood thought.
A for Adultery! Could that be pos-
sible . . . could that be the cause or
the motive?
There was a sound of a door open-
ing and closing, and Chitwood swirled
about quickly to discover the bereaved
husband, Callon Morgan, had entered.
“It’s getting kind of late,” he ex-
plained his presence. “I was wonder-
ing how soon you’d be through here.
I wanted to put the.boy to bed, you
understand.”
“We’re just about through now,”
Chitwood assured him, then paused
while he considered how best to ap-
proach the delicate questioning at
hand. Finally he said, “Your wife was
evidently a mighty attractive woman,
Morgan.’ She must have had plenty of
suitors—at the time you married her,
that is.” }
In a low voice, as if it were a shame-
ful thing he was admitting, Morgan
mumbled, “Men were always giving
her the eye.”
Chitwood nodded, then said softly,
“I’m wondering if one of these dis-
appointed suitors could have killed
her in a jealous rage. Because—well,
because he couldn’t enjoy her favors.”
Sympathy for the stricken man
prompted him to add hastily, “Be-
cause she—your wife—wouldn’t have
anything to do with him.”
“I don’t know,” Morgan muttered.
“T don’t know what to think.”
Chitwood turned to leave, and then
at the last moment, asked casually,
“Does the letter A mean anything to
you? ‘As the first letter of a name,
perhaps. I found it scrawled on the
telephone pad in two or three places.”
For a. moment Morgan’s only an-
swer was a puzzled frown. Then his
face flushed suddenly, an angry, brick-
red. “Ye-ah!” he said thickly. ° “It
means something, all right! A guy by
the name of Alfredo Castillo. If that
dirty monkey’s been fooling around
Eleanor behind my back—if he’s the
ONG s <."
“Wait a minute!” Chitwood inter-
rupted. “Take it easy! Just who is
this Alfredo Castillo, to begin with?
And what makes you think the A
might stand for him?”
It took a moment for Morgan to
regain control of his temper, and then
he explained hotly, “He’s a Mex—a
Spaniard, he claims—from Juarez,
across the border. I met him a cou-
ple of times, around and about places.
He comes up to me the other night,
when I’m out to a cafe with Eleanor,
and starts making a play for her right
in front of my eyes. I'd just intro-
duced him, and he begins with the
soft soap.” His face became red and
angry again at the recollection, and
he snapped, “I put an end to that
quickly enough!” .
Chitwood waited when the man
paused, and after a moment Morgan
went on in the same hot, angry voice,
“I slugged him! And I warned him
if I ever caught him so much as look-
ing at my wife again, I’d break his
greasy damned neck!” He drew a
deep breath, expelled it slowly, and
snapped, “Maybe he’s taken this way
of getting even with me. If he has,
by God! P’l—”
“Snap out of it!” Chitwood ordered
sharply. “Don’t let your mind run
haywire, Morgan? After all, that
letter A might stand for a lot of
things besides this Alfredo Castillo.
It might mean nothing at all... .”
“Ye-ah?” snarled Morgan. “That’s
what you think! I got my own ideas
now!”
Chitwood hesitated, wondering what
he could say to this man whose natur-
al grief had now been sharpened by
ugly doubt and suspicion. Words
wouldn’t help much now. And al-
ready he’d said too much—started the
man off on a miserable, possibly fatal,
trend of thought.
All he could do now was see to it
that Morgan was kept under police
surveillance for the next few days, to
eo ely his embarking on any hot-
eaded attempt at revenge.
ACK at headquarters, Detectives
B Futier and Haynes had news to
report. Some good—some bad.
There had been no fingerprints
found on the soda water bottle that
had been used to knock Eleanor Mor-
gan unconscious.
“You remember it was pretty well
smeared with blood,” Haynes pointed
out. “It was right by the woman’s
head—in the pool of blood from her
wound.” He hesitated, then added,
“Like it had been placed there on
purpose, almost.”
“You said you had good news,”
Chitwood said. “What is it?”
“The cord used to strangle the wo-
man,’ Haynes said. “We found a
laundry tag on it. And we checked
with the laundry—got the owner out
of bed and made him open up his
place so’s we could go over the rec-
ords.” He shoved a slip of paper
across the desk towards Chitwood.
“The cord (Continued on page 57)
15
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Pav NLR A cea ETS. “ \
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BY D. L. CHAMPION
35
iat
a i
Re
hurled the bottle at her unconscious form, then knelt at her
side. He noosed the silken cord about her throat, like a
lethal necklace. Then, with all his strength, he pulled it
tight.
She lay there dead, cards strewn across the floor, and
clutched in her lifeless hand was the card whose prediction
had been fulfilled—the ace of spades.
Callon Morgan, junior, the-stepson of Eleanor Morgan,
had been at the movies. Since he was but 1] years old he
had seen the feature twice. He was late in arriving home.
It was a little after 10:30 when he knocked at the door of
the locked apartment.
He knocked twice, three times, and obtained no answer.
He went downstairs again for a consultation with Mrs.
Emery, the landlady.
“I don’t think your mother's out,” she said. “Maybe she’s
fallen asleep. Anyway, I have a key. I'll let you in.”
The pair trooped up the stairs and Mrs. Emery opened
the door. She uttered a startled cry, pushed the boy from
the room and raced down the stairs to the hall telephone.
Some ten minutes later three of El Paso’s crime experts
were in the death.room. They were Detectives J. C. Fuller,
David Haynes and Roy Chitwood of the District Attorney’s
investigating staff,
Callon Morgan, senior, who worked the night shift in
the shops of the Southern Pacific Railroad, was sent+for.
The officers observed the smashed skull, the shattered
soda bottle and drew the obvious’ conclusions. They found
the silken cord about the woman’s neck. They ‘also found
all the windows locked. Mrs. Emery stated that she had
neither seen nor heard anyone call on Eleanor Morgan
that night.
By now the fingerprint men, the photographers and the
coroner had sierra: Investigators Chitwood, Fuller and
Haynes began a careful scrutiny of the house. There was
evidence that Mrs. Morgan was an assiduous housekeeper.
The house was in perfect order.
a
EPCOS ee pind
peed conto
In the kitchen
usual items he |
bottle of iced tea
He returned «
+* woman was bein
ment the door bi
His hair was dis!
officers.
“For Heaven's
pened?”
Fuller put a re
gently as he cou!
killed his wife.
“Who did it?”
who?”
“That’s what \
help us.”
- Callon Morg
his hands. Appar
However, after a
He lifted his heac
He said, “I do:
anything in this
i nor.”
“The State of 7
maybe you can he
have you any sus)
“Me?” Morgan
agine why anyon:
her. 1 just can’t b:
Chitwood show
his wife. “Have
to any garment in
Morgan shook |
both questions.
Now Detective
ous form, then knelt at her
1 about her throat, like a
his strength, he pulled it
ewn across the floor, and
the card whose prediction
ades.
“pson of Eleanor Morgan,
e was but 1] years old he
vas late in arriving home.
1e knocked at the door of
and obtained no answer.
a consultation with Mrs.
it,”” she said. “Maybe she’s
2y- I'll let you in.”
and Mrs. Emery opened
‘Ty, pushed the boy from
’s to the hall telephone.
‘f El Paso’s crime experts
ce Detectives J. C. Fuller,
of the District Attorney’s
orked the night shift in
Railroad, was sentefor.
hed skull, the shattered
conclusions. They found
s neck. They ‘also found
‘ery stated that she had
all on Eleanor Morgan
: photographers and the
s Chitwood, Fuller and
of the house. There was
1 assiduous housekeeper.
In the kitchen Chitwood opened the ice box. Among the
usual items he found several sandwiches and a thermos
bottle of iced tea. s
He returned to the living room as the body of the dead
woman was: being removed to the mortuary. At that mo-
ment the door burst open and a man came into. the room.
His hair was dishevelled and he started, wild-eyed, at the
officers. ;
“For Heaven's sake,” cried’ Callon Morgan, “what's hap-
pened?”
Fuller put a reassuring hand on the man’s shoulder. As
gently as he could the officer told him that someone had
killed his wife.
“Who did it?” shouted Morgan. “For the love of heaven,
who?”
“That's what we're trying to find out. Maybe you can
help us.”
- Cation Morgan sat in a chair and buried his head in
his hands. Apparently the man was tremendously moved.
However, after a few minutes he pulled himself together.
He lifted his head, sat upright in his chair.
He said, “I don’t know how I can help you but I'll do
anything in this world to avenge the killing of Elea-
nor.”
“The State of Texas will avenge it,” said Chitwood. “But
maybe you can help us find out who the murderer is. First,
have you any suspicions of your own?”
“Me?” Morgan seemed honestly puzzled. “I can’t im-
agine why anyone would want to kill her. Everyone liked
her. I just can’t believe she’s dead.”
Chitwood showed Morgan the cord which had strangled
his wife. “Have you ever seen this before? Does it belong
to any garment in the house?”
Morgan shook his head and answered in the negative to
both questions.
Now Detective Haynes came into the room. He was hold-
ing a cardboard covered notebook in his hand. He said to
Morgan, {‘Have.you ever seen this before?”
“Sure. It’s my wife’s diary. But she never kept it regularly.
She'd write in it occasionally but she'd forget most of the
time.”
Haynes took a deep breath. “Morgan,” he said, “this is a
tough question to ask you under the circumstances but do
you think your wife, maybe, had a boy friend?”
Morgan flushed angrily. “Of course not. Why should you
ask?”
" “Because,” said Haynes, “there’s an entry in, this diary
dated four days ago. Let me read it to you.”
Haynes read the following entry to Morgan, Fuller and
Chitwood:
January 16th
Had a long talk with B today. It is awful that we
should be kept apart when we love each other so much,
I can hardly wait for the day when we can be together
forever.
“Now,” said Haynes, “have you any idea who this B is?”
“Oh,” said Morgan, “that'’s—” He broke off suddenly and
there was a black frown on his brow. “That dirty rat,” he
shouted. “I'll kill him.”
The officers exchanged significant glances. It appeared
as if the case was breaking already. Fuller took Morgan's
arm and calmed him down.
“Easy,” said the detective. “Now you're going to kill
who?” cee
“Benito. That's who it must be. He killed my wife.”
“Benito who?”
“I don’t know his last namé.” The officers were visibly
disappointed. “But,” went on Morgan, “you can identify
him easily enough. He's got a black eye.”
‘How do you know?”
_ “I gave it to him.” [Continued on page 49]
vund Lieutenant King
om Garth. The genial,
astonished at the visit,
mney for the purchase
ad had been produced
f February.
1ow Dr. Young?” King
ot very well,” he re-
business way. I first
hs ago when he and
» build a summer cot-
helped on the plans.
h him a lot because
‘e whenever he could
g with the work. He
ideas about how to
‘e new way of puttin
atter of fact, he did
out even telling me
| to tingle with excite-
chitect for details. In
ch, Garth had visited
te found the cistern
: cement floor. Later,
e had done the work
le said that he was
‘rel with his wife and
»in to keep his mind
den under that floor?”
ing in amazement.
ieutenant?”
3's hody. We believe
te
. I thought that
York.”
ny'S been thinking,”
ers have been coming
n’t there—she never
iis suddenly dry lips.
\. His eyes widened
tters!—I can’t believe
. “What about those
it can’t you believe?”
agitated. His cheeks
“I can’t believe it
th Mrs. Young's dis-
“but a day or two
iday Dr. Young asked
him. He wanted to
iends in New York.
inded me a batch of *
if I would send them
iend and have him
time, in order. They
it was some kind of
didn’t even look at
vanted to know. A
sut for Dr. Thomas
ught to the District
front King, Davis,
was immediately in-
against him. Even
litect’s story of the
intained his inno-
all that I murdered
t haven't even proof
ig admitted gravely,
that evidence very
arations are being
ement floor of the
t of your summer
. You know better
‘ill be found under
> no answer. Doctor
it. He made no fur-
. It was an amaz-
(he thought of
his mind a long
» help him finance
the building project which was his cherished
ambition. After their quarrel at the Planta-
tion Club on the night of February 2)st,
he seized the oon to rid himself of
her and gain control of her wealth. The
couple never went to the Biltmore Hotel as
he had claimed. On the drive from the
Plantation Club they had continued the
quarrel. Mts. Young smacked his face and
broke his spectacles.
On the pretext of obtaining another pair,
he drove her to his office. There he made
friendly overtures and plied his wife with
liquor, Then he suggested that they play
a game in which she was to write him letters
while on an imaginary trip to New York.
Mrs. Young took to the game with zest. As
part of the game, he had her make out a
receipt for the bonds, and also had her sign
a power of attorney which he intended to
use later when it was safe. Then he drove her
to the cottage. He took with him a gas in-
haler, a polished metal contraption consist-
ing of a mask and a small cylinder of gas,
which he used on patients.
During the journey Mrs. Young fell asleep.
Young stopped the car and pressed the mask
against his wife’s nose and mouth. She died
without ever waking up.
He removed her diamond ring and con-
tinued the drive to the cottage. There he
dumped the body into the unfinished cistern,
covered her with her fur coat, and spent the
night fashioning a wooden floor frame over
the corpse to conceal it. The following week-
end he poured in the cement. .
The body was found exactly as Young
described it.
On the day of his confession, June 17,
1925, Dr. Thomas Young was officially placed
under arrest. He was charged with murder,
and brought to trial on August 17th, at
Superior Court. For eight days, a parade
of witnesses took the stand, piling up a mass
of damning evidence. On the morning of the
ninth day, there was no answer from his
cell when he was called for breakfast. He
lay on his cot, covered by a blanket. When
the blanket was raised, it was found that
Dr. Young had taken justice into his own
hands. Arotind his throat was a copper wire
removed from a radio set he had been al-
lowed to have in his cell. He had used a‘
small stick as a tourniquet to tighten the
wire and strangle himself. :
The Thomas Young Building remains still
only a dream—the dream of a man whose
vanity drove him to murder.
(The names Helene Sutton and Garrison Garth
ate fictitious in order to conceal the. true identitics
of persons innocently involved in the investiga:
tion.-—The Editor),
The Silken
Garrote
[Continued from page 37}
Now, if a resident of El Paso County is
thirsty he has merely to hie himself to a
package store and purchase a bottle of
whisky. However, if he is thirsty and gre-
garious he has something of a problem, for
bars, restaurants and hotels are forbidden
by law to serve anything stronger than 3.2
beer,
This problem is by no means insoluble.
El Paso lies on the northern bank of the
Rio Grande, the Mexican city of Juarez is
situated on the south, and Juarez is as wide
open as the grand canyon.
Two nights before, on the 18th of June,
Callon Morgan took a night off and escorted
his wife across the international bridge for
an evening of gaiety.
In a night club in pore they had been
approached by a well-mannered Mexican
who spoke English perfectly. Obviously, he
was known to Eleanor Morgan who addressed
him as Benito, Morgan had not caught the
last name,
Benito sat at the table with them and
bought a round of drinks. Then it seemed
to Morgan that the stranger was flirting with
Morgan’s pretty wife. Morgan objected in
strong language. Benito objected to Morgan's
objection. The net result was a minor brawl
during which Morgan slugged the Mexican
in the eye.
“But,” concluded Morgan, “I never
dreamed my wife was crazy about him. He
probably came up here to try to get her to
go away with him. Maybe she turned him
down and he got mad and killed her.”
“Maybe,” said Chitwood noncommittally.
“Anyway we'll see if we can pick him up.”
The officers departed. Young Callon Mor-
gan was sent back to his mother in New
Mexico. Morgan, senior, went dully about
his daily duties.
Whatever fingerprints there may have been
on the shards of the broken bottle were
hopelessly obscured with blood. But in the
tassel of the strangling cord, Chitwood found
a small, stapled tag bearing a laundry mark.
He went about tracking this down, while his
colleagues visited their opposite numbers in
Juarez in an effort to find Benito with the
black eye.
Other than the mysterious Benito, the of.-
ficers failed to find any other men-friends
of the dead. woman. Apparently, she had
no enemies. Her first husband was dead and
her young daughter, Elizabeth, was living
with relatives in New York,
Within six hours Chitwood had the
laundry mark identified. He called imme-
diately upon the Wallenders who told him
that the robe, along with the silken cord,
had been carried away by the trash collector.
A telephone call to the sanitation depart-
ment informed him that the refuse had been
thrown in the city dump. The dump was
situated almost at the edge of the interna-
tional railroad bridge which links the Santa
Fe line with that of the National Mexican
Railways.
There, in a pile of papers and magazines
which bore Wallender's name, the shabby
bathrobe, now shabbier than ever, was finally
unearthed,
I now became apparent that the killer
had sauntered through the dump and there
had picked up the noose with which he had
committed murder. And that fact left the
case more wide open than ever. A tramp
riding the rods or an alien illegally enterin
the country could well have walked throug
the dump, since it was an obscure way of
getting from the railroad yards to the main
road, some three-quarters of a mile away.
When Roy Chitwood returned to police
headquarters, Detective Fuller greeted him.
“We've got Benito,” he said, “His last name’s
Varvahal. The Juarez police got him. He
came across.the border voluntarily.”
“Good,” said Chitwood, “I'll talk to him.”
“Benito was slim, handsome and about 80
years old. His hair was dark, his complexion
olive, And he had a gaudy black eye. He was
calm and quite self-possessed as Chitwood
entered the room where he sat.
Benito said coolly, “Buenos Dias. 1 under-
stand you believe [ killed senora Morgan.”
“Not exactly,” said Chitwood. “But I'd
like to talk to you about it. You admit that
her husband blackened your eye?”
“OF course. There are several witnesses.”
“Is it possible that you killed the woman
because of that?”
BALLET In
the BOUDOIR
It happened down Havana way,
4 leneman sauntered by one
As was dancing a ballet
In dust my—vell—thin
negliges.
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“You were sweet on Mrs. Morgan,”
began Chitwood. -
“Yes,” interrupted Henry. “But that
- doesn’t say I killed her.”
“I’m not accusing you of that. Who else
was keen about her?”
Henry shook his head. “Sorry: but I
can’t help you out there.” Nor was he
able to offer any other lead to the solu-
tion of the case. Two hours later, when
his Austin alibi had been checked and
verified in every detail, he was turned
loose.
Chitwood now found himself up against
a blank wall. His two most likely. suspects,
Henry and-Mrs. Morgan’s ex-husband, had
both been eliminated from the case. And
for want of a better point of departure he
returned to the dump.
He saw where Railroad Avenue emerged
out of the hollow to run into L Avenue,
a stone’s throw from the Morgan home.
Back-tracking through the dump he ended
up in the parking lot adjoining the rail-
road shops. His eyes narrowed. A hun-
dred cars were there, in neat alignment.
Was the one car he was looking for
amongst them?
Contacting Detective Fuller by telphone,
he told him to rush to the parking lot with
the tire casts that had been made several
hours before and when Fuller. arrived, they
began their check under ‘the curious eye of
the parking lot attendant. Their work
paid off a short time later. The tires on
the 30th car they examined, a battered
Chevrolet, matched the plaster casts. Chit-
wood turned to the lot attendant. “Who
does the old jalopy belong to?” he asked.
“THat’s Bob Cramer’s car. What are you
looking for?”
“A killer,”:snapped Chitwood.
“You mean the fellow who killed Mrs.
Morgan? Say, something funny happened
to that car last night.”
The lieutenant whirled on the attendant.
“What?”
“It- was during the knock-off period, be-
tween eight and eight-thirty, when the men
break shift to eat. When I got -back from
the restaurant at eight-thirty, the head-
lights on this buggy were on. And I know
they were off when Cramer pulled into
the lot and parked. He must have taken
the car out during the rest period and
when he pulled in again, forgot to turn
off his headlights.”
Chitwood nodded thoughtfully. A fellow
who had just committed murder would
‘be very apt to do a thing like that. But
a few minutes later, when Cramer was
questioned, he: had no difficulty in clear-
ing himself of any connection with the .
crime. He had worked until eight o’clock
the night before, then with five other em-
ployes had trooped to a nearby restaurant
where they had all eaten. They had re-
mained in the eating place until 8:25, at
which time they had all returned together
to the shop.
This story was promptly verified by the
five companions in question.
“How do you account for the headlights
of your car being on?” asked Chitwood.
“I don’t know, unless someone used my
car and forgot to turn them off.”
“Anyone borrow the keys?”
“No. They. wouldn’t have to. The keys
are always in- the switch in case the at-
tendant has to shift the cars around.”
Ee one IRON 8%: AIRES:
“I see,” said Chitwood thoughtfully.
“So anyone could have used your car for
a half hour. That complicates matters:”
The lieutenant spent the next hour in
the shop asking questions and getting some
interesting answers. In mo way could he
implicate Cramer or any of the other men
in the crime. But nonetheless a nebulous
theory began to form in his mind. Im-
pounding Cramer’s car he returned to
headquarters, where he spent the next half
hour contacting various attorneys in the
city. His fifth call paid off. And _ his
nebulous theory now assumed a definite
design of murder.
He decided to put it to the test. Taking
with him the casts of the footprints found
in the dump, he drove rapidly to the
Morgan apartment. Callon Morgan was
not at home, which was just as well for
no one bothered him as he compared a
pair of Morgan's shoes with the casts.
They matched perfectly, as he had sus-
pected they would. Almost of equal im-
portance was his second discovery. In
the cuffs of an old pair of work pants
hanging in the closet he found particles
of fine ash dust identical with the grit the
laboratory had found on the lethal noose.
At 11 o’clock that night Callon Morgan
was picked up at the home of a relative
and rushed to Chitwood’s office. He put
on a tremendous act as they hurried him
through the door. “Have you got the
killer?” he asked eagerly.
“Yes,” said Chitwood drily. “Sit down,
Morgan.”
Morgan sank:. into a chair, squirmed
forward onto the edge of it. “Who?” he
asked.
Chitwood stared at him contemptuously
for a long moment. “You,” he said at
last. “You killed your wife, Morgan. Who
are you trying to kid?”
The color drained from Morgan’s face.
He sprang to his feet. “You're crazy,” he
screamed. “Why should’ I kill her? I
loved her.” .
Chitwood nodded. “That’s the answer.
That’s why you killed her. You loved her
but she was leaving you. She found out
that her marriage to you was a mistake.
T just checked with her lawyer. He had
just served you with papers for a divorce.
You were nuts about her, insanely jealous.
And rather than lose her. you killed her.”
Morgan sank back in his chair. “No,”
he whimpered. “Even though she was
divorcing me, I didn’t... .” A note of
hope sprang into his voice. “I was working
in the shops when she was killed.”
Chitwood shook his head remorselessly.
“That's what you almost succeeded in
making us believe. You almost got away
with it, Morgan.
knew about that short cut through the
dump from the railroad shops to. your
house. Last night when the shift knocked
off for eats, you took Cramer’s car out
of the parking lot—you have no car of
- your own—drove down into the dump,
stopped, snatched up the bottle and the
cord from the old bathrobe and drove up
to L Avenue.
“Then you sneaked into your house.
The door was open. Your wife was play-
ing cards and didn’t hear you. You crept
up behind her, you... .”
“No, no,” sobbed Morgan.
prove it.”
“You can’t
You plotted well. You.
“That's w
wood relent)
car to snatc
left your fc
You also st
got some of
But more ir
your fingerp:
car. Have y
“Yes,” sai:
I loved her.
persuasive sc
authorities,
years he wet
evidence tha
perior mind
of becoming
The Mian
vinced they
missing girls
hundreds of
hunt for Jeff:
of ‘him was {
tips were ru
founded. It
fugitive and °
so completel:
their efforts, ’
most active c
By mornin
10, the piece
beginning to
the beautiful
Theater proje
discovered in
established he
another nam.
story.
She said th
Angeles, she
the name of
had given her
in Miami. S
dark about |
and children.
fornia, she sa
Jefferson.
In New Yo
high—as it al
of a tempora
and more spe
ture. This tir
script writer
agency at a sa
bride, to give
had landed or
easy success v
to drink heavi
looking girl wt
“He becam
Blakely told
soon discovere
who always hz
panions. He
The only sensi
to break off v
When Jeffers
Blakely had «
carded husbar
California. Th
and children, v
iville’s murder.
man whose
ce are the first
ym the strange
: killer’s mind)
friend’s pretty
r the crime he’
| erence ee
iissing from his
haunts for the
dly, the New
ck that Ralph
the apartment
‘rt on Morning-
had not been
ist two months.
itly eliminated,
arch for Henry
igh the reports
| turned in the
s of the neigh-
zan home had .
‘eport came in.
No fingerprints
ken glass but it
nined that the
for Old Pioneer
be cord, it was
1uch worn and
re fine particles
d characteristic
plus the ash
» the conclusion
a dump.
muttered Chit-
at smell was.
re. The bottle
me dump.”
yes, he showed
nlikely that the
the bottle and
for long,” he
ed them up on
ome last night.
amewhere near
“Almost di-
place. There’s
1alf-filled with
old abandoned
ied to be called
dy uses it any
rom his chair.
lay you ten-to-
right.” He had
od and his two
on foot down
2 into the heart
d in the deep
On all sides of
iles of rotting
f ashes, .broken
pproaching the
2 Marrow road
enly the men
sticky clay of
he distinct im-
s. They were
clean and sharp and in all probability had —
been made within the last 24 hours.
“Look,” said Chitwood sharply. “There
are footprints, too. This is the spot. He
stopped the car here. Look, you can see
where he started up again. His rear end
skidded.”
“Yes,” said Fuller, trying to hide the
excitement in his voice. “And do you see
what I see? Look where his footprints
Iead to.”
Chitwood and Hayes followed his point-
ing finger. The footprints led from the
edge of the muddy road, at the point
where the car had stopped, to a pile of
refuse that bordered. it. Lying crumpled
on top of the pile was a faded and tattered
bathrobe. Making a wide circuit so as
not to disturb the tire tracks or footprints,
Chitwood snatched up the robe and ex-
amined it swiftly. “Same: color and same
material as the noose,” he announced.
“We're in luck. The killer got his weapons
here and he was good enough to leave not
only his footprints behind, but his tire
tracks as well.”
Lab men were sent for and they set
about making casts of the tire and foot-
prints. Then an attempt was made to
follow the tire tracks but once the road
.climbed out of the deep hollow the wet
clay vanished and along with it, the tread
marks. The same failure was met with
proceeding in the opposite direction,
toward L Avenue.
“Where do we go from here?” asked
Hayes.
“Find Henry,” snapped Chitwood. “If
his shoes fit the casts and if the tires of
his car match those treads, the case is
solved.”
A pleasant surprise was ‘awaiting the
officers when they returned to headquar-
ters. Peter Henry was seated uncomfort-
ably in Chitwood’s office, guarded by two
officers. He had been picked up a short
time before as he pulled into the driveway
of his home..
A heavy-set man with black eyes and
a shock of unruly hair, he faced the
lieutenant belligerently and denied that he
was in any way implicated in the death
of Eleanor Morgan. Questioned closely,
he stated that he had not fled the town at
all, that he had simply driven to Austin
in search of a job. As a matter of fact,
he had departed early Monday morning,
three days before the crime. was .com-
mitted, and had just returned to El Paso
an hour before.. Readily he offered the’
names of the individuals he had contacted
‘in Austin and in great detail, accounted
for the time he had spent in. that city
during the last four days.
“What about, last night?” asked Chit-
wood.
“For last night, I'm clean as a whistle.-
I got a dozen alibi witnesses for last
night. From eight o'clock until one, I
was bowling in Austin at the Longhorn
Club. I ran up a high score for the night.
The manager will tell you that, and all
the crowd there.”
‘Before checking up on Henry’s alibi,
Chitwood compared the suspect’s shoes
with the casts of the footprints found in
the dump. They did not match, Henry’s
shoes being at least two sizes larger.
Nor did the pattern on the tires of his
car correspond with the tread marks found.
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47
sod thoughtfully.
used your car for
olicates matters.”
the next hour in
, and getting some
mo way could he
of the other men
heless a nebulous
n his mind. Im-
he returned to
pent the next half
attorneys in the
id off. And his
ssumed a definite
o the test. Taking
e footprints found
e rapidly to the
llon Morgan was
s just as well for
s he compared a
3; with the casts.
. as he had sus-
nost of equal im-
nd discovery. In
ir of work pants
ie found particles
| with the grit the
1 the lethal noose.
ht Callon Morgan
ome of a relative
j’s office. He put
they hurried him
ave you got the
y- :
drily. “Sit down,
chair, squirmed
of it. “Who?” he
m contemptuously
You,” he said at
‘ife, Morgan. Who
1m Morgan's face.
‘You're crazy,” he
d'I kill her? I
Chat’s the answer.
2r. You loved her
u. She found out
yu was a mistake.
‘ lawyer. He had
yers for a divorce.
r, insanely jealous.
sr. you killed her.”
his chair. “No,”
though she was
...” A note of
‘e. “I was working
vas killed.”
ead remorselessly.
ost succeeded in
i almost got away
plotted well. You.
cut through the
.d shops to your
the shift knocked
Cramer's car out
1 have. no car of
1 into the dump,
1e bottle and the
obe and drove up
into your house.
sur wife was play-
i you. You crept
rgan. “You can't
“That's where you’re wrong,” said Chit-
wood relentlessly. “When you stopped the
car to snatch up the bottle and cord, you
left your footprints behind in the mud.
You also stepped in a pile of ashes and
got some of the grit in your pants cuffs.
But more important than that, we found
your fingerprints on the wheel of Cramer’s
car. Have you heard enough?”
“Yes,” said Morgan brokenly. “I did it.
I loved her. I didn’t want to lose’ her. I
couldn't bear to think of her going to
another man. God help me. What will
happen to me now?”
Callon Morgan found the answer to
that question on the morning of August
19th, 1938, when he was duly electrocuted
at the Texas State Penitentiary for the
murder of his wife.
The names Ralph Perry, Peter Henry
and Bob Cramer are fictitious—Editor.
TALENT SCOUT FOR MURDER
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27
persuasive school-boy charm on the parole
authorities, with the result that in three
years he weht free. The board had heard
evidence that “the young man had a su-
perior mind and gives every indication
of becoming successfully rehabilitated.”
The Miami detectives were now con-
vinced they would be lucky if the two
missing girls were found alive. Although
hundreds of officers were engaged in the
hunt for Jefferson, not a single solid trace
of him was found. Scores of reports and
tips were run down, only to prove un-
founded. It seemed incredible that the
fugitive and the two girls could disappear
so completely. But the police redoubled
their efforts,'with Lieutenant Melchen the
most active of all. .
By morning of the next day, August
10, the pieces of the jig-saw puzzle were
beginning to fit together. Carol Blakely,
the beautiful member of the Federal
Theater project in Miami, now had been
discovered in New York, where she had
established herself as a radio actress under
another name. She told an_ interesting
story. ;
She said that in March, 1937, in Los
Angeles, she had married Goddard under
the name of Charles Jefferson, which he
had given her when their courtship began
in’ Miami. She was completely in the
dark about the man’s abandoned wife
and children. After a short stay in Cali-
fornia, she said, she had come east with
Jefferson.
In New York, the scoundrel’s luck ran
high—as it always seemed to, in the wake
of a temporary setback, becoming more
and more spectacular with each new ven-
ture. This time he had become a radio
script writer for a leading advertising
agency at a salary of $1,000 a month. His
bride, to give his life an even rosier hue,
had landed on the air as an actress. But
easy success went to his head. He began
to drink heavily and to chase every good-
looking girl who crossed his path. .
“He became terribly selfish,’ Carol
Blakely told the New York police. “I
soon discovered he was the sort of man
who always had to have pretty girl com-
panions. He became violently abusive.
The only sensible thing for me to do was
to’ break off with him.”
When Jefferson's relationship with Carol
Blakely had come to an end, the dis-
carded husband retraced his steps to
California. There he joined his legal wife
and children, who had moved to the West
‘Coast. But after a brief show of affec-
tion, his brutality asserted itself. In des-
peration, his wife took the first step toward
freedom. Goddard, the bigamist and man
of many aliases, was left without even one
wife. It was then that he started back to
Florida by way of Denver.
While Miami officers studied these re-
ports, progress was being made in other
directions. That night, when the most
recent developments had been released
to the press, every Florida newspaper
carried on its front page the photographs
of the missing girls. Mary Jordan was
revealed to be a doll-like blonde, and Ruth
Dunn a sweet-faced brunette. Both were
17 years old, the news stories stated, and
the night club that had hired the Jordan
girl had done so under the impression she
was of legal age.
At 9 o’clock, Detective Chief Scarboro
met with Lieutenant Melchen in his of-
fice.
“The most powerful weapon we have is
the press,” Scarboro declared. “This man
is no ordinary criminal. He has been in.
and out of the toils of the law many times.
He’s shrewd. However, I’m counting on
one thing—he might be able to steer clear
of several thousand peace officers in this
state, but he can't hide from the millions
of pairs of eyes that have seen tonight's
papers.” .
“Then you expect a break soon, Chief?”
Melchen inquired.
Scarboro nodded. “Somehow I look for
it tonight. As a matter of fact? any time
now.”
The chief’s
prediction was almost
prophetic. Just two hours later, at 11:
o'clock, the telephone rang insistently in
the Miami home of Mrs. Ruth Starr, aunt
of the Jordan girl.
Filled with fear and foreboding, Mrs.
Starr picked up the receiver, hardly pre-
pared for the shock that awaited her.
On the other end of the wire was Mary
Jordan. ;
“Our car broke down,” Mary whispered
in a voice quavering with terror. “I’ve
tried to reach mother, but no one an-
swers the phone. Meet me in front of the
Boca Raton fire department.. I'll be wait-
ing. But hurry—please!”
First Mrs. Starr notified the police.
Then, with two men neighbors, she set out
in her car for Boca Raton, on U. S.
Route No. 1 midway between Miami and
West Palm Beach.
Chief Scarboro, though at first dubious
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ELEANOR
OY CHITWOOD surveyed the living room with the
appraising eye of a veteran detective, which he was.
It was in uncommon good order, considering what had
happened here. The furniture was in place, neatly ar-
ranged, everything spick and span, instantly impressing
any visitor with the fact that Eleanor Morgan was a
good. housekeeper. ;
Had been a meticulous housewife, the detective re-
minded himself, for the mistress of the apartment lay
dead on the floor, her thick dark hair a bloody mat from
the blow that had felled her, her face puffed and con-
ee from the long, braided cord which had strangled
er.
Chitwood’s gaze swept the room, from the sofa to an
easy chair with a magazine-rack end table beside it, to
the draperies, the walls and back to the card table set up
in the open space in the middle. A straight-back chair
lay overturned by this table, the only sign of disorder in
the place, and the body was sprawled but a step or two
from the chair.
Even the cards on the table’s surface were neatly
stacked, half the deck face up in four separate piles, the
remainder face down in a pack, as if pretty young Mrs.
Morgan had placed them there quite casually and then
risen to meet her death.
“A great one she was for telling fortunes with the
cards,” said a voice from the door, startling Chitwood.
Chitwood turned to face the landlady, who had let him
and his partners into the murder flat. She stood just
within the threshold, clad in a house -dress, pale and
shaken, twisting her hands before her.
“Yes,” she repeated, “Ellie almost lived by her cards.
And she’d often say to me, ‘Sit down. Maybe there’s
something fine in the future for you.’ But I’m not one
who holds with that kind of thing, and I told her so, al-
though I said it maybe was a good thing for her to pass
the time, her husband working nights and all.”
“Her husband does work nights?” Chitwood inter-
rupted.
“Callon Morgan,” the landlady replied. “Down at the
Southern Pacific shops.”
“And while he worked at night,” Detective Chitwood
said, “his wife just sat around telling her fortune with
cards?”
“Her and the little boy. He’s 11. He’s in my house
downstairs now. That’s how we came to find her like—
like this. He went to the movies. When he got home,
about 10:30 it was, nobody answered the door up here,
so he trotted down to me and I got my key and opened
up for him.”
“Her son figured she’d merely gone out somewhere,”
Chitwood repeated to himself, as if there might be some-
gi
SAN ANTONIO NIWS —- Thursday, January 12, 1984
JACQUECROUSE -
APS WwRiTa
A man facing the death penalty
for a Bexar County killing and ac-
cused of otSer slayings across the
country has azxéd a judge to sched-
ule his execution.
Stephen Peter Monn, sentenced in
Texas to die by lethal injection, has
requested in a notarized letter that
his aoccal be hated and his execu-
tion cate set.
District Judge David Bercnal-
mann of Beaumont received the let-
ter Wednesday.
Morin picaced guuty and was sen-
tenced in the Dec. 21, 1.31, caoital
«murder of 2l-year-cid Carrie Mane
Scott,
é Mort was tried before Berche of
sc Antenio.th of Scott, a barmaid
hO was gunned come outside May’:
7 $ Rastaurant, 9715 San Pedro
ve.
He was also handed another death
céatence in the cacital murder of 21.
vear-old Janna Brece of Corpus
Christ, whose body was found in a
South Padrelsiand culvert on Dec. 2,
$81.
Morin ts suspected in killings in
Utah, Indiana and Colorado. He 1s
currenuy in prmson in Golden, Colo.
awaits
rtmalina slaying ts ere.
Bercnelmann said Moma has writ-
ten to tum before and even sent
Christmas cards, but added he had
ee Ave
i
i. in ALN - 8
ND S heal 17 eee
rot had a fetter from the convicted
killer in about a year.
“At his trial, he told me ke wanted
to forgo the appeals. process and be
executed. [ to.d him his apreal to the
Court of Criminal Appeals was auto-
matic and there was nothing he or I
could do acout it,” Bercnelmana
said.
In Morin's letter, he told Berchel-
mann he had been wnformed hs ap:
‘al to the Court of ie Appeais
ad been denied.
“Therefore, as | have previously
Stated, I want all anneals in my be-
half halted.” the ietter said. “At this
time IT demand the arsfrissal of the
incompetent attomeays apoo.nted fur
me by your court, and I iemnher de-
mand taat Cur court set a cote for
my oxecutioa,”
Morn ends tne letter dy pointing
Out trict any acpeals are witnest his
consent. Tig yuace S cecperatisn wul
be “vrenly uonreciuted as wei as
Cemarded,.” Monn wroie.
Bereneimann said, however, that
the automatic appeal for cap:tal con-
victions does not stop at the Court of
Criminai Appeals.
After a capital appeal is comed
there, usually a mot'on for a resear-
ing by the Court of Criminal Acpeals
is filed. If that is dented, the case 6
automaticaly appea:ed to the U.S.
Supreme Court.
If the Supreme Court rejects the
appeal, the execution ts scheawed.
But then, vanous wnts fromm ted-
eral court to review cemain carts of
the case are soucht, and the execu-
tion ts ghee delayed.
Often the atiomeys for the crmmi-
nal do net file the wrts, Dut tre
Amencan Civd Liverties Unmon stecs
in to obtain them
Berchelinann noted tt coud st
Le years Eatere the proegss ts cum-
preted in Morin’s case.
“fe‘ean make hus See 2° °S ADOUT
to the Court of Cam: Acntded. te
U.S. Supreme Court ‘and his atter-
reys, and Uiat’s about sil ne e2.2 eo,"
Perchelmann said. ' “I can't S.cp M5
eopeats, and neitner can he.”
4). @ase asa “next friend’’ and
THE HOUSTON POST
03/12/85
A PY SS Rar RR ee Nee >
Death-row prisoner's —
ew aS r
no- -appeal wish. honored
» Killer awaits Wednesday: execution
_ Post Sewn Services Bree ad
The San Antonio attlionale of Stephen Peter Morin -
“followed the condemned killer’s request Monday and
» made no legal attempt to prevent Morin from being
executed early Wednesday.
tuncAttorney Pete Torres was unavailable for com-
ment, but a spokeswoman in his office said the case
was at an end.
“(Ag per his request, there will be no motions
_tiled,”” -said Elonda
Navarro. ‘‘There will be no
legal action taken to get a
. stay. ” a
’ 3 Morin, convicted of kill- | ase
ing three women in a grisly |
«five-week spree -in . Texas
- and Colorado in 1981, {is
~ scheduled to die by a lethal
ee of drugs shortly
: aay. 12: or a.m. Bar eae
pet! Aithoush Morin: "had
-: asked to be allowed to die,
- Gerald Goldstein, general
counsel for the Texas Civil
x Liberties Union, -was
‘searching for someone who
‘could intervene in Morin’s
MORIN: bree
k 9 a stay of execution tor Killed 3 womei We
r m = eee 45 “yt? rh
hee? oy Ye tae pas
-rgedlinisteries,_
y the: state resumed executions in 1982.
: Trial moved to Beaumont | oe ae r
:: B oe slaying of Scott outside Maggie’s Restaurant ,
-in San Antonio in December 1981 drew so much pub-
‘licity that Morin’s trial had to be moved 300 miles |
go LOOSE :
.
ue hei 4
(3. yy i. ‘..
Morin appeared oe him last month at a hearing to
set the execution date,;.‘‘he told me, ‘I.don’t want
anybody to do anything on my behalf. I want to die on
the date you set for me.’ ’’ —
- Morin followed up’ thé: ‘Court 2 nade “with a
_ letter to Berchelmann two weeks ago ‘specifically
~ pointing out he wanted all his attorneys and ail work
on his behalf to cease and desist,’? the judge said.
Monday, Morin requested that five friends — the
Rev. Kenneth Copeland, a Fort Worth evangelist; his
Colorado attorney Charles M. Radosevich; Dr. Bobby
Minnis; and Jonte and Patricia Murrey — be allowed
to witness his execution.
~~ Minnis is a minister who has helped Morin work
' ‘toward a degree in biblical studies, said Barton
Green, editorial director for. Kenneth Copeland
IL | NE Me
‘The Murreys are a San Antonio couple who have
E 4 ‘more or less taken him (Morin) on as their Son,”
- Green said.
-a*<¥f he dies, Morin will become the ee Texas
{inmate to be put to death this year and the sixth since
away to Beaumont.
‘ a :<Lhen he stunned ‘prosecutors by becoming only the
.§econd person ever in Texas to plead guilty to a
Medbae “charge of capital murder.
Meemnedne has to step in aod: ask to appear ‘on: ie “It was probably one of the quickest capital mur-
behalf of the individual,” Goldstein said. ‘This is not“
“a terribly unusual or unheard of practice in Geath
* penalty appeals.” 70 oc: FP psleh aa ee ee Sher apy
whether they are related to Morin... "i 3:A:
“At this late date, obviously every hour. that’
passes makes the likelihood of having a judge inter- 5"
“der cases I had ever seen,’’ said Susan Reed, a San
4y,case, “I read the indictment. He stood up “and he
f %
Goldstein declined to say who he had contacted ¢ OF iv? “pleaded guilty. I thought: ‘Hey, you can’t do that. I.
Otten tespent all this time preparing this case.’ —
‘ert
wr
J¥"But we had a real airtight case against | ‘hfm,””
* veald Reed, who now is in private practice.
vene less of a distinct possibility. We’ re all aware of. on Morin routinely has refused interviews from tis
’ re oe é
“>that.”
of Criminal Appeals. ~<2-s#0°¢US 4= Meee SPORES 3;{fHe seems comfortable and willing to” ‘accept “his ©
State District Judge David Berchelmann said when .* tate," the, 2 attorney oe aig d SACS See: ee ae .
wae to OBS eee ba inhen ccd wi he a) Lh gh cate "Recnel, Sob cSabetsbt Sa inthe Sa np Erte bin <
; ‘ AP CBR AA Te, He Scell on death row, his home since April 16, 1982, ~s"
Morin, 4, ts to ‘be executed foe the shooting death .-...-:40ne of. his attorneys, J. Keith Alaniz of San Ainto®™
of Carrie Marie Scott of San Antonio, The conviction’: =“hi6, said Morin has ‘‘made amends with his maker ‘ ‘7
was upheld in an automatic appeal to the Texas Court: oe and whatever will happen will happen. .*: ee Aedes cone
4
Bo “Antonio attorney who served as prosecutor in the ©
iekg: ‘gh’ ’, 2
Sh tte: iy. et
“= death row
WecisTo4d fear - 7ae
Group of inmates
on death row seeks
quick executions
By FRED KING
Post Reporter
HUNTSVILLE — Several Tex-
as death row convicts are drop-
ping their appeals and seeking
quick executions to shock the na-
tion’s conscience, convicted kill-
er James Edward Smith said
Wednesday.
Smith
said
convicts ‘Sim
suffer in-
humane
physical
and men-
tal stress
while
they wait
years for
execu-
tion. The
delays
are only
‘lining f
the pock- SMITH:
ets of at- Shock effect
| torneys and judges,” Smith said.
' Death penalty opponent
: Charles Sullivan, of the prison
reform group CURE, said he be-
lieves the convicts should keep
up’ their ‘appeals and doubts a
rush of execations would shock
the nation.
None of the other convicts
Smith named could be reached
for comment Wednesday. How-
ever, another convict mentioned
_| such an effort last week, and it
~"""! was confirmed that a letter urg-
ing such action had been circu-
lated among death row convicts.
Also, the chief clerk at the
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals,
| George Miller, said two death
row convicts, Larry Robison and
Noe Beltran, asked in letters this
week that their attorneys be dis-
missed and execution dates set.
Robison was one of the con-
victs named by Smith, who said”
10 have signed the letter. ee
Smith, convicted last year of
robbing and murdering the man-
ager of an insurance office in
Houston, said convicts in the
TDC are asking death row vresi-
dents in other states to join the
effort.
“We have victims of crime
and we also have victims of the
victims of crime. Too many of
them are people on death row,”
Smith said.
Too many jurors are blased
against defendants, too many
judges are not fair, too many
prosecutors engage in improper
conduct, said Smith, who alleged
all those elements were factors
in his trial.
A mass execution or rush of
executions would encourage citl-
zens to scrutinize the system, he
said.
“Even though I’m not guilty, t
refuse to be brutalized so some
rascal in the legal system can
make some money out of me,’” he
said. ‘‘I had rather die than be a
party to the lining of the pocket
of people in the criminal justice
system.”
Meanwhile, the TDC informed
the parents of Janna Bruce, a
victlin of Comdeiiied” Killer Ste-
phen Peter Morin, that they
would not be allowed to watch
his execution. Morin is scheduled
to die next Wednesday for an-
other murder — Carrie Marie
Scott’s.
Don Bruce said he would not
fight TDC’s decision, although he
felt seeing his daughter’s killer
executed would help him and his
wife put an end to their ordeal.
TDC spokesman Phil Guthrie
noted a condemned person could
have up to five relatives and
friends witnessing the execution
and allowing a victim's survivors
in the same small room could
turbance and hygteria.””
No dat
MORI
}
‘(Ur-uqoo!
Wednesday, March 13, 1985 TH
“- and sentenced to die in two states, had asked attorneys not
appeal, although several ignored his requests
‘arms and one leg, a medi
bet Powe ©
Fag
€ tery
Nee
E TUSCALOOSA NEWS
Multiple killer executed
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Stephen Peter Morin, con-
victed of murdering three women and accused of two other
slayings, “died very calmly” tq
40 minutes searching the dru : f i
which to insert lethal
Morin, 37, on e : ls
to a , although several ignored his uests.
After unsuccessful attempts to.insert a needle in both
a g. edical technician finally slipped. the
needle into i ‘in’s ri as
pronounced dead 11 minutes later.
‘He died very calmly,” said state Attorney General Jim
Mattox.
-” Twenty capital punishment opponents held a vigil outside
_ the death chamber and 20 others held a candlelight vigil on
_the steps of the state Capitol.
. .Morin was the second Texas inmate executed this year,
the sixth since the state resumed the practice in 1982 and
the 40th in the United.States since the Supreme Court
allowed executions to. resume in 1976. Rondade oif&hey , ow being »
EXEUA hang ~ce not Séon
ure tne eight SUL foe quel htloerny Sabie : ate LNG came aceoss
om sebatc she hauce ben amused”
Housmiany Poor , a cloomy
teven Peter, white, lézhal injection, Texas on March 13,
det MEMO FROM: Humphr
AH.TTY, 2
TOstvickeee is
Oy terion L:
W Ei.
tive beet tc ¢
b.. fwo &
iy ee i nein Evans th [ne
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reed DATE 15 Max hlae5
SUBSECTs Te facie * fo calor so fous
ast i An advawwe im
frisnasie scableng |
fiest line ts .0f Counga pavo
XLiv feom AE Heuseuan)
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biwh hy ‘Cheopsinee Lad in
before | bau
y (of Londen).
Haymans poems abort Sheapshine
{ads Ayr diy
hibcacalosts shoofing fnensetves
daunk A finds
tn balite ,
fiiense{vés in
ME Open} wiih shese fwo sfanzas.
Shst 7? $0 quvckc ,£0 Agen an Gridig’ :
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Vous was not an rl fo
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Ch yon had eat.
om Coulsl Ream |
San your whee (Ee lead,
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Put the pl@l fo yun Nead ,
The Shacpshnee Lad abounds wit peems o
tigers hinvel( (ike G“eeme whose Souutws
ny Man Surcades a conku
mon) Minot poet x Afamow _ _ |
ever Sucel for. Excounaging Survade
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included
A Housnrt paeodisl once We
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Thats cuned by hang
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fry Canh
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fuem palpi, yet is Aeffill ,t
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fna€ 1K “hot fon mend
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om ashang |
unpublished A net quite finuhed
mueder suitsdé co. casely deat:
Yang Nore 15 Ctcdtte
“hed & a ape ola age,
é; > classvevs€ | So a) (
ME Reads a Shee
thal quiet Co
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papa. { included Sone
daubh abut fhe Speed .effiicinay A humanily of lefnal (njecion as a
meétned of Cyeufim Wher { way wah
. infne middle af las €: yean_
only a fen of Mec lethal (njechons had bem ome, but {he repouly
Ahounk fron
\A/ Gd 6wugh fo Rate SANE Seatouy queshm) _ Now frat
Consumrp fiom
ie
(Norr's |
THE STATE OF TEXAS.
——_— p> © > ° ie -———
Appellant,
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee,
was determined; and therein our said Court of Criminal Appeals made its order in these words:
“ This cause came on to be heard on the Transcript of the record of the Court below, and the
same being inspected, because it is the opinion of this Court that there was no error in the judgment,
it is ordered, adjudged and decreed by the Court that the judgment be in all things affirmed, anekthet,
She-nopelane<aalccosts-insthis-bebaltiexpended, and that this decision be certified below for
’
observance.”
WHEREFORE, we command you to observe the order of our said Court of Criminal Appeals, in
this behalf; and in all things to have it duly recognized, obeyed and executed.
Witness, the Hon. J. M. HURT, Presiding Judge of our said Court of
Criminal Appeals, with the seal thereof annexed, at the City of Austin,
this. EL day of... fet at kee ALD, 189.2
ck. LY 2th ......... Clerk.
Niele: =
mae ares manors sm anabecane nan sunauannonarenmeeninnen se -£. byacds supe eoceemnidnammmnatinn aoa mene
MANDATE
LOUrt of Criminal Appeals
AUSTIN.
SA com Ble et eM tN lle a om,
cette.
=
i
siehddammenameninaeinitica hte cate a oe ote ae —
5 Per aad
270 = Tex.
verbal description of the scene was admissi-
ble, the photographs depicting the scene
were also admissible. Also, we have exam-
ined the photographs and find that the trial
judge did not abuse his discretion in admit-
ting them over appellant’s objection on the
basis of undue prejudice. Appellant’s sev-
enth ground of error is overruled.
Appellant alleges in ground of error
number eight that the trial court erred in
overruling his request for instruction to the
jury at the punishment stage of the trial
regarding the definition of the term “delib-
erate.”
[17] In Heckert, supra 612 S.W.2d at
' 552, we stated that since the term “deliber-
ately” has not been specially defined by
statute, it is to be taken and understood in
its usual acceptation in common language.
In King v. State, 553 S.W.2d 105 (Tex.Cr.
App.1977), we held that the term “deliber-
ately” need not be defined in the charge to
the jury during the punishment stage of a
capital murder trial. Given that the trial
judge need not define the term, the trial
court in the case at bar did not err in
overruling appellant’s request for the defi-
nition. Russell v. State, 665 S.W.2d 771
(Tex.Cr.App., 1983). Appellant’s eighth
ground of error is overruled.
In appellant’s last ground of error, he
contends that there was insufficient evi-
dence: to support the jury’s finding that
appellant would be a continuing threat to
society because the finding was contrary to
the evidence that appellant had undergone
a Christian conversion.
At the punishment state of trial, the
State introduced evidence regarding the of-
fense at bar and prior felonies and acts of
violence committed by appellant in order to
prove that he would be a continuing threat
to society. The State showed that appel-
lant had murdered Janna Bruce, stolen her
ear, and fled to San Antonio with his ac-
complice, Sara Clark, and Pamela Jackson.
On December 6, 1981, approximately five
days before the murder of Carrie Scott,
appellant attempted to kill three persons.
Evidence regarding the rape and sexual
torture of a fourteen year old girl in Cali-
682 SOUTH WESTERN REPORTER, 2d SERIES
’ fornia was introduced. The State also in-
troduced final convictions held by appellant
in three other states.
After the State presented its evidence,
appellant called four witnesses. Each wit-
ness stated that appellant had undergone a
Christian conversion. wi
[18,19]. The jury, as the trier of fact
during the punishment stage of the trial,
was entitled to assess the credibility of all
witnesses. Minx v. State, 615 S.W.2d 748
(Tex.Cr.App.1981). We find that the evi-
dence presented is sufficient to support the
jury’s determination that appellant would
commit criminal acts of violence that would
constitute a continuing threat to society.
See Villarreal v. State, 576 S.W.2d 51
(Tex.Cr.App.1979), and cases cited at 65.
Appellant’s ninth ground of error is over-
ruled. :
Finding no reversible error, we affirm
the judgment of the trial court.
CLINTON, J., dissents to ground of er-
ror # 8. _
Before the court en banc.
OPINION DISSENTING TO DENIAL OF
APPELLANT'S MOTION FOR
LEAVE TO FILE MOTION FOR RE-
HEARING WITHOUT WRITTEN
OPINION
CLINTON, Judge.
The Court continues to compound the
error of the decision in Russell v. State,
665 S.W.2d 771 (Tex.Cr.App.1983) by again
refusing to reconsider the continued viabili-
ty of King v. State, 553 S.W.2d 105 (Tex.
Cr.App.1977) which held we need not pro-
vide instructional guidance to capital juries
on the meaning and import of “deliberate
ly” as employed in the first special punish-
ment issue.
When written, the primary underpinning
of King (that “deliberately” is a simple
word of and by itself, and jurors know the
common meaning of it) appeared to be
sound; but developments over the interven-
ing years have illuminated a need to recon-
GREEN v. STATE Tex.
271
Cite as 682 S.W.2d 271 (Tex.Cr.App. 1984)
sider that position. See Russell, supra, at
783, n. 8 (Opinion dissenting). Indeed, the
Court has even acknowledged that to con-
strue “intentionally” to be the equivalent
of “deliberately” “would render Art. 37.-
O71(b\(1), [V.A.C.C.P.] a nullity. Under
such a [construction the deliberateness
question] would be a useless thing in that a
finding of an intentional ... murder would
be irreconcilable with a finding that the
defendant’s conduct was not committed de-
liberately.” Heckert v. State, 612 S.W.2d
549, 550-551 (Tex.Cr.App.1981).
While this statement from Heckert is
absolutely correct and unquestionably com-
pelled by logic, it is ironic indeed that in the
Same year King was written, the Court
noted in Blansett v. State, 556 S.W.2d 322,
327, n. 6 (Tex.Cr.App.1977) that a finding
the killing was intentional was irreconcila-
ble with the jury’s negative answer on the
deliberateness question.
If in 1977 the members of this Court
believed “deliberateness” was the same
thing as “intentional,” all the collective le-
gal training notwithstanding, how can we
any longer seriously suggest that jurors,
without the least bit of assistance, will, in
every case not apply it the same way as
-Blansett—a way Heckert naw acknowl-
edges would be unconstitutional?
I can appreciate the fact that once a
decision has been made, it is very difficult
to reconsider it—particularly when to do so
could invalidate a:number of past convic-
tions. But it seems to me that when we
can clearly see a substantial error in past
decisions which is rendering trials unfair
and unconstitutional, that the alternativeto
correcting it ourselves is infinitely more
disastrous to the finality and integrity of
our capital convictions, as the consequences
of Adams v. Texas, 448 U.S. 38, 100 S.Ct.
2521, 65 L.Ed.2d 581 (1980) and Estelle v.
Smith, 451 U.S. 454, 101 S.Ct. 1866, 68
L.Ed.2d 359 (1981), should illustrate.
Rather than setting precedent which
might invalidate some past capital convic-
tions, the majority instead perpetuates
precedent which risks invalidation of not
1, 391 US. 510, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 20 L-Ed.2d 776
(1968).
only past convictions, but also every future
capital conviction in which jury guidance on
“deliberateness”’ is requested.
Many careful Texas trial judges and
prosecutors protected the integrity of capi-
tal convictions in their courts by refusing
to apply the V.T.C.A. Penal Code, § 12.-
31(b) oath and the limitations announced in
Witherspoon v. Illinois! as “separate and
independent grounds for exclusion” of capi-
tal jurors in spite of the approval given by
this Court,? simply because it was apparent
to them that such an application was un-
constitutional and unfair. Likewise, it be-
hooves careful trial officials to exercise the
same degree of independent thought in in-
structing capital juries on the import of
“deliberateness.” See Williams v, State,
674 S.W.2d 315, 322, n. 6 (Tex.Cr.App.
1984).
For the reasons stated in the dissenting
opinion in Russell, supra, I remain con-
vinced that the Court’s refusal to reconsid-
er this matter in light of experience and
clear indications of confusion is resulting in
an unconstitutional application of Article
37.071 in many capital cases.
I dissent.
TEAGUE, J., joins.
© © KEY NUMBER SYSTEM
G.W. GREEN, Appellant,
v.
The STATE of Texas, Appellee.
No. 60133.
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas,
En Bane.
July 11, 1984,
Rehearing Denied Sept. 26, 1984.
Defendant was convicted in the 221st
Judicial District Court, Montgomery Coun-
2. See Moore v. State, 542 S.W.2d 664 (Tex.Cr.
App.1976) and its progeny.
53 SOUTHWESTERN 690
MORRIS, Nevison, black, hanged at Bonham, Texas, on March 23, 1900
"Donham, *exas, “arch 23, 1900 - this afternoon at 12+ 30 o'clock Nevison Morris and Frank
white were hanged by Sheriff ™% ™ Riddling, In August Last Morris murdered his wife and
child by splitting their heads open with an axe. He was about 30 years of agee White anm-
bushed and killed Beverley Johnson in June, 1899, the purpose of the murder being robbery,
but the slayer obtained but a small amount of money from his victim, Both men admitted
their guilt, After their conviction each man pursued his usual course, filing motions for
new trials, which, being overruled, appealing to the court of criminal appeals, and their
cases being affirmed, trying for executive clemency and this failing, they then went to
work looking after the salvation of their souls. Both men professed religion and a short
time since were baptized. About 3,000 people attended the hanging from Fannin and adjoin’
counties, The gallows was erected about half a mile from the jail, that building being t:
small to have the execution within its limits, Inside the enclosure surrounding the gall.
there were about fifty witnesses, the balance of the crowd surrounding the enclosure, but
the crowd marched in procession from the jail to the scaffold, Lhe men were perfectly co:
posed, each man making a short talk warning the colored people - they were both negroes -
against crime and wayward living, Their necks were broken by the fall and they died with
scarcely a tremor," TIMES-HERALD, Dallas, Texas, March 23, 1900 (6/1)
158 SOUTHWESTERN -2nd= 812,
MORRIS, McKinley, black, electrocuted Texas State Prison (Dallas County) on May 16, 19h2.
(Alias 0, C, WILSON)
"A 30-yeareold Negro scheduled to have left at 10 PM Wednesday for training cam as an Army
draftee was detained by city police after he had admitted fatally beating Willis C, Jones,
25, white night attendant of the Pringle Oil Company, 2701 Gaston (photo of Jones), during a
robbery early Wednesdaye _
"The negro made a written statement to Inspector of Detectives Will Fritz and Homicide Detec-
tives E, R. Gaddy and C, 0, Buchanan, who arrested him, admitting the attack,
"He told them he had been employed as a part-time employee by the filling station and had been
sleeping in the attic. Wednesday morning about }}:40 o'clock he came down from the attic and
decided to rob the station of money which he had seen the attendant hide in a cigar box,
"He obtained a jack handle and struck Jones with it twice, he said, taking $17.80 from the
cigar box and $7 additional from the cash register after beating Jones unconscious,
"With a portion of the money hesaid he bought shoes, shirt, pants, sweater and a hat at a
pawnshop and then set out to spend the rest celebrating with friends his departure for the
Army, When thetrio of detectives arrested him he was emerging from a tavern at Elm and Cen-
tral and had only 30¢ of the loot left.
"His clothes were blood-spattered and were held for evidence, He told officers he had dropped
the jack handle which he used as a bludgeon in an underground storage tank at the station,
"Jones, of 200) Beaumont, was found unconscious at 6:5 AM by a customer, W. F, Siddons, 1616
South Beckley, sprawled across the office desk, badly beaten,
"He died at *arkland Hospital at 6:25 PM Wednesday.
"The jack handle, an important piece of evidence in the case, will be removed from the tank
Thursday morning, police said. The tank will have to be dug up and one end of it removed in
order to obtain the weapon, filling station employees said. The op ration probably will cost
about $25 as much as was obtained in the robbery.
"Jones is survived by his wife, Mrs. Louise Jones; a son, Walter Charles Jones; a daughter,
Martha Jo Jones; four sisters, Mrs, Ethel Mayfield, Mrs, Rosa Young, Mrs, Bertie Nelson and
Mrs. Ruth Thompson," NEWS, Dallas, Texas, Merch 27, 191 (1+))
"Formal charges of murder and robbery were sworn out Friday against McKinley Morris, alias
O. C. Wilson, 30-year-old Negro, in connection with the jack handle slaying Wednesday of
W. C. Jones, night filling station attendant. Five witnesses appeared before the Dallas
County grand jury Friday, and a report on the investigation will be made by the jurors Satur-
day in Criminal District Court,...O0fficers reported they still have been unable to recover
theiron jack handle with which Jones was beaten over the head,...Jones died Wednesday night
at Parkland Hospital without having regained consciousness," NEWS, Dallas, 3-29-19)1 (nine-))
“av edneeday night Wate: who” had } known no Iife was lost, although about
treated bie approaching execution with er peopte were asleep in the ae
“tevity. profeaned religion.” According | When the alarm wan sounded. The}
Sho hk wiealohaty 7Wb0. Dae wleited ;the 7 Hitie-arthy-oF Balter rend mer ena
prinoners, Wade's conversion was dire jwomart, Tefugers from tbe flames, 4 |
in part at Teast t0 the prayers of hin hewed thetr way through the crowded.
fellow murderer, Dalton. who had re [atreete, Trtbetr hana they carriad
retred spiritual sadvice for several | feich amall belongings Aa they were
weeks. é “jable to save in thet: Mebt The flames
“}aoon apread to the five story Albemarte
apartment house. Opposite the Virginia:
Clad, which wae quickly destroyed and}
then to the entire block facing the AC
Jantic, and running frem Plime.to
Main streets Within an hour thie;
block was anunibllated “
The flames were . finally Matdnsd
| through the bard work of thestire de.
j partment and the shifting of the winds
Cuhich ‘veered 10 the northeast Some as}
+
7o-
PROMPTNESS A FEATURE.
When you want a’cut of any kind
for catalogue or advettisement Niue
trating. see the News Evgravery.
will give the . most satisfactory |
“work on shortest rctice, at mot”
Feasopable prices. }
-_ 20
ARE RFFICIENT OFFICERS.
i
Those
S
be
Som!
;
t
{
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of rayeate Pitt Found j the fire had gotten a gtanp on the big,
bs, department nore of Wath qftatee ve awl,
Correct’ in -Ageounts, | Clay: i
Montgomery, Ala. Janu 31 ~ ~-Coloselt and Miners, an? Day Line wareshounes, |
Michael L. Weods. Assistant Examineri the, plers: and the wholesale “notions
of Pobtic A¢connts, has saat filed @ re<iatore bntidings of Talbot Dodson and |
port with the Governorion the oMcialaSGrandy, itriving the Wosrern Union
He* reports! that “Hon “Thomas EB. eon buildings: Alt these atrncturea:
Goodwin. Probate Judge, has not’pre- were saved The conflagration, was
pared or cadeed to be prepared a book. peuhained at S$ eelock this’ morning.
in which to keep the oaccounts® of|
“an the stubs of his receipt books, and, NOT A TRACE FOUND —
because of this fact a shortage of $8.1 1b hee
js charged against’ him. © With this,
exception the Examiner gave the aang
A shortage of $% 2 wan Alno fouad |. Pitteborg, Jan) 31 Not ae trace ot!
In the accounts of e-Tax Collector John or Edward Biddies, the’ escaped .
Witiam A (Hyde. which was ‘the re-) murderers or of Mra Kate Soffel, the
@ult of an error discovered after ht arden s wife! who, tt is alleged, ac-
result of an oversight 1 which. wxes the potice miner the fugitives left the |)
collected from. 3 Po Waker wns Taft prison oo yesterday morning. Every |.
TOR of the oreport, ut,
Bhowrnt that payment had been meade. detective is provided with a cireula
whortage watenot intentiogal and othe murdererw and Mee Soffet.
tuoks vere otherwish in excellent Fivery town of any eize in the nitad?
shape eed the officy tel be us Seaeoriel? (States han been provided with theses)
joan a very’ sat: afactory) manaets ‘ *clrcularg whic b offer aa an? induce-)
of Fayette county. were found in good: men's capture deat or alive: “The por
condition and theAsaietsnt Examine ice believe thas Hone of the three are!
repre then: the gtarem AfeceMrivat more than fv« tiles from the court}
ace ‘ Bs la ito eet and that: tbe seit Temain: tn
Sskal tecape eat! fee sweh} nan attempt
fwillcbe made tH get .sorth: It= ta.
V { 4 theught they #1) no tisk arrest To
ol E UP. MONEY. He crag o; (Ch cage or other ctties |
ane on the vereecot follapae, He has:
Jan %h.—Judge ~ Tnley. to- v mate pp ble sijnd to tender, hin rexigy
if aorecefversbip fercrihe | ing ar wat
lave Te4tgey i and made a witl sof the prison Mant s Investigating,
2] ge posigion. of receiver “under. iN Peat iT OF THEM
tg ‘Bernd Hf, Bye. 000 ; Pitiaburg: Fapdan Pela Coopers
The <ourt ip a dengiby decision of | town, Ration sannty Pa dishateh 6ayn:
whe cam. wrich ep lnatitaled Dy Pett meyrs wre ba parent OY two men apis
Bonn Aletander Dowl+ declared: Matharey softel!. . :
Dowie’ s church, the Christian Carbolle "opps ruitteen siglo a eirigh at Coop:
“aRorch (wae es turtous mtature of re epepewn land rote 1B the: direction at
figton and bustneda He helf that Sict | gegontiirag) tf Overtaknr they. sa {hi be
by ey ae the beat Of thd bhareh.? Abate
ly een te tart over to Powls prarui-. Wi
Skt. Samtty everything he bad in the weil: i Drink hite- Stone’
gpd thet Stevensoe was eniitied to at we Lithia Water — cures’
See arias WHE oe, dott rah eet ‘indigestion, kidney.
‘gully the same t ‘liver and bladder trou-
a2 Ibe. Sugar for $1.‘sole agent. 131 south’
A.B tn Br plore: $20 S.| 20th ‘street.
Gora FO NEWS YORK
Mhattaswga Tenn Jan, at Ker,
Tiversity. bas accepted the call toe
Methodiat Chureb at Mogthampian. Ny
Yc and the Alebops Dave Benn asked
1 teake the trausier. Belaction of ~ «
Kpectal te the Birnginghers News Live coals rained on the Merchants,
of Fayette codtinty ‘operators from thelr office in the Dodds
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ES.
' were in excellent condition. i a ee
report had heen sent tn | This was the: ompanied them, has been secured by}
Asin the eas. of Jatge Gootwins the giving a deseripuon of the cscaed |
The hooks of all the Sther officials) ment aseash tewhed of $1,000 Cory the
“ELIJAH” DOWIE MUST. Setisnctess renner
bere they are bocws | Warden Soffel
a decree aptdating Btmer Wash- Sy sa
wi Stetensch, a brother ta-law of an pellewed 0, be. a > Biddle ant
enscn had. by opine infaenss exerted | gerertink fue ate, ba the at Wiad
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fhe “sthb book policeman in the city aa well as py ih ;
yoatter theceonclusion _
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A new draw span ie being pnt tn and
the engines were taken. hy Calimbis eye ie
Florence to: Tusenmbia apd then UD - Weereen
the Southern Railway here “Ton Ws mek Ohio
The Loulevilie and Nashville Tales
thad shope are turning onkan ender a hen My
PROG box fal and gonodia caracand Moye tie
will be December tet 1913, priors order tac eh
in filled eampletoty — : Rint eth
The river traf(ic in ona oom here”
‘The Chattanooga & Tonnerser River’.
Parket Company haa A fine of hoata | Be
from t‘alro to Chattapnongca and the
Cinetnnart Packet Company pas a line.
and have more business rhas they. ean
y handles Fe i
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TEACHERS CERTIFICATES
Kp tei te the Birmtp gta” Sons
Montgcomers, Ala co Jane 2e- Tear»
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“foard of Exam{ners jeterdas as fol.
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poo was a poem mate of Morria.. hetfes
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MORRIS, Thomas We, white, hanged at Corsicanna, Texas, on 1-31-1702.
P. 0. BOx 25
Hubbard, TX 7668
May 6, 1975
Mr. Watt Espy Jr.
P. Os Box 247
He adland, Ala. 3635
Dear Mr. Espy?
Alva Taylor's Navarro County History (1963) contains the following
entry on Page 1173
"On June 10, 1900, three boys playing near a tank about two miles
south of Corsicana discovered the body of G. W. Broom in the water. The
cofoner, D. G. Grantham, was called to the scene and upon investigating;;,
found that Broom met death from a blow on the head. The events that fo]-
lowed led to the last legal hanging in Navarro County.efor the murderer
allegedly took Broom's wagon and team. A short time later, the wagon and
team were sold by T. A. Morris who several months later was arrested in
Arkansas by Bob Allen, Sheriff. He was returned to Corsicana, where he
was tried and found guilty. He was sentenced to hang on the morning of
January 31, 1902. Wiley Robinson who had been elected to take the office
of Sheriff on January 1, 1902, was the. executioner."
I am a native of Navarro County and have a copy of Mr. Taylor's book.
Our family moved to the adjoining County of Hill in 1898, where I now re-
side in the City of Hubbard. —
I plan to be in Hillsboro, the county seat, some time next week and
will confer with the sheriff and other county officials, as well as the
lawyers who may have the information you desire.
Your research would probably be even more informative: and interest-
ing if you included a survey of opinions on this ques$ion: Do you favor
capital punishment?
If I am able to acquire any additional information on public hang yi
in this area, I will forward it to you. I am chairman of the Hill County
Historical Survey Committee which is collecting and preserving local his-
tory dealing with all types of subjects and in erecting historical mark-
ers on sites of historical andfor architectural significance.
Where is Headland. My mother was a native of Alabama--in a small town
west of Birmingham.
Sincerely yours,
ZA, Wie,
j OS Oe Wilkes, Chairman
Hill County Historical
Survey Committee
LLW-w
ence
by NEARVEL MOON
PRONT PAGE D7
& ALN
yn q
i
1GOT NO MO
TECTIVE, March,
AFTER CONFESSION: | WAS BORN SCARED AND GREW UP A COWARD.
we,
HOUSTON, TEX., DECEMBER 4, 1
@ Today’s newspaper says I’m not crazy, just anti-social.
I guess the psychiatrist means the feeling I’ve always had
that I’m not as good as other people. I wouldn’t know how
it feels to be as good as everyone else, and yet that’s what
I always wanted to be. I wanted it so much I hurt. I used
to cry about it, late at night when no one could see me. I
wondered why I couldn’t be equal to the other kids in
something, just anything. Looks, brains, personality, money,
or some talent like music or art. I read in the papers that
authorities can’t even find any record that I was born.
I guess when the Lord made me, He just swept up the
leavings and made me out of cast-offs. It would have
been better if He’d never bothered. :
Knowing I was nothing is what made me cry, when I
was little, before I used up all my tears. I quit crying about
three years ago, when I was 15. But I’m not brave. I’m a
coward. I know it like I know my other weaknesses. I
think that’s what made me kill. Because I’m a coward. I
wish I’d been brave so I could have killed myself instead
-of those others. There’s a girl I knew in school. I don’t
know if she ever liked me or not, but I sure liked her. See
this four-pointed star with her initials on my forearm? I
branded them on myself, with a hot wire.
There are five or six other prisoners living in this Harris
County, Tex., jail cellblock with me. They’re smart, and
- full of advice. They say, “Play crazy, kid. Give the docs a
cross-eyed stare and say you hear voices.”
Get that? Me, who quit school last year, in the ninth
grade, putting on an act with an educated psychiatrist. I
haven’t got the guts to try. I might be crazy, but I don’t
think I am, and I got no talent or nerve for pretending.
It was last Saturday, November 29, that I finished the
foul-up job on my life. But that’s nothing, compared to
what I did to a couple of families, good people that amount-
ed to something. I knew right away that they were high
class, even when I was too far away to see them plain.
It was up by the Addicks Dam, about a mile from the
house where I live with my mother, father, and eight
brothers and sisters. Addicks is about a dozen miles west
of Houston, Tex., on Highway 90.
It’s brushy and tree-choked along the rivers and creeks,
but the fields are open and level, and from the dam you can
see a long way. I saw the men target shooting at tin cans
beside the road, and I saw their car, a fancy two-tone
yellow '57 Ford. I wandered over to watch. That's all I had
in my mind, just watching.
1959.
| CRIED MYSELF OUT BY 15, WANTING TO BE LIKE OTHER PEOPLE
E TEARS
My father had taken my brother, who's 16, hunting
in Leon County, leaving me, the oldest, home with my
family. Some time after lunch, I got my single shot .22
rifle, and went out to hunt rabbits and squirrels. That’s
when I saw the two men and the boy, about 11, practicing
with that little .22 pistol.
I went down there to be friendly, to watch them practice
and hear them talk. If you’d told me I was going to kill
those people I’d have said you were crazy. The only person
I ever even thought about killing was my Dad, once, when
I was mad.
Right up to the time I met those people, my life was
a big nothing. I never smoked or drank. All I knew was
the farm. We never had much—there were too many of
us. Kids at school had nice clothes, money, and cars to
drive. They knew how to act and places to go and things
to see, while I felt like a freak. .
I kind of stood off and watched the strangers shooting
that little pistol, and wished I could get acquainted with
nice people like that. But I never found out their names.
HEY talked to me. The middle-aged man had on a red
shirt, and the little boy was his son. The other man
looked a lot older, but the police say he was only 40. They
let me look at their little pistol, and showed me that it
held nine bullets. I'd never even handled a gun like that.
They had everything I never had. I got an idea that
I could take their car and money. Even if I got’ in jail
‘for it, I'd be a man for a little while. I asked if I could
fire the pistol, and the man in the red shirt let me take it.
I figured if they jumped me, I'd drop the gun and run.
I knew I could outrun them all. I pointed the pistol at
the three of them, and said, “Stick 'em up.”
They did what I told them. There was a big wide ditch
there that had been dug out for a dam, and I made them
walk down that ditch, heading for the woods that grow
along a creek. It’s quite a walk. Takes about 20 minutes.
The middle-aged man in the red shirt asked me what I
wanted and I said, “Nothing, now.”
We went about a quarter of a mile down the dry ditch,
and the oldest guy went to breathing hard, and said he’d
~ been sick, and asked if he could smoke.
I said, “Sure.”
About a hundred yards farther on, he went to breathing
hard again and I let them sit down and rest about ten min-
utes while I still held the gun on them. We stopped about
continued on next page
we
‘eqTum fTeAdBeN
*6L
*o°Te
6H)
(Aqgunoo std
y
"O96L
21
the deputy on desk duty contacted the
license bureau and called him back ten
minutes later. The car was owned by
Bertram J. Appleton of Houston. Ap-’
pleton’s wife had said that her husband,
her son, Stephen, and a friend, Lee
Hanson, had gone out to do target
shooting that afternoon. They were
clearly the victims.
Reporters from the Houston newspa-
pers reached the scene promptly and
asked Sheriff Kern for a statement. He
described the crime as one of the most
brutal slayings recently occurring in the
Houston area. ‘““We’ll find the murderer
if we have to turn the county upside,
down,” he added. esi
This drastic step was fortunately not
necessary, however, because of the ex-
cellent memory of Gail Gillaspy. As
- Kern and Deputy Frazier continued to
question her, she racked her brain for
additional details about the young slay-
er.
“Try to remember everything he told
you,” Kern said.
At last a promising gleam-came into
the girl’s eyes. “I just remember one
other thing he said. He told us not to
follow him because I’ve got enough
. guns at home to blast you to Kingdom
Come.’ Those were his exact words.”
“That gives me an idea, sheriff,”
Deputy Frazier said. ““There’s a young
fellow who lives about a mile from here
who’s crazy about guns. His name is
Nearval Moon. The county clerk ‘says
he’s got: licenses for four guns, and he
figures Moon probably owns some oth-
ers too. Let’s take some men and go
look him up.”
The deputies whom Kern had sent
‘for began arriving, and the sheriff
formed ten of them into a posse. This
posse, heavily armed, went to the small
farm of Mrs. M. V. Moon. They sur-
rounded the house in the gathering
darkness, approaching under cover of
trees.
But their caution proved unnecessary.
When at last Kern and Frazier stepped
out boldly and knocked on the front
door, ‘Mrs. Moon opened it at once.
“Yes, Nearval’s here but he’s taking
a nap,” she said. “He went hunting ,
this afternoon and tuckered himself“
out. What you want with him?”
HEN THE OFFICERS woke up
_.Nearvel Moon, he stared at them
sleepily as the odd crooked smile formed
on his lips. In answer to their questions
he said he had been hunting. but’ had
gone nowhere near the rifle range.
Deputies were searching the,farm- -
house in the meantime. Under rafters ©
in the basement they found two wallets,
empty of money, bearing identification
cards belonging to ‘Bertram Appleton
and Lee Hanson. melee
The officers had failed to find any-.
‘ thing incriminating in Moon’s clothing,
‘but they now looked under the mat-
tress of the bed on which he had been
sitting. They found that a knife-cut had -
been made in the ticking. There was
$48 inside. ote
Other ‘deputies found a collection of
74
nine guns of various models and calibers,
some of them quite valuable, which
Moon admitted owning. Searching fur-
ther, they found a .22-caliber rifle and a
.22 revolver hidden under'some wood
in the woodshed.
Nearvel Moon was taken to the sher-
iff’s’ office, where after brief question-
ing, his answers became confused and
contradictory. Then he broke down and
confessed to the savage triple slaughter,
giving a detailed. account of the after-
noon’s gruesome events,
His formal confession, which ap-
peared in extra editions of the Houston-
_ papers, was complete to the extent that
it told exactly how Moon had .com-
mitted the murders, But concerning the -
why of the killings, the youth said only
that he had suddenly decided to rob the
trio, then had murdered them because.
they “kicked up.a fuss.” .-
Reporter Kent Demeret, of a leading
Houston daily, wasn’t satisfied with the
extent of Moon’s statements. He knew
the people of Houston would be deeply
shaken by these vicious murders, com-
ing at a time when the crime picture
had been showing improvement. They'd
want to’ know what sort of person could
snuff out three human lives in a few
minutes, then take a nap. They’d be
interested in his background, in his
motives, however twisted, in his values
—in short, in the inner workings of his
mind. .,
Reporter Kent Demeret sold his ed-
itor on the idea of interviewing Near-
vel Moon on these subjects in his jail
cell and publishing what he had to say
verbatim. The reporter was able to
carry off this interview with extraordi-
nary skill. The longish, rambling state-
ment made by the youth is unique in
that, it is so revealing of his limited in- °
telligence, his trivial motives, and his
generally muddle-headed behavior. We
are publishing it here in ‘its entirety:
‘ey KILLED three people Saturday—
two'meén and a young boy.
“If I had it.to do over again, I'd
shoot myself instead. Sunday night I
prayed in my cell for all of us.
_ “Now, I’m not exactly scared. [ll
either get life or death, I imagine. It
doesn’t scare me. Everybody’s got to die
sometime. I guess'everybody’d be better
_off if I was dead. é
“Those girls I met were never in any
danger. I wouldn’t. have shot anyone
else. I told them about the bodies be-
cause I wanted to! get it over with, I
guess,
“I don’t just know how to start telling
this’'story, but I guess I’d better tell my
life story. I was born on a farm. We
never did have nothing—too many chil-
dren in the family. \ coe
. “I’ve been ‘down. here about three
years and I’ve looked just about all over
Houston for a job, but I couldn’t find
one. Seems like everybody but me has
acar. They wear better clothes, have
more money to spend, they seem to,
know their way around. I didn’t ‘have
any of those things.
' “This is kind of hard to tell. All my
’ life I kind of had the feeling I wasn’t
as good as some of the other kids.
That’s a bad feeling. I used to think
about it lots at night. I used to cry.
Two or three years ago. Not any more.
It’s been quite awhile since I broke
down and cried. Now, I just think
about it and wish things were different.
“Looking back now I wish Id never
been born. Better for me and everyone
else, too..I don’t drink and I don’t
smoke and I don’t like people who do.
“Once Dad whipped me with a cow-
boy boot. I guess if I ever really
thought about killing anyone, it was
Dad—not some strangers.
“When I.went down to that ditch
where these people were shooting, I
just ‘wanted to be friendly, at first. I
thought maybe I could make some bet-
ter friends than I usually have around
here. But the way things worked out,
I never even found out what their
names were. They seemed like real nice
people. nt
“After I got to talking with them, I
saw they had money and a car and
everything I didn’t have. I decided then
I'd try to take the money and the car.
But not their lives. The last thought I
‘had in the world was shooting anybody. ,_
I figured if they attacked, I could out-
run them. I guess I should have run
anyway.
“When that man started running, I
got a chill. I was all excited. I thought
they were going to take the gun away
from me. If they hadn’t run I ‘know
good and well it wouldn’t have hap-
pened. I was scared. The scaredest I’ve
ever been in my life. After I shot I was
still scared. I felt sick. I just don’t know.
If I had it to do over I never would.
“They tell me I shot the little boy 12
times and his father four times. And
the other one twice. I don’t know why
I shot them so much.
“This tattoo on my arm with the
J. W. on it is for a girl I know. We
weren’t planning to get married or any-
thing. I just liked her quite a bit. I did
the tattoo myself.
“What I wanted the money for was
to take this girl to’ a movie Saturday
‘night in the car I was going to steal.
Then I was going to use the rest of the
money to have Mom’s teeth fixed. They
hurt her so much she cries all the time.
“I quit going. to Katy High School
last year when I yas in the ninth grade.
I like history quite a bit and I was pret-
ty good at woodworking and stuff like
that. But I guess I just’ thought I knew
‘everything.
“Tf wanted to be-a doctor once, be-
cause, I guess; I’d rather help people
than hurt them. Or, I sort of wanted to
be a motorcycle cop, too. The only job
I had. here was working in a grocery
‘store, but that only lasted three weeks.
_ The manager got changed and the new
one brought in a boy he knew and let
me go.
“Saturday afternoon, I left my house
to go hunting. I had my .22 rifle and I
walked over to the rifle range on gov-
ernment land behind Addick’s Dam. I
_ walked out into the field and saw two °
DETECTIVE CASES
/
men and a little
- They were stand
at some cans.
“I watched fo
up and asked on
shoot their gun.
could and hand
it was a .22 revc
“After he hi
pointed it at hi
told them to stic
was a great big
been made into
to get down insi
ing.
“I followed b
asked me what |]
nothing .. . not
a quarter of 2
started to breat!
he’d been sick
smoke a cigare
walking and he
again so we Sat
10 minutes.
“After awhi
again—toward t
their wallets an
started to holle
shot him and |
just a second
running at me
fell.
“The little b:
A WAY WIT
(Continued fre
with his wife.
- child and the
Renfro, in tal
the child to be
He had swo
warrant charg)
ing to the de
constantly dat
The charge
Gravitt ask
of the man wh
That, howe
Kathleen Ison
“But there
said. “On the
told me he v
money which
had. some tr¢
him. that mo
“He didn’t
debtor?”
The girl sh
mentioned it
might go hu:
Sunday night
RAVITT
coopera!
quarters. Th
ing the matt
subsequent d
court.
The plaint
V. Frazer of
DETECTIVE C
me
iad the feeling I wasn’t
me of the other kids.
eeling. I used to think
t night. I used to cry.
zars ago. Not any more,
a while since. I broke
2d. Now, I just think
sh things were different.
*k now I wish I'd never
er for me and everyone
yn’t drink and I don’t
on’t like people who do.
vhipped me with a cow-
guess if I ever really
killing anyone, it was
strangers.
‘nt down to that ditch
2ople were shooting, I
be friendly, at first. I
I could make some bet-
I usually have around
way things worked out,
found out what their
ey seemed like real nice
to talking with them, I
money and a car and
in’t have. I decided then
the money and the car.
ves. The last thought I
1 was shooting anybody. .
y attacked, I could out-
iess I should have run
man started running, I
is all excited. I thought
z to take the gun away
‘ey hadn’t run I ‘know
it wouldn’t have hap-
ared. The scaredest I’ve
life. After I shot I was
t sick. I just don’t know.
jo over I never would.
: | shot the little boy 12
father four times. And
vice. I don’t know why
much.
on my arm with the
for a girl I know. We
z to get married or any-
2d her quite a bit. I did
f
ted the money for was
rl to a movie Saturday
r I was going to steal.
ig to use the rest of the
Mom’s teeth fixed. They
th she cries all the time.
: to Katy High School
was in the ninth grade.
ite a bit and I was pret-
dworking and stuff like
's I just thought I knew
be-a doctor once, be-
I’d rather help people
Or, I sort of wanted to
: cop, too. The only job
; working in a grocery
only lasted three weeks.
it changed and the new
a boy he knew and let
ernoon, I left my house
had my .22 rifle and I
the rifle range on gov-
ehind Addick’s Dam. I
the field and saw two ~
DETECTIVE CASES
- They were standing by the car shooting
men and a little boy shooting a pistol.
at some cans. ;
“I watched for awhile, then walked
up and _asked'one of the men if I could
shoot their gun. One of the-men said I
could and handed me the gun. I.think
it was a .22 revolver.
“After he handed me the, gun I
pointed it at him and the others and
told them to stick up their hands. There
was a great big, wide ditch which had
been made into a dam and I told them
to get. down inside of it and start walk-.
ing.
“I followed behind. One. of the men
asked me what I wanted and [ told him
nothing . . . not right then. After about ~ .
a quarter of a mile, the oldest man.
started to breathing real hard. He said
’ he’d been sick and asked if he. could
smoke a cigaret. I said yes. We kept
walking and he started: breathing hard
again so we sat down and rested about
10 minutes,
“After awhile we started walking
again—toward the.woods. After I took
their wallets and money, the oldest guy
started to hollering ‘and running, so I
shot him’ and he fell in the creek. In
just a second ‘the other man started
running at me and I shot him and he
fell.
“The little boy: went to running away
S
3
from me and hollering that he would do
anything I wanted if I wouldn’t shoot
him. But I shot him in the chest just
as he turned toward me and stopped.
He also fell in the creek. .. ;
“After I shot the boy I reloaded the
gun and then I emptied the gun, shoot-
‘ing them all again. Then I loaded again
and put it under. my Vacket.
“Then. I heard. somebody coming and
I pulled the stocking that I already had
on ‘my head over my face. This is a
lady’s silk stocking and I wear it to,
keep dandruff from falling in my eyes.
“I started running and I met four
girls on horses. One of them had a bill-
. fold and she asked if I had lost it and
I said yes, but she told me to ‘identify
it. I told her to hang the billfold.on .a
fence or I would shoot her horse.
“After I got it, 1 went-back to the car
“ and tried to start it, but it wouldn’t
start. I saw the girls again and told
them there was three dead people in
the woods and they rode off to look. I
went on home. we
“I told Mom about three dead people
"in the woods, but she wouldn’t believe
‘me. Then I hid the gun, and the officers
showed, up about then.”
HIS VERBATIM statement _of
Moon’s, published the following
morning, was widely read by Houstoni-
ans and, perhaps, gave them a clearer
insight into the problems of the police
department. The young slayer, one of
thousands of persons you had drifted
into town in.recent years, had no police
record. Neighbors had considered him a
quiet, serious-minded youth and a hard
worker. He showed his gun collection
to no one. And who could have predict-
ed that he would—almost casually—
commit a horrible triple murder?
These are the sort of people who
commit a high percentage of the crimes
in the Houston area, and there is very -
little Police Chief Shuptrine and Sher-
iff Kern can do to prevent such crimes
from happening. -*
Nearvel Moon was charged with the
brutal triple murder on the evening of
November 29, 1958, and lodged in
Harris County jail. A judge immedi-
ately ordered a psychiatric examination
_ for him, and this was given by Dr. Ben-
jamin Shee, county psychiatrist.
Dr. Shee reported that Moon is le-
gally sane, though he found “some bit-
terness and anti-social behavior’’ in his
makeup.
Nearvel Moon will therefore. have to
face trial for murder. As this is written,
he remains in jail awaiting that trial.
If he is found guilty, he can be sen-
tenced to the electric chair—the extreme
penalty in the Lone Star State. *
A WAY WITH WOMEN
(Continued from page 45)
with his wife. The couple had a young
- child and the husband contended that
Renfro, in taking his wife out, caused
the child to. be neglected.
He had sworn out a rather far fetched
warrant charging Renfro with contribut-
ing to the delinquency of a minor by
constantly dating the mother.
The charge was promptly dismissed.
Gravitt asked, “What was the’ name
of the man who swore out the warrant?”
That, however, was something which
Kathleen Ison did not know.
“But there’s one more thing,” she
said. “On the last day I saw him William
told me he was going to collect some’
money which was owed him. Maybe he
had. some trouble with whoever . owed
him_that money.” Ns
“He didn’t mention the name~of this
debtor?”
The girl shook her head. “No. He just
mentioned it casually. Then he said he
might go hunting and see his folks on
Sunday night.” : sal
RAVITT thanked Miss Ison for her
cooperation and returned to head-
quarters.’ There, he went about check-
ing, the matter of Renfro’s arrest: and
subsequent dismissal in the magistrate’s
court.
The plaintiff, he learned, was Gordon,
V. Frazer of West High Street in Lex-
DETECTIVE CASES
TSE NENT
ington., Frazer was thirty-six years old,
his wife eleven years younger. Frazer
had. apparently. resented his wife’s
friendihsp with Renfro. He had. quar-
relled with him on two occasions before
he had sworn out 'the warrant. __
It was 1:30 of the’ morning when
Gravitt had adduced all the pertinent
facts, He sent Hadley and McMurray
out to bring in Mr. and Mrs. Frazer.
In the meantime, Dr. Kerr had com-
pleted.the autopsy. It confirmed his orig;
inal finding. William Renfro had met his
‘death by shot gunwounds in the head.
The gun had been fired. point blank.
The Frazers, brought into Captain
Gravitt’s office, were vehement in their
denials of arly knowledge of the murder.
Frazer frankly admitted that he had
' strongly resented Renfro’s dating of his
wife, He’ had sworn out the warrant in
an. effort to force Renfro from seeing
her. -
. However, he had not seen Renfro
since that day in magistrate’s court. And
‘he certainly had not killed him. \
Mrs. Frazer supported her husband’s
story. She swore that he had been at
home. during the entire week end. That
was the time when Renfro presumably -
was killed. .
“Well,” said Gravitt, “you two sound
convincing but I’ll have to hold you for -
a while.”
“For what?” demanded Frazer. .
“For ‘nothing, Just as. material wit-
nesses. But ‘you can make it easy on
yourselves if you’re willing to take a lie
detector test.” \ ;
. killin
Both Mr. and Mrs. Frazer eagerly
agreed, “We have nothing to hide,” said
Frazer. “We have nothing to lie about.
Sure, we'll take the test.”
They were‘sent to cells while Gravitt
got in touch with the University of
Kentucky Police Administration labor-
atory to arrange for the tests.
The appointment for Mrs. Frazer’s
test was set for Wednesday, December
9th. Her husband’s test was scheduled
for the day after that.
In spite of the fact that he had been
up late, Gravitt was on the job early
the next morning. He discussed the
with McMurray and Hadley.
“The lie detector should tell us
. whether or not the Frazers are clean. If
they are maybe we should try to find out
who Renfro was intending to. collect
money from. That guy should be our
next logical suspect. Did you guys find
anything in the car?”
“No legible prints,” said Hadley,
“save those of Renfro himself. However, -
there is a cleaner’s mark on the blanket
which was wrapped around Renfro’s
head.”
“Check it with every cleaning estab-
lishment in town as soon as they open.
The department will let us have every
available man to help.”
“I think the blanket mark. should
also be checked in Madison County,”
said McMurray. “After all, Renfro
lived there and so did his folks.”
“Right,” said Gravitt. “Get me a
photograph of that cleaner’s mark and
I'll send it over to Sheriff Wagers.”
75
ether unentitled, at his
Wimbledon, London, as
iy” Armstrong, complete
1 medal ribbons. This im-
Heath in the local magi-
ind thus Inspector Spoon-
obtain his photo.
of legal bickering Heath’s
as sent to the jury, which
ned a “guilty verdict.”
1 Heath’ maintained his
halant indifference. Nor
.own to express regrets or
e fate of Margery Gard-
en Marshall. There. was
val, but it was not initiated
t himself in the hands of
loctors which the British
ry is required by law to
a of insanity is raised
cial.
1el found him sane and
iged.
ion was at Pentonville
n, on the 16th of Octo-
metimes, it may be, a.
‘ds are a clue to his life
even on the scaffold.
sefore he was led out to
ior of the prison asked
ld like a highball. Heath
ind said he would. And
the governor as he was
he order, he grinned and
ght make it a double.” @
z on the ground.
gun cracked out. Two
| Hanson’s back and he
; Stephen, who had run
2 his father lay in the
a yell. He started to run
1e creek bank. Then he
ught better of it, stopped
xt me—please don’t!” he
n fired his last two bul-
boy’s chest: and he too
ie water.
CH in the red cap stood
in instant regarding his
en he went to the body
ached in his pocket and
> cartridges. He reloaded
Next he went to the boy,
alive and splashing help-
vater.
, cold-bloodedly, he fired
into the boy until at last
hen he went over to the
l ida put another bullet
‘ad.
1 to satisfy him, and he
er in his jacket pocket,
» Tifle and started back
> range where the car was
time he had been in the
2r, something he had not
d been happening near
Four young women, out
DETECTIVE CASES
-
as
j al
for an afternoon of horseback. riding,
had noticed the parked car. They were
surprised that there was no one in it—
or anywhere else in sight. ;
Then they heard shots coming from
the distance, an intermittent series of
them.
“Somebody must be over in those
woods shooting at rabbits,” observed
15-year-old Pat, Smith.
“Well, either there were a lot of rab-
bits or he was a mighty poor: shot,”
- said her companion, 16-year-old Gail
Gillaspy. “I heard at least eight or ten
shots.” {
The gitls started in the direction of
the woods and rode until Gail, who was
in the lead, caught sight of something
lying on the ground near the ditch. She
reined up and swung down beside her
horse. It was a man’s billfold.
“Wonder. who could have dropped
this out here in the middle of nowhere,”
she said to Pat, who had pulled up be-
side her. The ‘other two' girls, Mrs.
Elaine Weiman, 23, and Mrs. Susan
_Armstrong, 20, rode on.
Gail ‘looked in the wallet and found
that it contained more than 20 dollars
in bills, as well as two, auto driver’s
licenses—one issued for the state of
Texas and the other for Illinois.
“Hey, there’s a man coming this way
—down by the ditch,” Pat said sud-
denly, pointing. .
“Well, maybe he lost the wallet,” Gail
said. “Let’s ride over and ask him.”
She swung onto her horse again.
“Wait a minute. He’s carrying a rifle,”
Pat said.
“Well, sd he’s probably the man we »
heard shooting rabbits.” Gail rode on
over to the man, with Pat following be-
hind. Gail stared at him in astonishment
and mounting fright. Over his face he
was wearing a silk stocking mask which
completely hid his features. He pulled
a revolver from under his belt and
pointed it at the-girls.
“Don’t come any closer,” he said in
an easy drawl. “What do you want?”
The girls reined up sharply, and Gail
fought back terror as she thought of the
series of shots, A man doesn’t hunt rab-
bits with a revolver and wearing a mask.
_“We found a wallet,” Gail said halt-
ingly. “Did you lose one?”
The man’s hand plunged quickly into
his jacket pocket. “Yes, that’s my jwal-
- Jet. L didn’t know I'd Jost it,” hé ‘said.
“Give it to me.” _ a
In spite of the gun pointed at her,
Gail said boldly, “I don’t think this wal-
let is yours after all. There’s arf Illinois -
driver’s license in it, and you're dressed
like a local farm boy. You ever been to
Illinois?”
“Give me that wallet if you know
what’s good for you. Just hang it. on
the wire of that farm fence.”
Something in his manner warned Gail
to do what he said. He took the wallet
and slipped it in his pocket.
“Now you two go on about your
business,” he said. “And don’t try to
follow me, because I’ve got enough
guns at home to blast you to Kingdom
Come.”
DETECTIVE CASES
*
“stranger,” came the reply. “He killed
' glances, “He acts sort of wacky, .if you
Gail said speculatively. Let’s go and
As he started . away, the girls sat
staring after him, “Just a minute,” Gail
called. “What was that shooting we
heard down in the woods?”
“There. was a man down _there—a
three people.” .
Gail and. Pat exchanged puzzled
ask me,” Pat said.
“He sure does,” Gail agreed. “And I
wonder what he’s going'to do with that
car. He couldn’t own such a nice car.”
The girls watched the man in the.
stocking mask get into the car. They
heard the starter whirr several times.
But apparently he didn’t understand
how to start it, because he got out
again. He walked rapidly—almost ran
—toward a small grove of trees, into
which he disappeared along a path.
cc WONDER if there really are three
dead people back in that woods,”
see.”
‘ They rode to the woods, dismounted,
‘and walked through the underbrush,
Near the creek they came upon the dead
body of Lee Hanson. Then in the shal-
low water of the creek .they saw the
bodies of Bertram and Stephen. Apple-
ton. :
They let out a scream and stumbled
back through: the woods on trembling
legs. Jumping on their horses, they rode
at a gallop to a nearby farm,. where
they called the Harris County Sheriff's
office.
In less than a half-hour, Sheriff C. V.
(Buster) Kern had arrived. at the rifle
range. with Assistant Chief Deputy
Loyd Frazier, Deputies Joe Thorp and
Danny Brock, and a medical examiner.
The latter, after a brief examination ‘of
the bodies, stated that all the victims
had. died as.a result of bullets fired at
close range:
“And ‘it was no hunting accident,”
he added crisply. “It was a murder—or
better, a massacre.”
The girls described the man ‘in the
stocking mask. The officers were con-
vinced at once that he was the slayer.
But neither Gail nor Pat could describe
the man very accurately. 5
~ “He was carrying a .22 rifle and a
revolver, wearing a hunting cap on top
of the mask—and overalls,” Gail said.
“The overalls were dirty in the way a
farmer’s overalls get dirty.” ‘
“He was pretty young, from the
sound: of his voice,” Pat added. “And
he went that-a-way.” She pointed.
Sheriff Kern knew there were hun-
dreds of .22 rifles in the’ area and thou-
sands of farmers who wore overalls and
red caps. In the time that had already
elapsed the killer could be a couple of
miles away on foot—or 20 miles away
if he’d hitched a ride along the road.
‘Kern sent out a radio alert to patrol
cars in Harris and nearby counties.
Then he called his office and asked that
all possible deputies rush to the scene
for a large-scale manhunt.
He also gave the license number of
the car parked at the rifle range, and
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sg CHONG ARIE CS A RAE OEE ISAT IDS SEE SL BADE SE rae
I FOUND CORPSES
BY GAIL GILLASPY
as told to
MARY CAREY
The shock is still on my face
as I watch officers prepare the
bodies for trip to the morgue.
nly Pat and
ide to act as
it she didn’t
lial the num-
I dialed the
J. D. Walters
“This is an
tain Walters’
could, I told
ie mysterious
several times
» you, now?”
did Pat. And
» lived in the
izzled_ citizen
er.
y Road is, in
falters asked.
half a mile
directed the
ding a patrol
id Elaine that
She volun-
highway and
.” Elaine said.
of the levee,
1iddle of the
eside her, she
sulee. There,
i-fashion, was
ig at us.
se cars,” said
I didn’t see
stood up and
of the gully,
3unny around.
tween us,” I
close to him
es, but halted
m the foot of
1ute or so, the
e top of the
ned us to ap- -
ologize,” Gail
it’s too late,”
‘ain, and sud-
n’t explain, I
nim.
ail. “I’m going
rail. “If you’re
shot, too. We'll
er voice light,
i as I was. But
spunk, Gail
up the levee,
t. We stopped
on the man’s
u run us off?”
t have you’ to
ind?”
e, yourself,” I
m behind his
, identify as a
not appear a
shirt kill two
vithout a trace
{[ ran you away
1 to catch me
ld be blamed.”
»emed to hang
< of blank sur-
knew I must
couldn’t believe
ked, as uncon-
iving us direc-
>” T asked.
34
He pointed. “Right back there. Where
you first saw me.”
I was sure then he was lying. There
certainly hadn’t been any bodies lying
around.
“How long ago did this happen? When
did you see these killings?” Gail demand-
ed.
“You all came over the hill right after
it happened,” he replied blandly. “You
must have heard the shots.” }
Gail and I looked at each other, remefn-
bering the two bursts of gunfire. And, alt
at once, I got that uneasy feeling again.
The youth suddenly skirted our horses
and started walking down the slope.
Gail rode toward the gap in the fence.
“Come on, Suzan,” she urged. “Let’s go
see for ourselves.”
But I felt I should stay with the puz-
zling youth. I wheeled Bunny and began
keeping pace with him, trying to make up’
my mind whether he was telling the truth
or lying. “Are you serious?” I asked. If he
was, he sure wasn’t in-a hurry to tell the
authorities.
He shrugged. “If you don’t believe me,
go find out for yourself.”
The whole affair began to seem unreal
to me. I began to think I was dreaming
all this, that I’d wake up and find none
of it ever had happened.
The fellow suddenly hefted his shotgun,
gaining my attention. “I couldn’t have
done it,” he said. “They were killed with
a pistol. I don’t have a pistol, only this.
And I couldn’t hit you from here to there
with this.”
It was a childish statement, serving only
to .make me more confused concerning
this strange youth.
“Don’t hand me that line,” I said. “I’m
» not a very good shot with a pistol at all,
but even I could hit you at this distance
with a shotgun.”
ye
staféd ‘at him. Why
wasn’t he in a Z€0:call the police, if
he had seen ‘e6 murders? He was a
witness, by hi’ own statement, and the
police would cértainly want to talk to
im, “22 :
& chifling thought suddenly struck me.
Maybe he was telling the truth. And*may-
He fell silent. I
pehe didn’t want to call the law. Because
maybe he was the killer!
But there had been many shots, more
than a dozen, in rapid succession. This -
fellow’ didn’t seem to have a pistol, only
a shotgun, and it appeared to be’a single-
shot weapon, at that. He couldn’t have
fired it: as fast as I remembered the
shots had been fired.
“Why do you wear that mask?” I queried
him. :
“None of your- business,” he replied
shortly. We had passed the house where
I had stopped to call Captain Walters and
were approaching the middle house of the
three residences. He turned into the drive-
way.
“Do you live here?” I asked.
He did not reply or look back. He strode
into the house and closed the door behind
him, leaving me sitting Bunny in the road.
I didn’t know what to think, but I was
glad that he was no longer near me.
I rode at a trot to the highway, where .
Elaine and Pat greeted me with questions.
I told them the youth’s fantastic story,
and both agreed it sounded like something
-out of an opium pipe.
An official-looking, blue car with a whip
aerial approached and we flagged it
down, but the car, although an official car,
was not a. sheriff’s unit. It was occupied
by a postal inspector. Whjle we were
talking to him, a police unit. from Spring
Village stopped and the officer asked if.
there was anything amiss. But before
we could explain our troubles to him, a
black Ford with a huge Texas star on the
side, pulfed to a stop and two deputies
in uniform alighted.
To my surprise, one of them was Hol-
man Gregory, a long-time friend and
former schoolmate. His partner’s name
was Tommy Cleboski. I told them the
whole story.
When I.had finished, Cleboski’s face
wore a grim expression. “Where is he,
now?” he asked me.
I pointed toward the middle house. “He
went in that house.”
Cleboski reached into his car and pulled
out a sawed-off shotgun and jacked a
shell into the chamber. Gregory did the
same. They suddenly looked grim and
' warlike.
“You girls stay here until we get him,”
ordered Cleboski. “There’s just a chance
there may be some shooting, if this fellow
is a killer. And I don’t want you kids
around,”
The patrol car sped off toward the
house, followed by the postal inspector’s
car and the Spring Village police car. We
watched the three vehicles turn into the
driveway of the middle house, saw the
officers spill out and approach the house.
Then some trees in the yard hid them
. from sight.
We waited for a few minutes. Then I
couldn’t wait any longer. “Let’s go,” I
said, and galloped Bunny toward the
house. Just as we rode up, Cleboski and
Holman came out. The mysterious youth,
recognizable despite the fact he had re-
moved his mask, was between them. He
was handcuffed.
“Why, I know that boy!” exclaimed Pat.
“That’s Nearvel Moon!” She said he was.a
former student at Katy High School and
she had seen him at several school func-
tions.
Holman placed young Moon—he was
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DALLAS 5, TEXAS
"De tall, thin man was standing at the
top of the 11-mile long Addicks flood con-
trol dam, a rifle cradled in one arm and
motioning with the other for my riding
companion and me to come on up. Our
mounts were winded and wet with sweat,
even though Thanksgiving had been ush-
ered in by our first Texas norther.
All afternoon, it seemed, our four-girl
posse had either been chasing this strange
man or looking down the muzzle of his gun.
Like the teen-agers or just past that we
are, we didn’t realize then that we were
playing hide and seek with death that Sat-
urday, November 29, 1958.
Only minutes before I had been watching
this. same man from near the very spot
where he now stood while Suzan Armstrong
waited with our two horses at the base -of
the dam, which at this time of the year is
bone dry as there is no water to be im-
pounded. The other members of our quar-
tet, Elaine Weiman and Pat Smith, had gal-
This is the way I found Bertram Appleton, his riddled corpse
partially submerged in a muddy creek. Appleton’s 11-year-old
son, Steven, who was with him on camping trip, also was killed.
sD
pie =
a oe
When we heard the shots I thought we were dealing with an
illegal hunter—and we were, but his quarry walked on two legs
Officers and attendants are shown carrying sheet-covered bodies
to ambulances after removing them from the death scene.
This is the body of Lee Hanson. He was the
first one I found when the accused told me
to look in the woods for three dead people.
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only 18, we learned later—in the patrol
car and Cleboski told us they were going
to drive over the levee and have the boy
point out the spot where he had seen
the murders.
Then it hit me! Gail had gone to look
for the bodies. If Moon was telling the
truth, if he had seen three killings, the
killer could still be in the woods! No
one but Moon had emerged, and unless
the killer had fled deeper into the tim-
ber, he might still be lurking near the
scene.
“Gail!” I yelped. “She’s out there!” I
slashed at Bunny with the reins and
headed for the top of the levee at a. gallop.
Elaine and Pat followed.
The three police cars had gone ahead of
us, but we drew abreast of them as they
reached the slope of the dam. As we rode
past the sheriff’s car, Moon stuck his head
out the window and hailed Pat. “Hello,
there!” he called. “What do you think?
They’re trying to convict me of murder
now!” He laughed. His voice, expression-
less in all past conversations with us, was
now vibrant with excitement. I looked at
him in astonishment.
We rode over the hill abreast of the
cars, and the vehicles pulled in and
stopped behind the parked Ford and sta-
tion wagon. Almost at once I heard the
hoofbeats of a running horse and saw
Gail riding toward us. She wasn’t wear-
ing spurs, but from the way that mare
was running, you’d have thought she was
hooking the horse with every jump. She
pulled the lathered horse to a halt at the
fence, leaped off and almost fell through
the barbed wire,
Her face was chalk-white, and she was
trembling with excitement. “I found them!
I found them!” she shouted.
Cleboski grasped her. “What did you
find?” he asked.
Gail gulped. “Two bodies,” she said
breathlessly. She shuddered. She rode
to the woods, she said, to search for the
ybodies and finally followed a narrow trail
that led alongside Turkey Creek. Around
a bend in the trail, she said, she suddenly
saw the body of a man floating face down
in the creek. It-was obvious he was dead.
A dozen yards away, face down in the
trail, lay another man.
“He was dead, too. I felt his neck,” said
Gail. “I thought, if he were alive, I could
help him.” * ¢
Moon had been listening with a smug
look on his face. “I told you so,” he said
triumphantly, “
Cleboski gave him a hard look and then
took an axe from his patrol car. The gate
to the rifle range, past which a road led
to the woods, was locked, everyone hav-
ing left the range. Cleboski smashed the
hinges with’ the axe.
“You stay here,” he told Elaine, Pat and
me. “There’ll be other officers along
shortly. Gail will go with us and show us
where the bodies are.”
Gail’s horse had wandered off from the
fence. She caught the mare, mounted and
galloped ahead of the sheriff’s car. Pat,
Elaine and I watched the procession wind
toward the woods.
“Let’s go, too,” urged Pat.
“No, there’s nothing in there I want to
see,” I said. And Elaine nodded sober
agreement.
About 20 minutes after the searchers
had gone into the woods, Gregory. re-
turned to the »road. His face was .grim.
‘“You kids sure rode into a mess, Suzan,”
he said. “There’s a boy in there, too. We
found him in the:creek. All three of them
were shot to death.”
“Did he do it?” I asked.
“We think so, but we can’t be sure,” he
said. “He denies it. Says he was only a
witness.”
“What about the billfold?” asked Elaine.
“And he went through those cars,” I
added.
Holman nodded. “He could be a thief
and still not be a killer,” he said.
A huge posse of deputies, medical ex-
aminer’s investigators and crime labora-
tory technicians descended on the scene,
led by Sheriff C. V. Kern himself, accom-
panied by Captain Walters. Reporters,
photographers and television newsmen
also swarmed over the area, and ques-
tions were hurled at Elaine, Pat and me
from every angle.
We never knew if we were talking to
officers, reporters or just curious specta-
tors, scores of whom suddenly material-
ized from nowhere in the sparsely-settled
area.
Finally, Captain Walters took me by
the arm. “You three go put up your
horses,” he said, “then go to the sheriff's
office downtown. We want you all to make
written statements.”
We rode back to the pasture, where
Elaine was met by her husband. After off-
saddling and taking care of our horses,
we drove to the sheriff's department. Pat
was already there, having been picked up
at Francis’ ranch by her mother.
Captain Walters, several of the officers
and Moon were there ahead of us. Cap-
tain Walters informed us at once that
Moon had confessed. He gave in to Cap-
tain Walters, after the lawman had
tripped him up a dozen times in his story,
and admitted the slayings. He led the offi-
cers to his house, where he had hidden the
billfolds of the two men, the $40 he had
taken from them, and the pistol.
“I’m going to tell you, you four kids
are lucky!” Captain Walters said solemnly.
“He had that pistol, loaded, under his
jacket all the time. You’re lucky he didn’t
kill you, Suzan. In fact, he told us he
was going to kill all four of you, out in
that coulee, if you hadn’t given him that
billfold.”
Moon, in his confession, stated he had
not intended to kill the three hunters. He
said he approached Appleton, the boy and
Hanson with the intention only of asking
permission to fire their pistol, but with the
weapon in hand, he suddenly decided to
rob the two men. He gave as his reason
the fact that his mother’s teeth.needed fix-
ing. “She had been up nights crying with
a toothache,” he said, and his father would
not give her money for the dental work.
Both his parents denied this.
Nearvel said he walked his victims into
the woods, where he made the men throw
their billfolds on the ground. He intended
to leave the men there and flee. “But they
started running and I got scared,” he said.
“I started shooting. I was so scared. That’s
the scaredest I’ve ever been in my whole
life.”
He said he shot Hanson twice-and the
man fell in the creek. He shot Appleton
four times. Steven, he shot 12 times. “The
little boy said he’d do anything I wanted
him to if I wouldn’t shoot him,” the killer
said calmly. “I shot him in the chest and
he fell in the creek.” Moon said he then
reloaded the pistol and fired all the
bullets into the bodies. Then he fied, he
said, until he encountered us. We were,
he said grudgingly, very brave girls. “I
never met any girls like that before,” he
said.
That makes us even, as far as I’m con-
cerned. I never met a boy like Nearvel
Moon. I never want to meet another like
him.
Nearvel Moon has been adjudged sane
by competent psychiatrists, and on Decem-
ber 8th, 1958, he was indicted on three
counts’-of ‘murder with malice by the -
Harris County grand jury, each offense
punishable by death. He is held without .
bond and is expected to go to trial on
February 23rd. ¢¢¢
Strawk
in th
around, perha
cliff, the sherif
concentrated
arduous job a
lengthening in
other hour th«
most invisible
they found a
a page torn fr:
dress book, }
Trosper,” and
nue 53 in the
Northeast Los
Further sea
turned up st
page, this tim<
Glenoaks Bou
and a telephor
“Looks as if
of the girl’s a
them down h
“He really did:
her.”
“One of thes
his own,” Evy
again, maybe
down here, wit
bers.”
They presse:
while longer,
By this time |
scending on t
searchers decic
porting to Lie:
the homicide n
Students (abo
cutting in onl
getting actual
on all the late:
MORENO, Eliseo, Mex, ex. Texas (Brazos) March l,-1987. oF oe a
ECUTION ALERTS =~
rea Ae
TEXAS Thursday March 12 12:01, am Cot Lethal Injection
JOHN HENRY SELVAGE, a black male, age 36, is scheduled to be executed
In Texas on March 12th for the 1979 murder of a deputy sheriff? during
a jewelry store robbery in Houston. The victim was an hispanic male.
Ye was apparently tried by an all white jury and there were codefendants
that did not receive the death penalty.
SUGGESTED ACTIONS: Contact the Governor and the Board of Pardon and Parole
TEXAS Wednesday March 4 12:01 am CSz Lethal Injection
ELISEO MORENO, an hispanic male, 27 yvears old, is scheduled to be executed
March 4th for the shooting death of a Dept. of Public Safety Trooner and
five other people in 1983. The trooper was a 25yr. old white male. No
details on the other murders are available. Mr. Moreno has taken his
attorney off the case and is dropping all appeals. He refuses visits
from ministers and attorneys and will not reconsider his decision to be
executed because he believes he must atone for his sins in this way. His
address is Eliseo Moreno #759, Ellis I Unit, Huntsville, Texas 77343.
If he changes his mind attorneys are prepared to obtain a stay. (late
notice on this case is on the advice of those close to thecase)
TEXAS Thursday March 26 t2°0L am Cae Lethal Injection
CLARENCE LEE BRANDLEY, a black male, age 35, is scheduled to be executed
March 26 for the rape and murder of a white female high school student in
1980. Mr. Brandley had two trials. The first one ended in a hung jury.
It is believed both jurtes were all:white and there are racial overtones
throughout the case and the publicity surrounding it. There is also good
reason to believe he may be innocent such as a lack of any physical
evidence and no witnesses. When a prior warrant was in.effect a woman
came forward and said that her husband had done the crime. He was given
a lie detector test and failed it but nothing else was followed up on.
The Board of Pardons and Paréle has refused to review this case.
SUGGESTED ACTIONS: Write the Board of Pardon and Parole and ask that
they at least review ir. Prandley's case.
COMPACTS for TEXAS cases Gov. Bill Clements
Oo State Capitol
Austin, Texas Poti.
512-463-2000
Bosra of Pardon and Parsle
Box 13401
Stevhen Austin Building
Auegin. Tx Torus
512-459-2700
For undates and further information on any of the Texas cases contact
the Justice and Mercy Project in Houston- 713-527-8942
UPDATE: Elliott Johnson was scheduled to be executed in Texas February lith
Te received a stay from the U.S. SUP.Ct.
Ramon Fernandez was executed on January 20th in Texas.
NEAN update: DeCourcy Squire will be doing the alerts Sor March and May.
Pam Tucker will-de them for April and June. (DeCourcy-402-474-6575)
(Pam=- 412-391-6453)
{
Killer of six spurns
appeal, is executed _
att -
.
Kaoe te faith and not B 4Pe
After Boyd was murdered, Moreno
robbed a Hempstead man of his vehicle
and drove to the home of retired nurse
By ROY BRAGG
Houston Chronicle
3/4/87
lak oy tRe hope Asking Dewk- oirivi
vay Da Mem Qe. 2
Ch Fut Dylan Theme ) Qo gent
avs ARe nfg ht
We Love you ;
Lina e Sttve .
x
Since dhe
deeth pena
WD Feivd N
a\ other Texas Convicts
have been execad ,
4 one other
“hoa your Deatecis
x .
The carnage covtinsed 30 vamutes
latey on lexan G iu \Walley County
Wwere Roy stepped Motene
for S poeding «
HUNTSVILLE — Former lawn
mower repairman Eliseo Moreno re-
jected any appeals on his behalf and
was executed today after asking for-
giveness from the families of a state
trooper and five others he killed during |
a 1983 murder spree.
“I have no grudges against anybody »
or anything,” he said before a lethal
dose of chemicals was administered
. Shortly after midnight at the Texas
death chamber. “The Word of God tells
me the wages of sin are death. I am
willing to pay according to the laws of
Texas because I’m guilty.”
A witness called out: “I'll see you on
the other side.” Moreno responded, “No
fear .. Darn right.”
He was pronounced dead at 12:19
a.m,
Moreno, 27, was convicted of the Oct.
11, 1983, slaying of Department of Pub-
lie Safety Trooper Russell Boyd. He
had refused to pursue any appeals
other than one required by state law.
Boyd, 25, was shot six times at close
_ Tange near Hempstead after stopping
Moreno for a routine traffic violation,
During a 54-hour rampage across six
southeast Texas counties that night,
Moreno killed five other people and —
kidnapped six. .
Witnesses said Moreno had been :
drinking and was angry at the breakup
of his marriage. :
In letters written to the families of
his victims, Moreno, who once wanted
to be a police officer, admitted his guilt
and asked for forgiveness, saying exe-
cution was his only atonement.
He held to that position Tuesday, tell-
ing prison officials he wanted no visi-
tors and no contact with attorneys.
“He did not want to talk to any law-
yer or anyone who might remotely try
to persuade him to do otherwise,” said
Dick Tindal, his court-appointed attor-
ney.
A Texas Civil Liberties Union official
said little could be done without Mor-
eno’s
apnea of the death sentence was de-
nied,
Moreno, convicted in Boyd’s death,
also was charged in connection with
the five other murders.
The first victims were Bryan postal
worker Juan Garza, 30, Moreno’s broth- _
er-in-law, and Garza’s 31-year-old wife
. Esther, a food services worker, who
were ‘killed in the College Station
apartment they shared with their two
children. Moreno thought his estranged
wife Blanca was there, prosecutors
said. nae
» The faemeda nantineand Of walmatinn
‘ County at a
rmission. Moreno’s mandatory -
een,” he said.
- Ann Bennatt, 70, to steal a car. He pan-
icked and opened fire on Bennatt, her
sister Allie Wilkins, 79, and her broth-
er-in-law James Bennatte, 62. Bennatt
died three. weeks later from her
wounds. The others died instantly.
Moreno then kidnapped Bill Shirley,
his wife and three toddlers and forced
them to drive him to Pasadena, where
they were released unharmed. Ron
Gangle was then kidnapped at gunpoint
and ordered to drive Moreno to south
Texas. The ordeal ended in Wharton
police roadblock, where
_ _ Moreno spent
* Tuesday drinking
' Coffee, watching
elevision, playing
taikingsto inmates
Richard Foster,
Jerry Hogue and
Rodolfo Hernan-
“© dez, said’ David
Nunnelee, a Texas
Department of
.Corrections
, Spokesman.
declined
- breakfast, prefer-
Ting to wait for
_ the “big meal,” an
apparent refer-
ence to his last .
meal. |
The ‘last mea!
Moreno requested
consisted of
cheese enchiladas,
fish patties, lemon
pie and french fries, said Nunnelee.
After lunch, Moreno read the Bible
and watched Dennis the Menace on
television, Nunnelee said.
Moreno, who reaffirmed his religious
faith while in prison, also spoke to
Chaplain Alex Taylor, who was sched-
uled to be one of his personal witnesses.
Also on his witness list was Ruben
Valdez, Moreno’s brother-in-law. He
was the only family member given per-
mission to attend the execution, —
Moreno spent the last three days vis-
iting relatives, including his mother
Maria, his brothers Felipe Jr., Lupe
and Manuel, said Felipe Moreno, the
condemned man’s father.
He also was visited by his first wife,
Irma Reyes, whom he divorced, ‘and
their four sons, who range in age from
Moreno.
4% to 9 years.
Moreno was in high Spirits, Moreno’s
father said. “He’s the way he’s always
¢ Fad bye Sa
H i a
ee 4, yi at
n “Wed. “March 4, 1987 “the _ Birmingham News—9A.
ri exas killer . 4
ect 7 ati 33 > Lin: Le ees by
ye vit “e hy Ap er oy lg Att SAWN ee gL Vd
ees y y takes execution. ne ha
e * ne ‘ $!(AP) ‘
| = ‘Moreno, an onvlated il cling a six ¥ also received | ‘5-and 45-year’ prison
ot
gs.” ;
a (a 50-hour rampage, was executed cary - “Eliseo Moreno has demonstrated to’
anes y injecti ae
iat
BP RP pin tae ta PE om
after: g his final day play: his
i eine dominoes, visiting, wi gee his wife when he was arrested, 160,
na treading his Bible and mpte an.old) mi
bet “og, Dennis the Menace rerun, Rees, bie
: ‘execut ‘the’ athe carnage i in feiss Stan
i “nation this year. Both, ave been in “tion with the killings of Moreno’s’ ff
| brother-in-law, Juan Garza and Garza’s » | |
iM wife, Esther, i i fe ay | ed
‘- sh 25, was ‘shot to 0 death ater %
= since it resumed executions in 1982, i,
Mares: 27,.a Hi
ce es or any- | B8realber Magnum, But he v was hit ue
) yt ea Pioneer ocuinecoet ne teas
f Sin are death,’ \/ hae: head vat, iphone ee he Aay.
one” “I’m willing acting to ~ wounded on the side of the highway. > ~
ee sora of Texas because I. Anow!T'm T'm_ ‘A short time later in Hempstead, _
guilty3 35/5) ick ity Es oth ~ northwest of Houston, three other peo-
~ The injection began at 12:13 a.m. _ ple were gunned down for no ‘apparent
wZMoreno, ‘who appeared |happy and. Pa ea ‘Another Hempstead family «
=z. almost Cheerful, gasped. three times. then was abducted and forced to drive -
, be He was pronounced. dead: ant ‘minutes'*) Moreno about 70 miles to Pasadena,
- later. OO STG er) ° bea where he: freed them and abducted
Moreno was sentenced to eath, for. another man at gunpoint. Police cree
the fatal shooting’ of ‘Texas ‘Trooper arrested him ata Serge if
z e
ft
Uy rete
iYViCTE ‘
Wi8LACO — The parenta of Eliseo H.
fy Moreno, who has been moveil to death row afler a
B iuucer conviction, are pleading with the public
fo writs letters they foul wight hely him get an
appeal, .
Mr, and Mrs. F.C. Mozeno of 795 $. Nebraska
in Weslaoo gaid Wednesday the jury that sen-
tenced their son to die, not only decreed the
death penalty for him “but algo his parents, to
gig siowly und very painfully.”
’ They say he had to bo insane at the time the
murders tack place.
“It ia true that my son killed the Garzaa and
the state troeper,” the father said. “But they
were killed while my eon was ingene and in a
moment cf roadness,”
The. father said hia son suffered from two
diseacesa - alooholiem and jealousy. ;
They have several neatly written letters in
which their son, writing from jail, speaks of his
love for them, and profeares religious belief he
hopes will sustain him and hia family.
In ons, he expressed apprecistion for a bible
sent him by his father since he has been in jail.
Eliseo Hforeno is one of seven sons and four
daughters of the F.C. Merenos, who hzve three of
their sous serving in the navy, army and air force
and ancther now in high scheo! who has enlisted
in the navy, to report in November.
Tha #4-year-old death row inmate was reared
in Weslaco und attended Weslaco schools, qvit-
ting to go to work before greduation. He later
worked for a lawn mower renair business in
Dopna and earned his G.O.D. certificate, high
acheol equivalent, by attending night school in
San Benito, his father said!
Moreno said he talked with his son by
telephone Tuesday night after he was moved to
- Huntsvilié. The family has kept in close touch
- through the trial that has just ended.
Mra. Moreno went to see her son while he was
jailed in Hempstead and last week she, Eliseo’s
common law wife and his children and three
brothers and other relatives attended the trial to
bs with him, they said.
The Weslaco father said he suffers from
: epilepsy and his wife also has medical problems
. that require medication.
6
4
a
my
bd
zt
®
.
? :
c
.
a
“All thia pressure,” he said, getting up from a
chair to pace around the room that is lined with
family pictures. “My God, I am going to go
CTAZY. ie
Younger brothers of the convicted man listen
solemnly: ag their father speaks and their mother
sobs occasionally.
| seal es
“turdaerers Pavants
5.
Moet lan + fe a, o, flyin are
Asc For Aid To Save Their Son
Asked if the family has been harrassed in any
manner, the futher replied, "Quite the contrary ”
He said yreups of people they don’t know
have come from Harlingen, Alamo and other
places to pray with them. He said local residenta
who have known Elisea, including one of his
foriner teachers and an elected official, have
written letters, on his behalf.
He provided a typewritten, signed staternent,
which he asked to be published and requested the
public to write letters in behalf of en appeal for
Kliszo Moreno, either contacting the appeala
court in Houstsn directly or contacting him in
Weslaco.
The letter follows:
They say my son is a murderer but the real
truth is that the prosecuter, the jurors and the
Judge just heard what the D.A. showed and said.
They didn't and don’t want to listen to the
facts and the circumstances of the case.
It ia true that my son killed the Garzes and
the state trooper; but they were killed while my
60n was insane and in a moment of madness.
You see, my son suffers from two different
diseases, First alcohciiam and second jealousy.
Put them both together and they can drive any
man or woman to the wall.
My son loved his wife Blanca very very much!
So much that he lef his common-law wife and
three sons for her. And in return for all he did
end Jeft behind for her, she leaves him.
Yo top it all, her brother called my san at
work threatening him with his rifle if he didn’t
stop calling his sister at his mother’s home in
Donna, Texas.
My son was calling his wife and had the right
to. He loved her and wanted her to come home.
Now the jury sentenced iny son to die. I just
hope these people can sleep well each night
because they not only sentenced my son to die
but also his parents to die slowly and very
painfully. ,
That is why I call this editorial Premeditated
Murder. hecause the jury, the judge and the D.A.
know exactly what they did.
My eon didn’t know at the time what was -
going on. Any fool can see that very clear; that
my son did not premeditate all those killings.
I ask all you readers who read this column.
and think that my son deserves an appeal to
please write me. Your letters may save my son’s
life. .
The letter was signed Mr. and Mrs. F.C.
Moreno and family, 708 S. Nebraska, Weslaco,
Texas 78596. _
“When was the last timé you were in
El Paso?” demanded Chitwood. :
“Why, more than a week ago, Senor.”
“You didn’t come across the river and
stroll by the city dump on your way into
the city during the last three days?”
“The El Paso city dump? Oh no, Senior!
That is much too close to the railroad
shops where the pretty sefora’s husband
spent his nights working while his wife
remained alone with her cards!”
Whether there was more than coinci-
dence behind the other’s bland words was
something that Chitwood never had a
chance to determine. For suddenly -he
remembered where he had heard, less
than 72 hours ago, the words that had
struck a chord in his memory a few
moments before.
Those words, “hardly wait until the
day they could be together,” had been
almost identical to the last that Eleanor
Morgan had written. They were the words
she had penned in her diary, after “having
a long talk with ‘B’ from whom she had
been separated.” ’
“So ‘B’ could stand for Bernice, the
little girl she was expecting to join her
here in El Paso,” Chitwood explained to
the others after Bernardo Fernandez was
dismissed. “It’s no wonder that Callon
Morgan stood there stunned for several
moments after we suddenly confronted
him with that entry in his wife’s diary.
No wonder that it took him that long
to evolve the clever scheme that sent us
off looking for a gigolo who by sheer
coincidence had that same first initial.”
But before questioning the slain girl’s
husband about his failure to identify cor-
rectly the “B” mentioned in the diary,
Chitwood knew there was one more thing
he must do. That was to talk with the
little boy whom Morgan had so obviously
tried to keep them from questioning on
the night his wife’s strangled body was
found. .
Half an hour later the El Paso detec-
tive got through by long distance tele-
phone to the youngster’s mother in Raton,
N. M. “I have two important uestions
for your son to answer,” he explained to
the woman from whom Callon Morgan
had been divorced the year before. “They
are: Who gave him the money to go to
the movies on the night his stepmother
was murdered? And, does he remember
what his father prepared for his mid-
shift supper on that same night before
leaving for work?”
Five minutes later the youngster’s
mother was back at the telephone. “My
boy tells me,” she said, “that it was
his father who gave him the money and
told him to go to the movies thatgnight.
He is not sure about the kind of sand-
. wiches his father made to take to work,
but he knows that he always prepared
a thermos of hot coffee.”
Ten minutes after hanging up the re-
ceiver, Chitwood told Officers Haynes and
Fuller, “The whole thing is clear now—
exactly how Callon Morgan laid his plans
to murder the pretty young wife he had
caught playing around with the handsome
Mexican gigolo.
“First, he gave the boy money and told
him to go to the movies so that the child
would be away from the house when he
returned. He already knew that Mrs. Mc-
Allister, the landlady, would innocently
back him up, for he had seen to it that
the boy was locked out of the house on
previous occasions.
“Then, in order to have an excuse, to re-
turn and be admitted without arousing
his wife’s suspicions, he left the lunch
he had prepared on the refrigerator in
the kitchen. The only mistake he made
54 >
was in not picking it up and taking it with
him when he rushed back to work after
murdering his wife during the half-hour
lunch period.”
“But you have said yourself it would
have taken him nearly an hour to slip
back to the house and return to his
job by the bus which was the only means
of tr rtation available to him,” Fuller
objected. “And it must have taken some
time for him to have gotten the pop
bottle from the kitchen, slug, strangle and
bind her with the cord he found in the
dump between the railroad shop and his
home.”
“It could have been done, if he was
able to borrow or steal an automobile |
from one of his fellow employes,” Chit-
wood explained. “And that’s what I want
you to find out while I talk again with
Callon Morgan.
“Question every man who leaves his
car at the railroad’yard during the night
lunch period. If Morgan borrowed a car,
it will be easy. If he took one without
the owner’s permission, it may be more
difficult. But it’s our only chance of prov-
ing exactly how he could have done it.”
Chitwood was still questioning the slain
woman’s husband when Haynes and
Fuller returned to headquarters two hours
later. Asked about his failure to immedi-
ately and correctly identify the “B” men-
tioned in his wife’s diary, Morgan said
flatly that it had never occurred to him
that Eleanor had been’ referring to her
little daughter.
“I knew she wanted the kid to come
out here and live with us, but I also knew
she had been chasing around with this
gigolo whose first name also begins with
B,” he argued. “How was I to know to
which she was referring? If you’d asked
about her daughter, I’d have told you.”
“Just as you told us about giving your
boy money for the movies, so that he’d
be out of the house when you returned
to murder your wife?” interjected Chit-
wood coldly. :
“I gave the boy no money. If he told
you that, he is mistaken.”
“But you did forget your lunch and had
to return for it soon after the boy was
gone from the apartment?”
“No, I did not forget my lunch. I was
ill that night and simply did not eat it.
' When I got back to the apartment, and
found you there, I had it with me.”
Chitwood bent forward, staring the
other straight in the eye as he spoke.
“That won't do at all, Morgan,” he said.
“The district attorney’s investigators came
into the room where we stood talking and’
told of finding the thermos of coffee and
two sandwiches wrapped in wax paper in
the kitchen.” ; :
Morgan did not bat an eye. “That is
right, but you must remember that I had
already returned to the house before
those men went into the kitchen. If you
didn’t see me go out there and put my
uneaten lunch back on the refrigerator,
that is your fault.”
“Morgan, you're a liar! You had fainted,
or pretended to have fainted, the moment
you stepped into the room and saw your
wife’s body!”
The bushy-haired man allowed a slight
smile to cross his face, but made no an-
swer. Ten minutes later Fuller and
Haynes called Chitwood outside to re-
port that they had found a fellow worker
of Morgan’s who remembered having dis-
covered his car in gear when he went- to’
get it to drive home shortly after midnight
on the night of the 20th.
“This fellow,” reported Fuller, “tells us
he always put his car into neutral when
parking. He is friendly with Morgan, who
knows that he was one of the few men
with cars who did not leave the shop
during the lunch period. And he tells us
he leaves his car near the spot where
Morgan always eats alone in the parking
lot. He’s willing to swear that someone
—and only Morgan and the other em-
ployes have access to the lot—drove his
car ‘on the night Eleanor Morgan was
murdered.”
Chitwood decided to wait until Morgan
had had an opportunity to ponder upon
the mounting pile of circumstantial evi-
dence before delivering what he hoped
would prove to be the final blow. Less
than an hour later, however, as Chit-
wood was preparing to return to his home
for a full night’s sleep before confronting
Morgan with what he expected to be the
final crushing piece of evidence, Morgan
himself asked for an interview. .
Ten minutes later, in Chitwood’s office,
Morgan commenced: “I’ve been thinking
things over and I’ve decided to talk.
Sooner or later you’re bound te learn how
I was able to get to the house and back
in half an hour. And with the other things
you've managed to dig up, I know you'll
have enough to send me to the chair. So
I’m ready to talk. I’m ready to tell you
why I decided to do away with my wife.
I couldn’t tolerate the thought of her
being with any other man. I’m ready. ..”
Morgan glanced toward the shaft of hot
sunlight that came through the open win-
dow at the far side of the room. Chitwood
raised a hand and said tiredly, “All right,
Morgan, just hold it until I get a police
stenographer in here.” He turned to the
phone at his side.
In that moment the chair in which the
muscular suspect had been sitting crashed
to the floor and a heavy body went
through the opened window behind Chit-
wood’s desk.
It was exactly 5:28 p.m. on the night
of June 28 when Morgan leaped through
the. window of Chitwood’s office on the first
floor of police headquarters. Standing in
the shade outside, smoking a cigaret be-
fore he went on duty at 5:30, was Sgt.
Ray Smithers of the Traffic Bureau, a
heavyset officer whose stocky form belied
the agility with which he could move
in an emergency.
Callon Morgan landed on the sidewalk
less than two feet from the big traffic
officer. Smithers didn’t even bother to
reach for the gun in the holster ‘at his
side. Hearing Chitwood’s shout from be-
i the opened window, he calmly
reached out a heavy hand and grasped
the escaping prisoner by the collar. A
moment later Morgan was dragged back
inside whére District Attorney George
Andress and a police stenographer were
ready to listen to his statement.
But the prisoner no longer felt inclined
to confide in the men who for days had
been working to explode his carefully
prepared alibi. By this time, however,
Chitwood and the two officers from the
district attorney’s office were confident
they no longer needed a confession to pro-
cure a conviction for first degree murder.
Their confidence was justified when,
less than a month later, Morgan appeared
before a jury of 12 men in Criminal Court.
After a trial that lasted less than a week
he was found guilty as charged and
sentenced to forfeit his life in the electric
chair. One by one his appeals to higher
courts were denied, and on August 18,
1938, he paid with his life for the cleverly
conceived crime of passion that his young
wife may have foreseen in the cards when
she picked up an ace of spades.
(The name Bernardo Fernandez is fictitious
to protect the identity of a person innocently
involved in the investigation—The Editor)
Strange
[Continued
“But I told you
“We have a date
turned. “Just the tv
“I remember tha’
me first.”
“So I phoned you
So I had to come :
were home. Now |:
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worried as she fu
“Some other time,
“Why can’t we
ment and talk it ove
Mary weighed the
you promise to lea
go.”
The man and
from the darkened
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*6g6t ‘Aen “SHIIA SATLOMLEC
by KEN CARPENTER
rs. McAllister heard
Ni the shuffling footsteps
on the veranda and
reached automatically for the
duplicate key to the six-room
apartment upstairs. She knew
that in another moment there
would be a hesitant tapping
on her door and she would
open it to a wide-eyed little
boy standing there with an
expression of mingled fear
and helplessness on his pale
face. This was not the first
time the 11-year-old son of
her second-floor tenants had
returned late at night to find
himself locked out.
“My mom must have gone out after
she sent me to the movies,’’ Junior
Morgan said as the owner of the big
brick house in the heart of the most
exclusive residential district of El Paso,
Texas, appeared at her door.
**She’s not your mom, and I don’t
think she left the house tonight or P’'d
have heard her go,’’ replied Mrs.
McAllister. She tried to keep the
exasperation from her voice. It wasn’t
the child’s fault that his pretty, 24-
year-old stepmother sent him out at
all hours of the night so that she could
entertain her friends.
But she decided it was time to give
BVOETEOUONONUUNEAGOOEOUCAOONOEUUEUONEENEUOOOENETOOOOEEOGENNUOOOOGECEOOOOORONOOOOOCOOCOOOOOGESOOOOOOOCUOOOMTY ope coerrricennyy
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MURDER CAME
IN SPADES
i OO Srare alte Tote toe
The killer in his cell just hours
before execution. Forgotten
sandwiches tripped his plan.
Mrs. Morgan a piece of her mind. This
was the third time that she had had to
get up to admit the boy to his own
home. On the other occasions the
woman upstairs had gone off with
friends after sending the boy to the
movies, and never returned in time to
let him in when he got back. The boy,
however, was still loyal to his new
parent.
“But my stepmother would let me
in if she’s up there,’’ the youngster
protested as they started up the stairs.
‘She may have fallen asleep,’’ the
other replied without conviction.
‘Anyway, you had better wait outside
until I go in and find out.’’
An hour after she spoke those
words, Mrs. McAllister was explaining
to the police that she had had no
premonition of what she was to find
when she entered the neatly furnished
flat of her second-floor tenants. ‘‘I
knew a man went up there after the
little boy left because I heard his heavy
steps on the stairs,’’ she told City
Detective Roy Chitwood. ‘“‘But I didn’t
hear them leave, so expected to find
them still together. That’s why I told
the boy to wait outside.’’
‘‘And you’re sure the man was not
in the apartment when you entered?”’
Unusual braided cord was
knotted around woman's throat
and tied around her body.
FIENDS WHO
WENT TO
THE CHAIR
inquired the detective.
Mrs. McAllister answered that she
had not waited to search the premises.
One glance at the cord-bound body of
the brunette had been enough to send
her running back downstairs to call the
police.
Chitwood, accompanied by two
uniformed officers, arrived at the
house just before midnight to find the
body of Eleanor Morgan sprawled
before the sofa on which she had
Gc oa EE AMIN
Eleanor Morgan’s secret sex life in Mexico
came into the open the day she died.
j
i
ti
for her husband to come in, she would
spend hours trying to see into the
future with cards,’’ the woman
volunteered. ‘‘Mrs. Morgan really
lived by the cards.’’
‘And apparently died by them,
too,’’ replied Chitwood as he turned
to welcome David Haynes and J.C.
Fuller, investigators from the district
attorney’s office. ‘‘But why was it
necessary for a pretty girl like her to
find any kind of solitary relaxation at
night? Why wasn’t her husband here
with her, and why isn’t he now?’’
’ Mrs. McAllister explained that
Callon Morgan, the 33-year-old.father
of the boy who had been locked out
of his home that night, worked a 4
p.m. to 12 midnight shift at the
Southern Pacific Railroad shops on the
other side of the city. As she finished
speaking, a dark, bushy-haired man
rushed in past the uniformed officers.
Callon Morgan took one long look
at the woman whose scantily clad body
lay before the sofa and fell forward in
(continued on next page)
Ace of spades was the last thing
victim saw before her death.
evidently been sitting or lying at the
time she was attacked. Dressed in a
thin black lace negligee, the body was
trussed in a jack-knifed position with
a braided silk cord that had first been
knotted about her slender throat. Long
tassels at the ends of the five-foot cord
indicated it had come from a man’s
bathrobe.
Eleanor’s dark auburn hair was
matted with blood and there was a
shattered softdrink bottle on the heavy
carpet near the body. But other than
the overturned table and playing cards
that lay scattered about, the expensi-
vely furnished room was immaculate.
An ash tray on an end table held
several cigaret stubs, all smeared with
lipstick. Clutched tightly in the slain
girl’s right hand was a crumpled playing
card — the ace of spades.
Mrs. McAllister, standing behind
the detective as he took the card from
the dead girl’s hand, explained that
Eleanor had spent much of her time,
‘‘when she wasn’t off with her young
friends,’’ telling her own and others’
fortunes with Girds. ‘““On weekday
nights, after the boy had been sent to
bed and she was here alone waiting &
2 TT
= The woman spent hours trying
= _ to see into her future with
= cards. But there was one man
= who knew what it would be
= without ever opening a deck...
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GREER TRIE fata
a dead faint. A coroner’s physician,
who had arrived a few minutes earlier,
helped revive the husband while
Chitwood asked the district attorney’s
investigators to make a room-by-room
search of the rest of the apartment.
He then turned back to the owner of
the house. :
‘*Exactly what time was it,’’
Chitwood asked, ‘‘when you heard
someone come up here?”’
Mrs. McAllister glanced at the
calendar clock on the wall directly over
the body. This showed that the day
was Sunday, June 20, 1937; the time
12:57 p.m. ‘‘About four hours ago,
just after I heard the boy leave the
house,’’ she answered. ‘‘I knew that
Junior had been sent out to a movie,
even though he had to be up early for
school tomorrow. It wasn’t the first
time she sent him off like that when
she was expecting company.”
‘‘Now, just a minute, Mrs. McAI-
lister. Exactly what are you trying to
say?’’
The words, in a hollow voice hardly
above a whisper, came from the dark-
complexioned man over whom the
medical examiner had been working
for the past few moments. Callon
Morgan stared angrily at the woman
as he spoke, but at a signal from
Chitwood, a uniformed man stepped
quickly forward to escort the owner
of the house back to her own quarters.
Chitwood, adopting a conciliatory
tone, said, ‘‘I’m afraid that what Mrs.
McAllister has told us is true, Morgan.
Your own son says that he has been
sent off to the movies on several
occasions, only to return home and
find himself locked out’ of the house.
Tonight he went to the landlady to get
her to let him in. When they came up
here they found the body of your wife
just as you see it there on the floor”
now.”’
“Dead?” There was disbelief in the
man’s husky voice.
“*Yes, The doctor says she was killed
sometime within the past four hours.
Struck over the head and then stran-
gled with the cord which has been tied
about her body. Ever see that braided
silk cord before, Morgan?”’
The husband replied that he had
not. The burglar or thug who had
broken in upon his wife while she sat
reading her fortune-telling cards must
have brought it with him, he suggested.
‘*I’m afraid there was no burglar,”
answered Chitwood softly. ‘“Whoever
came here tonight was voluntarily
admitted. The door to the back
stairway was still locked with the key
inside when we got here. Mrs. McAI-
12
lister found the front door locked, and
it would have been impossible for
anyone to have climbed to one of the
opened windows on this floor from
outside the house without being heard
below.”’ ‘
“But Eleanor would never have let
a man into the apartment dressed as
she was in that flimsy negligee,’’ ’
protested the husband as he stared
down at the crumpled body. Chitwood
started to answer, but at a signal from
Detective Haynes turned and followed
the latter from the room. A moment
later the district attorney’s investigator
was showing him a small leatherbound
diary in which a final entry had been
made the day before.
‘‘Found this lying on top of the
dressing table in the master bedroom,”
Haynes explained. ‘‘Let me just read
you this last entry, written in the slain
girl’s hand:
“‘Had a long talk with B. today. It
Woman lived in this house as
a prisoner by day, sneaking out
in search of steamy romance —
with her lover by night.
is awful that we should be apart when
we love each other so much. I can
hardly wait until the day when we can
be together forever.”” :
‘‘Any other references to this
ysterious ‘B’?’’ inquired Chitwood.
Haynes said that there were several
other entries in which ‘‘B’’ was
mentioned. In all of these Eleanor had
mentioned letters received from ‘‘B’’
or conversations that evidently took
place between the two of them on
previous dates. But in none had the
other person been called anything but
“B”?
“‘Find anything else?”’
Haynes shook his head. Fuller,
entering from the kitchen, said he had
‘ discovered a six-pack case of soft-drink
bottles of the same brand as that which
had evidently been used to bludgeon
the girl into unconsciousness before
she was strangled.
‘‘Any hard drinks out there?’’
inquired Chitwood, recalling Mrs.
McAllister’s story of a mysterious
guest.
"No, nothing but the remains of the
roast the family probably had for their
Sunday dinner. And a thermostat of
coffee and two sandwiches wrapped in
wax paper that she must have prepared
for the youngster.”’
Chitwood returned to the front
room where the husband knelt over
the body of the girl he had married
six months before. Both had been
divorced. ‘‘I know that you’ve had
about all you can take for one day,”
he told the other, ‘‘but I’m afraid I’ll
have to ask you to read this.’’
Chitwood handed the man his wife’s
opened diary.
Morgan slowly read the words that
Eleanor had apparently written the day
before. ‘“‘That is your wife’s writing,
isn’t it?’’ inquired the detective.
“*Yes, it’s certainly her writing,”’
answered the other with quiet resi-
gnation. ‘And I suppose I may as well
tell you what I can of the man she has
referred to in that final entry... the
man ‘B’ that she could hardly wait to
be with. You see, I’ve suspected for
sometime that something like this
might happen. I first suspected she was
stepping out after my son let slip that
she had given him money to go to a
movie once before. -
“‘When I confronted her with it sh
said that she had only gone out for a
‘walk, to get some fresh air. That was
about a month ago. Several nights later
I had to stay home from work because
of illness. She was nervous the entire
evening, and when the phone rang
about 10 o’clock she rushed to answer
it before I could get to it. I heard her
tell the caller that he had the wrong
number, but her manner was so
strange that I felt sure she was lying.”’
A week after that, Morgan conti-
nued, he had decided to check on his
wife’s activities after learning from his
son that she had again promised him
money for a movie on a school night.
“I had to pretend that I was sick
again in order to get away from the
job because I get only half an hour
off at 8 p.m. and that wouldn’t have
(continued on page 52)
How good a detective
are you?
This true case
gives you a chance to
test your sleuthing skill
Coiet Deputy Sheriff George Fields
strode into the crowded lobby of Or-
lando's San Juan Hotel. It was early
Tuesday evening, February 15, 1938.
The Florida resort’s winter season was
in full swing. Fields took the stairs two
at a time to the second floor, pushed
open the door of Room 208.
Inside on the bed lay the body of at-
tractive Dolores Myerly, immaculate in
a frilly chiffon evening gown. Fields
noted at a glance the staring eyes with
their dilated pupils, the slight but un-
mistakable frothing from the mouth,
the dark blue skin beneath the pancake
makeup. The sleuth bent over the
corpse's lips. “Cyanide,” he murmured.
The fluttery hotel manager could
contain himself no longer. “This is
Miss Myerly’s room,” he began. “She is
our guest here. This—er—gentleman,”
the manager pointed vaguely to the man
deep in an over-upholstered chair, his
head buried in his hands, “came up to
Miss Myerly’s room maybe only half an
hour ago. Then, inside of five minutes,
on flashes the switchboard light and he
wantsa doctor. I took one look at Miss
Myerly and called you at once.”
Sheriff Fields ordered the body re-
moved to the morgue immediately for
toxicological examination. The investi-
gator then suggested the manager re-
turn to his duties, leave him alone in
the room with the distraught man in
the chair.
The man looked up for the first time.
“I suppose you want to know who I am,”
he began. “My name is Tom Jordan.
This was our first date. We were just
introduced this afternoon. When I
called Dolores on the house phone from
the lobby she suggested my dropping
up for a minute or two while she fin-
ished putting on her makeup.”
Jordan lighted a cigarette. “I had
_ this half-pint bottle in my pocket,” he
resumed. “I didn’t think there'd be any
harm in our having a quick one be-
fore we went out to eat. There was
only one glass in the room so I poured
her a small one. :
“She took one sip, made a funny face.
Then she cried, “Tom, I'm dizzy.’ She
began to gasp for air, stiffened up,
clenched her fists, started going blue. I
caught her up as she fell, carried her
over to the bed. Then I rushed to the
phone and called for a doctor. The man- ,
ager came right up. She was already
—dead. It all happened so suddenly.”
“What.do you suppose did it, Tom?”
Sheriff Fields asked.
“I don’t know. She acted as though
she was poisoned.” Jordan’s forehead
furrowed.
“Poison in the liquor, Tom? That
what you mean?” Fields persisted
quietly.
“Must have been,” Jordan answered
dully. “But why did he give it to me,
then?” he continued in the same lifeless
tone.
“Who gave it to you, Tom?”
“That man,” explained Jordan. “The
little man with the false teeth. He kept
taking them out and putting them
back.”
“What's his name?”
“I don't know. I've bumped into him
around town’ ffow and-then. I was
standing on the corner when he came
over and offered me a drink from the
bottle. I told him, ‘No, thanks.’ Then
he handed me the whole bottle, slipped
it into =, pocket. Said he'd i
drinkin: er and didn’t want to mix
his drinks. Then he said goodnight and
walked away.”
Fields set about checking Jordan's
story. Detectives interviewing local
bartenders soon uncovered a beer-
drinking patron, Donald Long by
name, who Answered Jordan's descrip-
tion. Fields brought the men face to
face. ;
“That's the man,” exclaimed Jordan.
“Take him away. He's crazy,”: was
Long’s response.
As a personal reference Donald Long
ave Sheriff Fields the name of George
ton, a private detective for whom he
had been working as an operative. Cos-
ton gave Long a good character.
The toxicologist’s report confirmed
Sheriff Fields’ deduction as to the cause
of Dolores Myerly’s death. The half-
pint bottle had contained 24 grains of
potassium cyanide. A survey of Orlando
pharmacists’ poison sales records during
the first two days of the week revealed
only one entry—to a local physician who
had purchased a quarter pound of
cyanide. Interviewed, the doctor ex-
lained he had bought the poison for
jonald Long who wanted it for a rat.
poison he manufactured.
When Long denied knowing the phy-
sician, the doctor was interviewed again.
He had bought the cyanide for Long,
he repeated. His order had been as a
favor to Private Detective Coston who
had made the request in Long’s behalf.
Long admitted using cyanide in his
exterminating business. “But I didn’t
know a thing about this quarter pound
purchase,” he insisted hysterically. “Cos-
ton bought that on his own. He didn’t
tell me anything about it. It was Coston
who gave me that half-pint bottle. He
wanted to poison me because I wouldn't
have any part in some crooked work he
was planning. He was afraid I might
ueal.” The little man yanked his
false teeth out of his mouth, then nery-
ously replaced them.
Sheriff Fields interviewed Coston. “I
didn’t want to get Long in trouble when
you called me before, Sheriff, so I didn’t
say anything about it but if you check
his fingerprints you'll find he has a rec-
ord. Now as for this cyanide business,
sure I bought it or rather asked the doc-
tor to get it for Long. Long made me a
—- in his vermin exterminating
usiness.”
Fields made a quick review:
Dolores Myerly: She drank poison.
Tom eerie He poured her drink.
Donald Long: He had a police record,
used poison in his exterminating busi-
ness.
George Coston: He had a quarter
pound of cyanide the day before Dolores
was poisoned.
On the basis of the above investiga-
tion the sheriff cracked the sensational
Orlando, Fla. murder case. You, the
reader, have all the clues. Now You Be
the Detective. See page 41 for the solu-
tion.
man his wife’s
the words that
written the day
ife’s writing, isn’t
ive.
jer writing,” an-
quiet resignation.
as well tell you
she has referred
the man ‘B’ that
be with. You see,
etime that some-
ippen. I first sus-
ng out after my
given him money
=fore.
er with it she said
out for a walk, to
hat was about a
hts later I had to
ecause of illness.
itire evening, and
out 10 o’clock she
re I could get to it.
er that he had the
r manner was so
she was lying.”
Morgan continued,
< on his wife’s ac-
trom his son that
d him money for
it.
t I was sick again
from the job be-
hour off at 8 p.m.
been long enough
2 and return,” he
to take off during
shift. I got here
st in time to see
with a tall dark ©
efore.”
followed the pair
ere they caught a
ad been fortunate
axi, and managed
wv until it reached
the International
tio Grande River
tes and Mexico.
er, in ¢ border
z, just across the
ntered a gambling
the tables placing
n hour. After they
the husband had
hing, Morgan had
s of the manage-
the pretty Amer-
indsome, flashing-
requently visited
ays at night, and
ealized, on one of
vas at work in the
man’s name was
hat he’s a profes-
d that he concen-
arican women who
order looking for
ont,’ Morgan con-
althy woman?” in-
ig the expensively
but aware that
ly a modest salary
oad shops.
other, “but she’s
guy like this Mex-
t something young
sn't playing footsy
old dames from
ving.”
his dark-eyed wife
o less than a year
her first husband
York City. He had
met her at the gaming tables in the wide-
} open town across the border and, follow-
ing his own divorce in New Mexico, had
married her as the climax to a whirlwind
courtship.
After ordering the removal of the body -
to the El Paso County morgue, Chitwood
asked Morgan’s permission to close and
lock the apartment pending further in-
vestigation.
“We'll never return to this house,”
Morgan answered. “I’ll send the kid to his
| mother in New Mexico tomorrow, and get
a room near the shops on the other side of
town until I decide what to do.”
“Don’t you think we had better talk
with the boy before you send him off?”
suggested Chitwood easily.
Morgan replied that he had already
questioned his son on finding him waiting
at Mrs. McAllister’s apartment downstairs
after returning from work at 1 a.m. “Jun-
ior told me his stepmother gaye him
money to gg.to the movies again,” he re-
lated. “She told him not to leave until
time for the last show, but to be sure to
be home before I got back from work.”
The husband was unable to remember
the exact dates on which he had not re-
ported for work because of feigned illness.
But a check with his employers would
confirm those absences—and the fact that
he had been on duty from 4 o'clock the
previous afternoon until quitting at
12:30 a.m.
Early Monday the two investigators
from the district attorney’s office left for
the resort town across the Rio Grande to
confer with Mexican police while Detec-
tive Chitwood visited the Southern Pa-
cific Railroad shops. The latter learned
that Morgan had taken off on the night of
May 22 because of sickness. A week later
he had reported sick again, after working
half his shift.
The bus which took him from his home
to his place of employment usually made
the trip in 28 minutes, so that it would
have been impossible for him to have
taken that to his home and back during
the half hour he was allowed for supper,
Chitwood determined. Morgan’s fellow
employes said that he had been on the job
continually from 4 to 8 p.m. and from
8:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. the night be-
fore.”
In Ciudad Juarez, Officers Haynes and
Fuller learned from the American man-
ager of a Mexican gambling establish-
ment that the slain girl’s husband appar-
ently had been telling the truth when he
told of following his bride of six months
and her companion to the establishment
the month before. .
“Yes,” the casino manager replied in
answer to Haynes’ questions, “I remem-
ber the man you describe. He came here
about a month ago and pointed out
Bernardo and the pretty brunette he’s
been chasing around with lately. I sus-
pected at the time he might be the girl’s
husband—and I’d warned Bernardo about
these young married American women.
So I let him have it—told him the dame
had been spending quite a few evenings
at the casino with the gigolo.” t
“This Bernardo, he’s a professional es-
cort?” inquired Officer Fuller.
“That’s right. A sort of free-lancer.
Makes his living from wealthy Americans
who slip down here for a good time while
their husbands are working back in the
States. But he’s also pretty fond of
younger girls.”
The casino manager added that the local
police should have no difficulty in locat-
ing the Latin Lothario. He had already
been involved in several escapades.
Meanwhile, back in El Paso the police
asked local newspapers to publish a de-
scription and photographs of the silken
robe cord with which Eleanor Morgan had
been bound and strangled. A canvass of
local haberdashers had already failed to
turn up any leads. ;
It was Chitwood’s theory that the killer
would have — disposed of the robe
from which he had* taken the cord,
whether or not it was his own.
Within 24 hours both the robe and its
last owner were traced. A city trash col-
lector discovered the former, an expen-
sive but well worn garment, at the edge
of the city dump on the banks of the Rio
Grande south of the city. Even as the col-
lector was making his report to police a
call came from the residence of a prom-
inent businessman who lived not far from
Mrs. McAllister’s home on the fashionable
north side. The businessman’s wife said
that she had given a blue silk robe to a
maid to throw away three days before.
She recognized the newspaper description
of the tasselled cord, for her husband had
refused to wear it with the robe because
he objected to the fancy tassels.
“And of course the unworn cord was no
good,” the woman explained to the police.
“Sq the maid threw both in the trash
can.”
Their one tangible clue having proved
worthlegs, the detectives returned to
headquarters where they conferred with
fingerprint and laboratory technicians
who had combed the house thoroughly.
“We didn’t uncover a thing,” reported
Ree MR, BY,
‘the latter. “The cards with which Eleanor
Morgan was looking into the future when
she died bear only her own fingerprints.
The pop bottle found beside the body was
so badly shattered that even if it bore
prints, we couldn’t piece them together.
And there were no prints on doors or
windows, except of course those of the
three occupants of the place.”
Identification Bureau men added that
.they had checked over correspondence
found in the slain woman’s bedroom, but
found nothing suspicious. If Eleanor had
' received letters from her suspected para-
mour, she had destroyed or hid them be-
fore her death.
The coroner reported that death had
resulted’ from strangulation, probably
after the victim had been knocked un-
conscious from behind by a strong man
who dealt a crushing blow to the back
of her head with the pop bottle found near
the body. There was no indication of rape,
and it was apparent the girl had been
sitting before the card table when she was
struck from behind.
An hour -after the. coroner’s report was
received, Mexican State Police reported
the arrest of Fernandez in a tourist hotel.
it3
We're bringing him right over, al-
though we’ve advised him that he can re-
fuse to be extradited until after a hearing
before a Mexican judge,” Capt. Ricardo
Gonzalez informed Chitwood.
But Bernardo Fernandez was ready and
willing enough to talk. Taken directly to
the district attorney’s office upon his ar-
‘ rival in El Paso, he told the American in-
vestigators he had known Eleanor Morgan
for the past three months and had had
numerous dates with her during the hours
her husband, nearly ten years older than
the auburn-haired girl, had worked at his
job in the railroad repair shops.
“She was a relief after all those fat old
tourists,” Bernardo explained lightly, “a
relief and fun to be with, although she
ever spent money on me like the rich
Id ladies. And what could be wrong about
my making her happy? Her husband had
no time for her, and she was sad for the
little daughter from whom she was sep-
arated, although she said the girl was to
come to her soon.”
“Her little daughter?” repeated Chit-
wood thoughtfully. Neither Morgan nor
the landlady had mentioned a second
child.
“Oh, yes. The little girl, Bernice, whom
she had left in New York. She could
hardly wait until the day when they
could be together again.”
The tourist guide’s final words struck a
chord in Detective Chitwood’s memory,
but he was unable at the moment to re-
call where he had heard, or read, those
same words recently. While he sat trying
to jog his memory, he asked idly, “Then
toe weren’t aware that she used to send
er husband’s little boy out so she could
-be alone with you? That she had given
him money with which to go to the movie
on the nights you came over here to take
her out?”
“Oh, no Sefior,” answered the other
quickly. “She could not have given any
little boy money for the movies. The
sefiora never had any money. Her hus-
band wouldn’t even trust her with money
for the groceries. She told me herself.
“He was afraid she might go out while
he was at work. He would buy sup-
plies himself and dole them out day by
day. He even put up his own lunches each
day so as not to have to spend money for
them. The sefiora told me that. Everything
he earned went into their home and he
tried to keep his pretty wife a prisoner
- there.”
Sd 53
c
: (Continued from Page 7)
LOTTERY
“For valuable services to be rend-
ered to the winner of the lottery.”
. The setond ticket was more
specific, It was green and larger,
and across it in red ink it said:
“A ticket to the Passion Pit.”
Under this, in small type, was the
promise: “If you win the lottery,
you will have a week end with a
pretty girl and all the liquor you
ean drink.”
‘When Sheriff Ty Lockett saw the
tickets, he assigned his ace in-
vestigator, Madden, to handle the
- case. Madden went to the plant
and talked to a number of mien.
They all readily admitted they had
purchased one of the lottery
tickets and that the winner had had
a weekend with a girl in a
luxurious apartment.
Madden played his hand cleverly.
He didn’t expose it at once. He
continued his investigation, and to
aid him, he sent several under-
cover men in the plant. It wasn’t
long until another lottery was
under way, und they bought
- tickets: The two girls selling them
were shadowed to the apartment
of two men.
It didn’t take Madden and his
men long to check up on the re-
cord of these men. They were well-
known procurers who had, on two
occasions, served time on _ that
charge. Madden had the. men
shadowed until he was certain they
were back of the lottery. Then he
closed in on the apartment, arrest-
ing the men and the two girls.
At the sheriff's office the men
were grilled for hours, but they
stubbornly denied any knowledge
of the lottery. There was no way
to connect them with the sale of
the tickets. The girls proved just
as difficult to question. They were
flippant and treated the whole
thing as a joke. The four. were
held for several days, but in the
end they had to be released for
lack of evidence.
Today in many war plants. over
the country the sex lottery is go-
ing full blast. The police are hand-
icapped in crushing it because the
procurers know every angle about
how to keep out of prison.
But in a.month or two at the
most, officials will have solved that
knotty problem, and when they do,
one of the most profitable pfo- .
stitution rackets of the country
will be broken up.
—THE END—
” know you'll think we're not very progressive, Mr.
Horvath, but no. dynamite!" '
HE COULDN'T
TOUCH ELEANOR
~ (Continued from Page 20)
“Rachel!” Chitwood exclaimed.
He jumped up and practically ran
out of the house, saying over his
shoulder. ‘Thank you, . Ma’am.
Thank you very, very much.”
Half an hour later, Chitwood
was questioning Callon. Morgan.
He demanded to know, “Why
didn’t you tell me your wife shad .
a daughter?”
Morgan was startled by the in-
vestigator’s manner. He hesitating-
ly. replied, “Why... why... I
never thought. I. . . what has she
* got to do with it? She’s only a
child and she’s in New York.”
“And her name is_ Rachel!”
Chitwood said.
“Yes,” Morgan. confusedly a-
greed, “her name is Rachel.”
“R-al” Chitwood exclaimed. “You
said that the only person whom
your wife knew whose name began:
with the letters R-a was Ramon
Prado!” ~
“T never thought . .
muttered.
.” Morgan
“You killed your wife!” Chitwood
accused him. “You cross that road
by the dump on your way to and
from work and you saw the cord
of that bathrobe and took it to
strangle her. You...”
“I don’t know what-you’re talk-
ing about,” Morgan interrupted.
Chitwood emphatically continued,
“You came home at noon when
you knew your landlady would be
out and wouldn’t see you. You
came home. with ‘that bathrobe
cord you had picked’ up in the
dump. You went to the kitchen and
took a bottle of soda pop out of
the refrigerator while your wife
was sitting on the floor telling her
. fortune. You stood over her, the
pop bottle in your hand, the cord
in your pocket, without her having
any idea of what was in’ your
mind, She turned up the ace of
spades and said to you ‘that
means a death in the family. The
ace of spades is the fortune tell-
er’s card of death.’ That was why
you remembered the meaning of the
ace of spades so well when
Detective Fuller pried it out of
your wife’s hand. ‘The ace of
- spades is the fortune teller’s card
of death,’ are the last words your
wife ever spoke. Directly after
that, you knocked her unconscious
with the pop bottle. Then you.
strangled her with the silk bath-
robe cord you had picked up. in
the dump. Finally, you went back
to work. The whole thing didn’t
take more than half an hour! You
were safely out of the house and
_ back on the job before the land-
lady came home.”
Morgan was. obviously over-
whelmed by Chitwood’s remarkable
and accurate reconstruction of the
crime. A reconstruction that was
based on the slender fact that he
had given the police the wrong
information regarding the letters
R-a which had been scribbled on
his wife’s telephone pad. Had he
not done this, Callon Morgan
might never have been caught. But,
when the circumstance presented
itself, he had tried to cast
suspicion on an innocent man,
Ramon Prado, and that caused his
undoing.
There was no fight or pretense
left in him. He forlornly realized
that he had been burned out by
the torrid, green fires of un-
reasonable, unfounded jealousy
which had driven him to murder the
woman he’ loved.
He said, “I killed her because it
got me crazy, the way men were
always staring at her. I couldn’t
stand it! I just couldn’t stand it!”
he sobbed.
Callon Morgan threw himself on
the mercy of the court. He was
judged guilty of premeditated
murder. It was his taking of. the
silk coord from the bathrobe he
happened to see in the city dump
that convinced the judge that he
had planned the murder. So
Morgan, like his unfortunate wife,
was strangled to death. He was
convicted of murder and hung by
the neck until he was dead.
—The End—
MORGAN, Callen H., wh, elec. TX (El Paso) August 19, 1938
CALLON MORGAN—
Ellie’s husband, who spent his spare
time rummaging in the city dump.
ota
ata
a*
‘wat
+.
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living-r:
ment, jf
It w
Ellie w
was off
Fe Rai
had lef
She w:
least sl
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behind
menaci'
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gloved
bathrot
jealous,
Ellie
making
tent on
steps be
thick ri
She lea
ace of |
making
killer st
Like
the bot
Ellie’s
clutchec
ward.
touched
Three :
the cor
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He k
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It wa
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pened t
wide ey
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down t
first floc
When
out of |
up the ;
Then in
police.
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Tied in ;
UNCENSORED DETECTIVE,
July, 1952
The main street of Juarez, Mexico, the city of gambling, crime,
murdered woman's living reom.
No fingerprints, except those of
Mrs. and Mr. Morgan, had been
discovered in the apartment. The
broken bottle, which might have
been impressed with the killer’s
fingerprints, had been covered
with blood and spilled soda pop.
The last owner of the silk cord
with which Mrs. Morgan had been
strungled, had not been found. It
was not a cord belonging to any
International Bridge at Juarez where for
clothing in the Morgan household,
but it did have a small, narrow
white laundry mark attached to it.
DETECTIVES, tracing the laun-
dry mark, located the family who
had once owned the cord and the
bathrobe with which it had been
worn, The lady of the house in-
formed Chitwood that she had
given the bathrobe to her maid.
The maid, when questioned, said
and sex
that she had discarded it, thrown
it away with other refuse which
was consigned to the public dump.
The maid went with Chitwood to-
the dump and _ located
which, sure enough, was minus its
tie-cord.
So, Chitwood reasoned, whoever
murdered Mrs. Morgan passed by
the dump and, seeing the bath-
robe tied to the top of a bundle
of refuse which was lying near
a, y So RAD
decades crooks of all types have slipped into the
U.S. and where the killer was almost trapped.
the robe —
across the river from El Paso where the killer lived.
the road. decided tu make use of
the cord. Lle wondered, momentar-
ily, if Ramon Prado might not
have passed this way on _ the
motoring trip which he said he
took, gotten out of the car on one
pretext or another, and pulled the
cord from the bathrobe without
his companions noticing what he
was doing.
On his way back to his office,
Chitwood stopped by at the house
where the Morgans lived to have
another talk with the landlady.
He said to
tell me everything
Mrs. Morgan.”
The landlady thoughtfully — re-
plied, “I can’t tell you very much.
She was a sweet girl, an excellent
housekceper. I always felt kind of
sorry for her because she didn’t
have her daughter with her.”
her, “l
you
want you to
can about
“Her daughter?" Chitwood queri-
ed. “I didn’t kuow she had a
daughter.”
“Rachel was Mrs. Morgan’s duugh-
ter by her first marriage,” the
landlady explained. She smiled and
added, “I feel as if I know the
child. Mrs. Morgan used to talk
so much about her. She was very
fond of Rachel and suffered a lot
because they had to be apart.”
Continued on Page 33
oe
The killer believed he had a perfect alibi, but he overlooked one little detail that finally trapped him.
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(Continued from page 28)
“If the killer took the cord from his own
robe,” Haynes suggested, “it’s highly pro-
bable he got rid of the bathrobe some-
where, either before or after the crime.
He surely wouldn’t want to have it in his
possession, minus its cord, if the cops came
around.”
Orders went out to the city sanitation
and garbage disposal department to have
employees watch for such a garment. Two.
days after the slaying, it turned tip. A city‘:
trash collector had found a dark blue silk .
robe, old and worn, on the city dump out **
salong the Rio Grande.
A laundry mark was discovered in the
robe. Several hours later Detectives Chit-
wood and Fuller pressed the doorbell but-
ton at the home of Myron Braren in a
fashionable residential district on the out-
skirts of El Paso.
Both Mrs. Braren and a maid recog-
nized the garment.
“It was my husband’s,” Mrs. Braren said.
“It was so old and shabby I decided to get
rid of it, just so he’d buy a new one.”
“You gave it away?” Fuller asked hope-
fully.
Mrs. Braren smiled. “No, it wasn’t
worth even that. I merely told Anna,
here, to throw it out. What day was that,
Anna?”
“Thursday, ma’am, housecleaning day
upstairs. I put it in the trash can. It was
picked up the next day.”
The detectives returned to the district
attorney’s in dejection, their one good clue
rendered worthless. There, jabbing his
pipestem at a large wall map, Fuller in-
dicated the dump, located out beyond the
riverside industrial area, its litter far re-
moved from any residential district. _
“That cord,” he said, “it could have been
picked up out there by anyone, a tramp, a
wetback——”
“Or a killer clever enough to suppose,”
Chitwood broke in, “that the police would
never think of the city dump as the source
of a murder weapon. It was no tramp or
wetback or any other kind of prowler who
strangled Mrs. Morgan. We know that.
But why would the murderer think of
going to the dump to find a garrote? A
piece of clothesline, a scarf, a belt—al-
most anything would have done.”
Wise in the ways of the habitues of
their bailiwick, the Juarez police found
Bernardo Vejas in short order. Surprising-
ly, no sooner did he learn why he had been
arrested than Vejas offered voluntarily to
cross the Rio Grande and face the Ameri-
can detectives.
“The reason is simple,” he told them. “I
am wholly innocent of any guilt in this
matter.”
He blandly admitted that he had met
Eleanor Morgan several times, perhaps half
a dozen in all, since her marriage to Cal-
lon Morgan.
“Why not?” he said. “She was young
and pretty and lonely, and a welcome
change from both the women of Juarez and
the fat turistas to whom I had to be so
attentive in my—ah, line of work.”
They showed him the diary entry of
June 16th, and suggested that he was the
“B” for whom Mrs. Morgan had been
pining.
“I am not the mysterious ‘B’,” he as-
sured the officers. “And, if I were, then
what motive would I have had for stran-
gling a woman who s0 very plainly adored
me? Surely not unrequited passion, from
the context of that little confidence in her
diary.”
“To get rid of her, perhaps,” Detective
«tablished Vejas’ alibi.
Haynes said. “A woman can be a pest,
sometimes. Did she threaten to tell her
husband about you if you refused to run
off with her?”
“Would she be likely to do that, know-
ing that I had only to sit tight in Juarez
to be quite beyond the reach of an angry
husband, while she would have to remain
here at his mercy? But what’s the use of
quibbling? Even though police curiosity
may cost me a good contact and some lu-
crative accounts, I shall tell you where I
was all Sunday evening. Or, rather, the
proprietor of a small cafe called El Con-
quistador will tell you, if you will call.”
A telephone call to the Juarez cafe es-
The oily-tongued
young man had spent all of Sunday eve-
ning acting as a guide to a party of four
American tourists, who were in El Con-
quistador from around 8 p.m. until after
10 o’clock.
Now, with the bathrobe cord seemingly
worthless as a clue and their only possi-
ble suspect completely cleared, the district
attorney’s men had nothing to fall back
upon except the apparently futile course
of retracing all the steps they had taken
thus far in their investigation.
Then, staring at the wall map of the
city in their office again, Chitwood noted
that the city dump was not far from the
Southern Pacific shops, where Callon Mor-
gan worked.
“The husband sure had a motive to kill
his wife in this case,” he said, “knowing
she was slipping out while he was at work
to meet a slicker from Juarez.”
“I checked with his foreman,” Fuller
said. “He was at work Sunday night.”
“All the time?” Chitwood inquired. “How
about his lunch period?”
Fuller shook his head. “I will look into
that, but I don’t see what good it will do.
The guy doesn’t have a car. How'd he get
clear out to where he lives—” the detec-
tive swept his hand upward over the map
“—and back to work during a lunch per-
iod, without fast transportation?”
That, Chitwood confessed, he could not
explain. “Go out to the shops, anyway,”
he urged. “Talk with Morgan’s fellow
workers. Talk with them till you’re posi-
tive he wasn’t away from the railroad
yards, even for 15 minutes, last Sunday
night. Dave and I'll go back to the apart-
ment and turn the place inside out.”
Haynes and Chitwood searched the Mor-
gan home, room by room, from wall to
wall, pawing through drawers and poking
into closets. They inspected the cabinets
in the kitchen, and Chitwood swung open
the refrigerator, although what he ex-
pected to find there, his partner could not
guess.
Back in the living room, Chitwood sat
at the phone to call the El Paso cab com-
panies to request a check on drivers’ trip
runs on Sunday night, to learn if any had
picked up a fare near the SP shops, or if
any had delivered a passenger in the
neighborhood of the Morgan home.
A number scribbled on the gray cover
of the phone book caught his eye. The
exchange, he noted, was not that of any
El Paso branch. He dialed, not a cab firm,
but a telephone chief supervisor.
It took another call to the offices of the
phone company, before he hung up and
said to Haynes, “I think I know who our
‘B’ of her diary is.”
“You on the track of another guy?”
“Not a guy. Her daughter in New York.
Beatrice, remember? Mrs. Morgan phoned
her long distance, the evening of June 16th.
Sse Am es 4 om
a pest,
oll her
to run
know-
Juarez
angry
cemain
use of
riosity
ne lu-
here I
ar, the
. Con-
call.”
ife es-
mgued
y eve-
f four
Con-
| after
ningly
possi-
listrict
| back
course
taken
rway,”
fellow
posi-
lroad
unday
apart-
: Mor-
‘all to
ooking
-binets
‘ open
e ex-
ld not
od sat
com-
s’ trip
y had
, or if
n the
cover
The
of any
) firm,
of the
p and
10 our
It seems plain enough, now. After the call,
the mother made that entry in her diary.
She had had a talk with ‘B’—her daughter,
from whom she had been separated for so
long. She was looking forward to the
time when she and the little girl would be
together again.”
“Okay,” Haynes said. “We know that
‘B’ isn’t a suspect. That leaves us where?”
“Remember when we showed Morgan
his wife’s diary? He didn’t say any-
thing for a pretty long time. He should
have known, right off, what that entry
meant. But did he tell us? He did not.
He fished around till he dug up this guy
Bernardo Vejas, who might fill the bill as
‘B.’ And, of course, we fell for it.”
He rang his office with the request that
Fuller, if he returned or called in from the
railroad shops, telephone the Morgan flat.
“We'll wait here till he calls,” Chitwood
said.
It was possiby half an hour before the
phone rang. Fuller had found no one who
could say positively that Callon Morgan
had or had not been in the shop at the
lunch period Sunday evening. Like all
his co-workers, he carried his lunch, since
there was no place in that neighborhood to
buy food.
“I did latch onto one thing queer,
though,” Fuller said. “One of the boys
said somebody’d tampered with his car
while he was at: work Sunday night. Fel-
low named David Carter. It seems he’s
kind of a bug on his auto, always very
careful about checking his mileage and his
|
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i UR Town,
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AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
gas, that sort of thing. Well, when he quit
work Monday morning, he found the car
in gear, then he looked and found about
six extra miles on the speedometer.
Couldn’t figure it out. He was sure he
left the gear shift in neutral, because he
always does. And he was sure about the
mileage, too. Says he asked around, but
nobody knew anything.”
Chitwood spoke quietly into the phone.
“Bring Morgan into headquarters,” he
said. “I think we’ve got a surprise for
him.”
In the yellow glare of the lights in an
office in the prosecutor’s suite, Callon Mor-
gan was visibly pale and nervous when
Detective Fuller brought him in.
“You guys are going to get me in bad
on the job, nosing around the shop, then
hauling me off like this,” he said. “I hape
you got some good reason for all this.” -
“As good as we could have,” Chitwood
said. “We’re charging you with the mur-
der of your wife.”
shop, it’s a short cut over one corner of
the city dump. When you were passing
there the other day, you saw an old blue
bathrobe in the rubbish. You saw its cord,
and you had an idea. You took the cord,
put it in your pocket.
“You went to work Sunday. The cord
was in your pocket then. You did some-
thing to give you an excuse to show up
back home. You knew your little boy was
going to the movies and that your wife
would be alone. She wanted to know
why you came back, and you told me. It
was because you forgot your lunch.
“That satisfied her. She sat back with
her cards while you went out into the
kitchen to get your sandwiches and ther-
mos of iced tea out of the refrigerator.
Only when you returned from the kitchen
you had an empty bottle, not your food.
“You probably accused her of infidelity
before you struck her down. It doesn't
matter. You hit her, then noosed the
bathrobe cord around her throat and
watched her die.
“You’d never killed anyone before,
Morgan. It scared you, made you sick.
All you could think of doing was to dash
out, get into that car you’d borrowed from
David Carter and drive back to the rail-
road shops. You were still scared when
you got there, so nervous you forgot to
shift the car out of gear. Carter noticed
that when he quit work; that, and the extra
mileage you’d put on.
“There never was any man called ‘B’
that your wife referred to in her diary.
She’d have been silly to leave that book
out in plain view on a dresser if there
had been. You knew who ‘B’ was—her
daughter, whom she’d phoned long dis-
tance the same day of the diary entry.
“You knew that but you didn’t tell us.
You sat there till you thought of Ber-
nardo Vejas and led us on to believe he
was our ‘B.’ Why? For only one reason,
Morgan. You were trying to cover for
yourself. .
“That’s it, fellow. We say you killed your
wife. What do you say?”
“That I didn’t. Only T’ll let a lawyer say
it for me.”
The next day, however, he sent word
down from his county jail cell, asking to
see Roy Chitwood, and a short time later
faced Chitwood, Haynes and Fuller.
“T’ve thought it over all night,”. he said.
“You guys have got it pegged right down
to the last detail, so what’s the use of my
trying to bluff. I was insane about Ellie,
but she just couldn’t stay at home. I’m
ready now to talk.”
One of the detectives phoned for a po-
lice stenographer to take down Morgan’s
confession. With the attention of all three
officers momentarily diverted, Morgan
leaped from his chair and dived through
one of the ground-floor windows.
But he hit the dirt almost in front of
Sergeant Ray Smithers, just coming on
duty. Smithers picked him up and trotted
him back inside.
Callon Morgan faced a judge and jury
in July, charged with the first-degree
murder of his wife. The jury found him
guilty, and there was no recommendation
“You're what!” the husband exploded, * for mercy. Morgan stood unblinking as
“You know damn well it couldn’t have
been me. I was at work.”
“You checked in at work Sunday eve-
ning, on time,” Chitwood conceded. “And
you checked out, also on time. 'That’s all
your time card shows.” .
“Tt shows I was at work, at least three
miles from home. How about. this guy
‘B’?, You can’t find him, you got to have
a fall guy and I’m it—that the way it is?”
“No,” the detective said. “But Vl tell
you how it is. You were jealous of your
wife. Maybe you had reason to be. You
ride a bus to work. From the bus to your
the death sentence was pronounced.
His appeals were denied, one by one.
On the night of August 18th, 1938, he
shuffled into the death chamber at. the
Huntsville prison and the chair took its
payment for his crime.
For him there was no ace of spades
turned up to foretell his doom. None was
needed,
Eprror’s Nove:
The names, Myron Braren and Ber-
nardo Vejas, are fictitious.
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me,” said suspect just before
he attempted to jump through
a ground-floor window of jail
to escape first-degree murder
charge for strangling - pretty
but lonesome Eleanor Morgan
> Betis, .
a eee
| Moltiple killer executed
HUNTSVILLE; Texas (AP) - _ ~ Stephen Peter Morin, ¢ con- .
. victed of murdering three women and accused of two other —
slayings, “‘died very calmly’” today after an orderly spent |
40 minutes searching the drug user’s limbs for a vein in. &
which to insert the lethal needle.
Morin, 37, once one of the FBI’s 10 most wanted criminals j r|
; A and sentenced: ‘to die-in two states, had asked, attorneys, not:
780 appeal, although several ignored his requests.
>" After unsuccessful attempts to insert a seedle™ in both ©
‘arms and one leg, a medical technician finally slipped the;
-#meedie into a vein in Morin’s right arm at 12: 4. a.m. He was.
‘ pronounced dead 11 minutes later.
»: “He died very calmly,’ said state Attorney, General Jim | |
.. Mattox.
a oad capital punishment opponents held a ‘vigil outside
othe death chamber and 20 others held a candlelight vigil on
ine steps of the state Capitol. © _ <
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~ the sixth since the state resumed the practice in 1982 and —
f the 40th in the United States since the Supreme Court:
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|
tion related to another Corpus Christi
homicide of pretty 21-year-old Janna
Bruce whose body was found floating in
a canal on December 2. She had been
bound when she'd died of strangulation
and gagged with twine which was re-
moved prior to the discovery of her fully-
clothed body floating face-up in shallow
water. A knotted pair of panty hose and a
tube bra were found in some bushes near-
by. Property belonging to the victim was
found in the car impounded at the motel.
Wanda Tucker later identified the bra and
the pantyhose as being hers, seized by
her captor and stuffed into his boot.
Wanda Tucker also told police that
Morin had left her and Rita Cassidy alone
for several hours in their motel room in
Corpus Christi on December 2 while he
went out on the prowl. He'd mentioned
an intention to visit the Hilton Inn where
Janna Bruce was an employe. When he
returned several hours later he had blood
on his clothing. He later admitted to his
companions two days later that he'd kil-
led a girl for her car, the one they'd
arrived in San Antonio in.
Wanda and Rita were also able to pro-
vide even more information related to
another violent, hair-raising escapade in-
volving more bloodshed which occurred
on December 6 in Windcrest, a San
Antonio subdivision. It was about 2 a.m.
and Morin and his two female compan-
ions were parked outside Jim’s Res-
taurant on Interstate 410. As was the case
in the shoot-out which took place at
another nightspot several days later,
Morin had ordered Wanda into the rear
seat where she was told to crouch down
on the floor.
Two attractive young women left the
establishment and approached a car
parked next to the one in which Morin
waited like a serpent coiled to strike. Rita
was behind the steering wheel and when
one of the woman struck the car with the
door of her car as she got in, Morin
rasped out, ‘I want her. Follow them!”’
Rita, as always, did exactly as she was
instructed in what amounted to the aiding
and abetting of the rape and murder of
other women. The car was followed to a
residential area where it stopped and the
woman passenger got out in front of her
house and headed for the front door.
Morin approached the lone woman be-
hind the wheel and asked for directions,
but seconds later whipped out a gun and
aimed it at her head. ‘‘Give me the car or
36
Case Of The Irresistible Rape-Slayer
(continued from page 35)
I'll shoot you!”’ he snarled.
Cars are expensive nowadays and the.
woman elected to emit a shrill, ear pierc-
ing shriek instead, a scream which was
heard inside the home of the friend she'd
just dropped off. Her husband rushed
into the bedroom and grabbed up his
house-gun and headed out the front door
into the yard followed by his wife who'd
just walked in after an evening out. The
couple approached the car belonging to’
his wife’s friend after they saw that a man
was inside struggling with the driver. She
screamed out that her assailant was
armed. Just then, a shot roared out and
struck the husband in the lower back.
More shots boomed in the darkness and
the driver tumbled from her car with a
gunshot wound in the chest as the gun-
man roared away and vanished from
sight.
Both victims in the Windcrest shoot-
ing incident survived although the
woman who had her car stolen spent con-
siderable time in an intensive care unit
recovering. It was just five days later
when Morin shot the two women at Mag-
gie’s Restaurant and then made his
dramatic escape hours later from the
bathroom window of bis upstairs motel
room.
Police in San Antonio knew that they
had a very lethal problem on their hands
as long as Morin remained at large.
Thanks to modern-day computerized en-
forcement procedures, they had availed
themselves of all the background in-
formation on Morin dating back to the
1976 ravishment of the 14-year-old girl
in San Francisco.
They now knew that he was a prime
suspect in at last six homicides in Las
Vegas, where two of his known victims
had been abducted, murdered and left in
the desert in Utah. That he was a suspect
in two more murders in St. George,’
Utah, and the one committed on Novem-
ber 6 in Denver, Colorado, plus numer-
ous others including the Janna Bruce and
the Carrie Mae Scott case most recently
committed in Texas.
Outstanding warrants had been issued
in 1976 California incident, the Jefferson
County, Colorado, slaying, the two
homicides in St. George, Utah, the Scott
homicide and the Tucker abduction com-
pounded by rape and sodomy as well as
other counts including a federal warrant
drawn on the California case charging
Morin with unlawful flight to avoid pro-
secution.
After five years of rampant carnage,
the heat was finally on. The
apprehension of Morin became a top
priority matter. He had violated too many
victims, some of whom he'd left behind
with their lips sealed forever. The FBI
placed his name on the Ten Most Wanted
List and joined forces with civil agencies
to take this highly killing-machine out of
circulation.
The most crucial question was, where
was Morin? He'd not been sighted after
he had squirmed his way out of the rear
window of a motel seconds before it was
surrounded by SWAT team intent upon
capturing him. Having thoroughly ac-
quainted themselves with the’ suspect's
M.O., San Antonio authorities were
firmly convinced that he could be ex-
pected to seize another hostage some-
where in the locale to enhance his
chances of escaping the dragnet. Massive
roadblocks were set up around the area
and the news media warned citizens of
the presence of a highly dangerous cri-
minal in their midst.
State, county and city police con-
verged on bus, train and air terminals to
alert travel personnel and to provide them
with a description of the fugitive. Depart-
ing passengers were visually screened as
the City of San Antonio was bottled up to
net Morin’s capture. All cars’ passing
through the roadblocks were caréfully
checked, especially those driven or occu-
pied by pretty, young blonde women.
Stephan Peter Morin, however, in
adhering to his former ways, experienced
very little difficulty in avoiding capture.
True to form, he seized another female
hostage on the afternoon on Friday, De-
cember 11, hours after he’d sho: and
killed Carrie Mae Scott and critically .
wounded her girlfriend. Her name was
Candice C. Deets, 30, who was seized by
a man who forced his way into her car on
a San Antonio parking lot and who
ordered her in no uncertain terms to start.
driving. She'd heard about the manhunt
and knew instinctively that the fugitive
was now sitting at her side.
She would later describe herself as
very religious. Her convictions and
beliefs might well have saved her life, as
well as providing the formula which suc-
cessfully concluded the massive man-
hunt within 24 hours without bloodshed.
When Morin climbed into her car, he was
Carrying a pistol which was loaded and
five extra rounds of ammunition plus
three sharp Knives, one of which was
concealed in his boot. He’d been popping
pills and had a *‘baggie”’ full of them in
his pockets. Candice said later that at
(continued on next page)
first,- she was literally terrified.
But then she started praying and in
doing so, attained a large measure of
calm. Morin sensed her lack of fear and
appeared stunned. All of his victims in
the past had shown fear and he enjoyed
the thrill it invariably gave him. Candice,
however, had told him, ‘*You know
you're not going to kill me or yourself.
You need someone to love you, to care
about you.’* He didn’t quite know how to
handle it and brusquely told her to keep
driving. For the next ten hours they
traveled aimlessly across the hilly, south
Texas countryside during which Candice
undertook to convert her captor, a task
for which she was quite fortunately well
prepared. :
She'd had a Bible, religious tracts and
several tapes made by her favorite
evangelist in her car when taken hostage.
As they had meandered about the back-
roads to avoid roadblocks, she had
prompted the man to talk of his life and
she heard about more sin than she even
knew existed. Then, she had played tapes
cut by Kenneth Copeland, a Ft. Worth
preacher who worked extensively with
prison inmates and later told Morin, **I
command Satan to leave your body in the
name of Jesus Christ.’* Morin broke
down and sobbed, **Lady, I’m not going
to hurt you. You're too good.”
He then emptied his .38-caliber pistol
of its bullets and sat impassively while
Candice urged hirffto surrender. suggest-
ing that it would do his soul good if he
turned himself in to Copeland instead of
the police. Morin agreed somewhat
dubiously, aware that it would be diffi-
cult to reach Ft. Worth to contact the
evangelist with every police officer in
that part of Texas breathing down his
neck. They were near Kerrsville. Texas,
and his hostage offered to buy him a bus
ticket and he accepted. Before he
boarded his bus, Morin hugged and kis-
sed her and she was so touched by his
affectionate gesture that she said. “Ill
see you in Heaven.”*
After the bus rumbled away from the
terminal, Candice went off in search of
the nearest policeman to report her
abduction. The attractive mother of two
knew that her family would be worried
and she was also aware of the inherent
dangers involved as long as Morin re-
mained at large. She told police that the
ticket she'd bought for the fugitive was
issued with a brief stop-over in Austin,
Texas. Lawmen pulled all stops to lay
plans which they hoped would result in
Morin's capture in Austin, hopefully
without violence or bloodshed.
Stephan Peter Morin would later say
that he boarded the bus in Kerrsville a
born-again Christian filled with religious
fervor and in a state of euphoria. The
woman who saw him off felt that her
ability to retain her composure and to
quote biblical passages appropriately and
with perfect timing had saved her life.
She had given Morin a black. three-ring
notebook filled with handwritten reli-
gious messages at the bus station which
“he promised he would read during his
journey of surrender.
It was 3:50 a.m., December 12, in
Austin and there were 15 police officers
located strategically around the bus sta-
tion when the one which Morin was on
pulled in for a brief layover. Top priority
was given to endeavoring to take Morin
as expeditiously as possible with a mini-
mum of dramatics. Even at this early
hour the depot was crowded. Police were
anxious to effect Morin’s capture without
any gunplay. They were well aware of
his penchant for seizing hostages and
planned to be right on top of him, with
the element of surprise on their side, be-
fore he could resist.
None of the 15 officers were visible
when Morin got off the bus and sauntered
into the terminal and sat down in the
waiting area. Four officers began to close
in with Austin Policie Sgt. Larry Cren-
shaw and Patrolman Jesse Soliz coming
up from behind. Morin seemed to in-
stinctively sense his capture. He got up
and walked to a corner of the depot be-
fore returning to his seat where he re-
sumed reading from the black notebook.
In the next second Officer Soliz was at
his side with Sgt. Crenshaw just a few
feet away. Morin stood up and Soliz
asked him for his name. Morin gave the
name of Clarke. The situation was
fraught with tension. The police asked
for some identification.
Morin’s eyes flickered betraying his
emotions and Soliz, quite convincingly
told him, **Don‘t go for it’ the it being
the .38-caliber weapon he was known to
be carrying. Morin licked his lips and
glanced at Sgt. Crenshaw. He raised his
eyes and looked around him and saw that
he was surrounded. **It’s in my belt..."”
he hissed as he raised his arms slowly
over his head. The handgun was jerked
from his waistband and he was hustled up
against a wall and patted down and re-
lieved of the hunting knife in his boot, the
two pocketknives and eleven rounds of
.38-caliber hollow-point bullets.
He was then hustled outside and
placed inside a patrol car to be taken to
Austin Police Headquarters without
many passengers in the depot being
aware of the fact that one of the FBI's
Ten Most Wanted had just been nailed
after five years of preying on good look-
ing, young, blonde girls.
Shortly after his arrest, Morin told
police, **This morning, I would have got
up and shot the gun. But I met this lady
and now I'm different. "* If this were true,
he certainly hadn’t divested himself of
the small arsenal of weapons he was car-
rying when taken into custody.
Morin was quickly taken to San Anto-
nio to face capital murder charges and
San Antonio police were deluged with
telephone calls related to his status as a
suspect in a total of 20 murders and kid-
napping ranging from California to
Texas. Morin refused to talk to police
saying he wanted a lawyer first.
Morin, a waspish looking character
with long, brown hair and an earring in
one ear, was booked into the Bexar
County Jail and held without bond while
police went to work to untangle his past
and to sort out the charges already out-
standing. Charges were also being pre-
pared against Rita Cassidy, Morin’s erst-
while female cohort and companion in
crime.
Morin proved to have been an enigma-
tic individual with a lurid history of lethal
violence who seemed to have held a kind
of a mystical, magnetic hold over some
of the women whom he encountered
throughout his career of unbridled
mayhem. What, for example. was the
hold or the bond which prompted the
woman from Buffalo to cling to this arch-
deviate who used her to insure his free-
dom to ravish and rape? Or what could
explain the inability or the reluctance of
the abused hostage who had twice held a
loaded gun in her hand while in his
clutches but who couldn't bring herself to
pull the trigger?
Morin was ‘later flown out of San
Antonio by helicopter under heavy guard
and returned to Corpus Christi after a
grand jury indicted him for the murder of
Carrie M. Scott and the wounding of her
companion in the December || shooting
incident the day preceding his cupture.
Morin entered pleas of not guilty to the
charges and atrial date was scheduled for
March 22 with a change of venue granted
by the court to move the proceedings to
Beaumont. Texas, because of the pre-
trial publicity. It hadn‘t hardly been the
kind of a thing that could be kept secret»
from the public by the news media.
More indictments followed in connec-
tion with the Windcrest shooting incident
and the abduction of Wanda Tucker.
Morin was held on the fifth floor of the
Bexar County Jail in a nine-man tank on
February 11. 1982, when he incurred the
wrath of another inmate who gave him a
severe beating. It was later learned that
Morin was suspected of **finking”’ to the
turn-key about a concealed hack-saw
blade hidden in the cell. He was moved
(continued on next page) "
school. But how could she suspect such a
thing?
Had Anna, perhaps, confided in her
concerning her affair with Paisley? Ifso,
why had she not told the police about
this? She would have realized that Pais-
ley was an obvious suspect in the mur-
der. In fact, she would have had to have
suspected that he might harm Anna
even before she knew that the murder
had taken place.
The longer the inspector thought
about it, the more it seemed to him that
Maria Hattingh’s part in the matter had
been quite as strange as the principal
had described it. There was, however,
no point in questioning her. She had
already been questioned once and she
had obviously said whatever she was
going to say.
There remained only the possibility of
a discreet investigation of what she had
been doing since Anna’s arrival in
Brakpan and what her relationship to
the other girl had actually been. On the
face of it, it had been no more than the
normal friendship between two young
female schoolteachers, but was that all?
The inspector began his discreet in-
vestigation and after a few days came
upon a curious circumstance. Maria
Hatgingh and Louis van Rensburg had
been sweethearts from the time that
they were in grade school together.
They had prohably begun having sexual
relations when they were still children,
but they had begun to have them more
or less openly when Maria was 17 and
Louis was 22. She was, by this time,
already undergoing training to become
a teacher and he had gone to work like
most of the other men in Brakpan at the
mine.
Maria had rented a small apartment
not 100 yards from the van Rens-
burg home and on the same street. On
three nights out of the week, Louis van
Rensburg had slept there.
This had been going on for six years
and a good many people had wondered
why they did not marry. According to
the gossip, she was prepared, but he was
not.
The relationship had continued up
until the 8th of January, 1981 when
Maria threw the party for the new
teacher, Anna Roodt. Van Rensburg
had been present at that party and, in-
sofar as the inspector could determine,
he had never slept at Maria’s apartment
afterwards. As a matter of fact, his
whole relationship with Maria ap-
peared to have terminated as of that
date.
A great light was beginning to dawn
on the inspector and he did some very
thorough checking with the persons liv-
ing in the building in which Anna Roodt
had lived and in the buildings surround-
ing it. As he had expected, several of
them reported having seen Louis van
Rensburg arriving there in the evening
80 Official Detective
or leaving in the morning.
As far as the inspector was concerned,
that was enough. He immediately took
Louis van Rensburg into custody, but he
had barely begun to interrogate him
when the man broke down and confes-
sed to having murdered Anna Roodt.
Anna, it seemed, had been less virgi-
nal and more snobbish than believed.
He had met her at his sweetheart’s
party on the 8th of January and they
had had sexual relations that same
night. For him, it had been a lightning
stroke and he had broken off his re-
> ep with Maria the following
ay.
Maria had not been in agreement
and, after attempting for some months
to get him to return in vain, she had
written Anna a letter in which she had
said that the van Rensburgs were not a
respectable family and that the son kil-
led the father only six years earlier.
She had apparently been counting on
Anna’s consciousness of her family’s
position and she had estimated her ri-
val’s character exactly right.
Six days after receiving the letter,
Anna had terminated her relationship
with Louis van Rensburg.
She had not, however told him why,
and the devastated rejected lover had
moved heaven and earth to try and ob-
tain an explanation.
He had received none until, on the
evening of June 10th, he had , in desp-
eration, broken into her studio and
waited for her to come home.
She had allowed him to engage in sex
play with her, but had then repulsed
him, saying that their affair was termi-
nated, as an alliance between their
families was unthinkable.
Mad with grief and rage, he had
strangled her. :
Louis van Rensburg was formally in-
dicted on an open charge of homicide
and will be tried some time this year. It
is probable that he will be accorded the
benefit of extenuating circumstances.
eee
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Ian Paisley, Denis Groot, Harold
Shrykker and Daniel Triburg are not
the real names of the persons so
named in the foregoing story. Fictiti-
ous names have been used in order to
comply with South African police
regulations.
“There’s Nobody Badder. . .”" trom page 26)
Meanwhile, SWAT team officers con-
ducted a massive search of the brush
covered hills surrounding the motel
looking for the man who had escaped
through the bathroom window. The
search continued until daybreak when
it was called off; somehow Morin had
managed to slip the dragnet.
Exactly how the fugitive had made
his escape was not known until almost
midnight Friday when police got a call
from Amy Densmore. The San Antonio
woman who had gone to the K-Mart
store that afternoon to buy a few things
for the house told police, she had been
kidnaped by Morin and driven to
Kerrville, where she put him on a bus
bound for Fort Worth.
It took a while for detectives to check
it out and determine in their own minds
that she was telling the truth.
As one detective put it: “In a situation
like this, every woman who was late
getting home for supper is going to tell
her husband she had been kidnaped. We
have to check these things out.”
Densmore was telling the truth; her
story was so bizarre that it couldn’t be
anything else.
Amy Densmore’s newfound Christian
faith had never been tested until that
afternoon when Stephen Morin put a
pistol to her face and told her, "I’m the
guy that’s on television, that killed all
those women.”
“I felt panic setting in and my mouth
went dry,” she recalled. “He said, ‘Don’t
make me kill you, because I will. All I
want is your car and your money.’ ”
As they drove away in her car Amy
started praying. “All of a sudden I be-
came peaceful all over, not nervous at
all. He noticed that my hands weren’t
shaking, and asked why I wasn’t nerv-
ous. I said, ‘You know you're not going
to kill me or yourself. You need someone
to love you, to care about you.’ He looked
shocked.”
“Look, I don’t believe this—I’m in a
car with a religious freak,’” she quoted
him as saying. “I laughed when he said,
‘Now I’m not so sure I want the car.’ ”
The two drove around northwest San
Antonio for several hours as Morin spil-
led out his life story to the steady-
handed kidnaped driver.
He began to tell her how horrible his
life was, she recalled. “He’d been in and
out of detention homes. His mother
stuck him in a detention home when he
was eight. From then on, he was in and
out of prison and just had a horrible,
horrible life.”
Halfway through the confession he
started crying.
“I told him God had hada hand on him
for a long time. It was no coincidence
that he was sitting in that car with me.”
And she believed it. She had only
gone to the K-Mart cn two previous oc-
casions during her eight years in San
Antonio, and had picked that day to
bring her journal with religious writ-
ings and some tapes of Fort Worth
evangelist Kenneth Copeland, who had
ministered in prisons.
She said she talked about the “prison
of hate” he had been in all of his life, and
how Christ could “open prison doors.”
“I leaned over and laid my hands on
him,” she told police. “A person like that
knows who Satan is. I said, ‘Jesus knows
that Satan is in you,’ and I commanded
Satan to get out of his body in the name
of Jesus and I commanded him to get out
of my car because this man was now
going to accept Jesus as his savior.”
Apparently Satan took a hike, be-
cause Morin put the pistol under his leg
and told her, “Lady, I’m not going to
hurt you. You’re too good.”
She said he kept asking her if she was
conning him, but began to trust her as
she read from her journal of Scriptures.
By this time the two had left San An-
tonio city limits and were headed for
Kerrville. They stopped twice during
the trip so she could buy cigarettes and
gasoline and even withdraw $300 from
her bank account because he was broke.
“He kept telling me how horrible he’d
been. I put on a tape of Minister Cope-
land and he turned it off and started
crying, saying how wonderful I was and
never had anyone in his life cared about
him.”
“IT asked him if his four-year-old son
had committed all the horrible crimes
that he had, could he still love and for-
give him? And he said, ‘Yes,’ he would
die for him. And I told him that’s what
Christ did for him.”
Morin then gave her the bullets from
his pistol, and said he wanted to take a
bus to Fort Worth "to lay my pistol down
on Copeland’s desk.” He said he would
go to prison and minister while serving
his time.
They drove to Kerrville, where he was
to board a bus for Fort Worth, with a
three hour layover in Austin. As he
boarded, she gave him herjournal. Then
the accused murderer and rapist hug-
ged her, kissed her on the forehead and
waved to her from the bus.
“T’ll see you in Heaven,” she said.
Police saw him first—at the bus sta-
tion in Austin, where Morin waited to
begin the last leg of his journey to Fort
Worth. He gave up peacefully when ap-
proached by the lawmen.
When searched, he was found to be
carrying knives in each boot and a pistol
in his belt.
“This morning I would have got up
and shot the gun,” he told police officers,
“but I met this lady today and now I’m
different.”
Onthe trip to San Antonio he refused
to talk to detectives Eddie Pinchback
and Vernon Sowell. He was taken past a
gaggle of newmen into the police station
where he made a four-hour long state-
ment. He was then booked into county
jail at 8:30 a.m.
Police were tight-lipped about the
case and the bizarre religious conversa-
tion Morin allegedly held. Detective
Abel Juarez said only, “Maybe he had a
soft heart at the moment. He told the
woman he didn’t want to hurt anybody
else. It was real smart of the woman to
do what she did.”
That evening, Federal Judge Robert
B. O'Connor and District Judge Roy
Barrera Jr. conducted a magistrate’s
hearing for the suspect in the homicide
office, an unusual action police at-
tributed to the magnitude of the case.
After the meeting, federal charges of
unlawful! flight to avoid prosecution
arising from the 1976 rape-torture case
involving the 14-year-old girl in San
Francisco, California were dismissed.
The warrant was dropped because of
the severity of the charges facing Morin
in Texas and other states.
“The guy’s not going anywhere,” one
lawmansaid. “Even if he beats the
murder rap here in San Antonio, he’s
got so many charges against him he
would be fighting them for the rest of his
life.”
But the self-proclaimed, born-again
Christian had no intention of beating
the rap. At his trial, which had been
moved to Beaumont on a charge of
venue because of widespread publicity
in San Antonio, Morin astonished pro-
secuting Judge David Berchelmann and
jurors by proclaiming his guilt in the
slaying of Carrie Marie Scott.
“I know of no other case in Texas judi-
cial history where a defendant pleaded
guilty to capital murder charges that
could carry the death sentence after a
jury had been seated,” the judge said
later. He ordered the trial to continue
anyway.
Even without the admission, jurors
had little trouble finding Morin guilty
of murder. And they had even less trou-
ble deciding on the penalty. on April
7th, 1982, after just two hours delibera-
tion, they voted that Stephen Morin
should receive the death sentence.
The itinerant ladies man is currently
awaiting his sentence in the Texas
prison system. His case is being ap-
pealed.
Sarah Clarke is slated to be tried
on charges of murder and attempted
murder for her part in the Maggie’s re-
staurant shootings. Until she has had
her day in court, she must be considered
innocent of all charges against her.
kkk
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Amy Densmore, Lupe Valdez,
Betsy Arnet, Racquel Austin and De-
nise Rosen are not the real names of
the persons so named in the foregoing
story. Fictitious names have been
used because there is no reason for
public interest in the identities of
these persons.
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Some women who survived... came back for more!
CASE OF THE
IRRESISTIBLE
-RAPE-SLAYER
by CHANNING A. CORBIN
O, September 26, 1976, a 29-year-old man lured a slight
14-year-old girl to his apartment in San Francisco, Califor-
nia, on the pretext that they would be joined by his sister
who was the girl’s closest friend. It was a cruel, vicious hoax
and once the unsuspecting child was in his clutches, the
fiend pounced upon her and held a razor-edged knife at her
throat, warning her not to scream as he taped her eyes and
mouth. The monster then proceeded to spread her legs wide
with a pole which he bound securely in place. He thereupon
amused himself by bouncing her about on the floor before
dragging her to a bed where he wound a belt tightly around
her neck.
Drooling in lascivious anticipation, he
gleefully rigged her body with rope and
then hoisted her frail body off the bed to
let it hang suspended on ceiling hooks.
She hung there, face-up, for an hour and
a half, taunted and abused by her diabo-
lical captor who finally remove the tape
from her mouth and forced her to perform
an act of oral sodomy before he lowered
her back onto the bed where he raped and
sodomized her.
In dire fear for her life, the ravished
child pleaded with her assailant to release
her, promising that she would not report
him. Fortunately, she succeeded in her
implorations and the brute who'd deflo-
wered her eventually drove her to a shop-
ping center in San Raphael and released
her. Before doing so, he'd given her a
telephone number saying. “If you do
decide to call the police, use this number
to cal me first so that I can get away.”’
If the foregoing sounds like attempt at
a price of lurid, erotic fiction, rest
assured that it is a factual narration of an
actual incident investigated by the San
Francisco Police Dept. Warrants were
sworn for the suspect who fled the State
of California and who subsequently laun-
ched a one-man crime spree which en-
compassed the entire country during
which he used at least six aliases, includ-
ing those of Rich Clarke, Ray Constanti-
no, Ray Constantine, Thomas David
Hones and Robert Fred Generoso with
four different Social Security cards anda
variety of disguises.
There is no earthly way to cite the total
number of beautiful, young girls slain by
the malevolent entity who'd launched his
sadistical rampage on the young girl in
San Francisco until his arrest at 3:30 a.m.
on the morning of December 12, 1981, at
a bus station in Austin, Texas. It is
known, however, that within 72 hours of
his apprehension he was a prime suspect
in 20 homicides in nine states and that
he’d made the FBI's Ten Most Wanted
list. And it is possible now to retrace
much of this odious individual’s past,
thanks to the eyewitness testimony of
several victims whose misfortune it was
to have been caught up in the miasma of
viciousness he left in his wake.
One of these was a woman by the name
of Marva Jay Combs, a resident of Den-
ver, Colorado. who earned a living as a
housepainter. On November 3, 1981, her
boss hired a man by the name of Rich
Clarke and she was introduced to him at a
job site in Aurora, a Denver suburb.
Clarke turned out to be one hell of a good
painter and Marva and he got together
and made a deal to team up together to
earn more money. She had no way of
knowing that her new partner had recent-
ly been arrested in Buffalo, N.Y., as
recently as October 6 for having offered
to commit a deviant sexual act with
another male. Permissive laws on bail
He was usually accompanied by one or two women, and on
the lookout for more, as he raped and killed his way
across country. Then one frail woman in Texas
proved to be much more than he could handle.
shoe Ca cere 3)
and bonding had allowed for his release
before police could check out his finger-
prints.
Marva and Clarke hit it off so well
together that: she agreed to go out on a
date with him on the night of November
5. He was personable enough and there
was nothing whatsoever in his demeanor
to indicate that he was already a suspect
in several Las Vegas homicides as well as
the slayings of two pretty young women
in St. George, Utah, and others. They
went to a restaurant in the Denver suburb
of Lakewood where they stayed until
1:30 a.m. the following morning. She
taught him how to play Pac Man while he
brooded about God, religion and
cocaine. He told Marva that he was a user
and that he had come to believe that the
devil was stronger than God.
Marva parted company with her new-
found friend at about 3 a.m. despite the
fact that he’d adamantly insisted that she
stay with him. It may well have been that
her drowsiness and the urge for some
sleep saved her life. At about 3:45 a.m.
that same morning, pretty 23-year-old
Sheila E. Whalen abruptly vanished after
Denver motel room where Sheila Ann Whalen was raped and strang-
led. An autopsy revealed the fiend was aiso a bondage freak.
she'd dropped a friend off on Clayton
Street after a party near where Marva and
Clarke had parted, she leaving in her car
~ and him driving away in his van.
Sheila was found much later on. that
same morning by the manager of a motel
located in the 14800 Block of West Col-
fax Avenue who'd used a pass-key to
enter room #27 when the occupants
failed to check out at the stipulated time.
The room had béen rented much earlier
that same morning. The horrified motel
manager found a dead woman lying on
the bed and promptly notified police.
The case was handled by members of
the Jefferson County Sheriff's Depart-
ment who subsequently learned after the
postmortem that the victim was tied and
bound and very dead before she was
brought into-the motel room. Her bonds
had been removed afterward. It was also
established during the autopsy that she
was sexually abused and raped and that
cause of death was attributable to manual
strangulation.
A dirst-degree murder warrant was
sworn for the man whose name appeared
on the motel register and an APB was
Stephan Peter Morin. The FBI de-
scribed him as ‘a killing machine.’
aired for his arrest. Clarke was described
as having brown hair and eyes, weighing
about 150 pounds and standing around
5-feet-seven. Jefferson County author-
ities had no way of knowing at the time
that in reality, Clarke was but one of
numerous aliases used by a man named
Stephan Peter Morin, 31, or that Morin
had already fled the State of Colorado in
his van with a female companion with
(continued on page 34)
23
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(continued from page 33)
complete immunity from prosecution.
Following a preliminary hearing be-
fore Judge Joseph Lodge. in which the
judge stated. ‘*This is the most bizarre
*case I've ever heard’’. Price told news
reporters, **I wanted to testify. My attor-
neys wouldn't let me. Maybe I’ve done
wrong but I want to get this thing cleared
up. At the time. I thought I was doing
the right thing to protect myself and
Helen.”
The formal trial for Price. in which he
was charged with second-degree murder,
began in Santa Barbara on May 3, 1982.
For three weeks, a jury of seven men
and three women heard highly emotional
-testimony, foliowing the state’s case in
which experts testified that the bones and
teeth found in the barbeque pit at the
ranch were those of a human, without
being able to place them as any particular
person.
Helen testified as to her relationship
with the defendant and the man she had
known only as Jim. She recounted the
stories Jim had told them of being a mer-
cenary in South Africa and of having
killed innocent people, raped young wo-
men and eating human flesh.
Price took the stand in his own de-
fense. He gave the same testimony as
Gina about their relationship with the
man *‘Jim’’ who claimed to have been a
rodeo rider and, South African merce-
nary. ,
He related his fears after having seen
Jim drink animal blood and eat raw ani-
mal flesh. He said he was fearful that Jim
planned to kill him and Helen and canni-
balize their bodies.
**Maybe I did wrong to kill him, but at
the time I thought I was doing the only
thing possible, ** the soft-spoken souther-
ner testified. ‘I! know now that I did
wrong disposing of the body. but again it
was prompted by fear.””
It took the jurors only a few hours to
reach a verdict. They returned finding
Price guilty of voluntary manslaughter.
which carries-a penalty of eight years in
prison.
Following the pronouncement of the
verdict. one of the male jurors came over
to the defendant and put his arms around
Price. ‘I'm sorry that it’s the best we
could do for you,’ he said. “I hope you
can get over this thing. It's been pretty
ghastly for all of us.”
Prosecutor Calvert told reporters that
he was satisfied with the verdict. Attor-
neys for the defendant informed the court
that they had no plans for an appeal. *
(Editor’s note: The name Gina Kelly is ficti-
tious. Use of the individual's real name would
serve no public interest.)
Case Of The Irresistible Rape-Slayer
(continued from page 23)
whom he'd been sharing a motel room
during his brief sojourn in Denver.
Traveling with a female consort was
yet another of Morin’s cunningly devised
means of eluding capture during his
coast-to-coast depredations, and several
voluntarily kept company with this devi-
ate fully cognizant of his evil ways and
his lust for the flesh of young girls. For
some bizarre, incomprehensible reason,
‘a certain type of woman seemed to be
magnetically drawn towards Morin in-
cluding one who sidled up to him in a San
Antonio courtroom after his arrest and
simperingly said, *‘God bless you! I’m
praying for you,’’ as she handed the man-
acled prisoner a note.
Morin’s van was found abandoned on
a parking lot in Wichita, Kansas, shortly
after his flight from Denver and his trail
dimmed and faded completely away.
Morin was known by lawmen as a master
of disguise and a man quite adept at elud-
ing his pursuers. By traveling hard and
fast with a willing female at his side, one
who frequently rented motel rooms and
cars and otherwise fronted for him, he
managed to maintain a low profile to all
except those unwary victims upon whom
he pounced.
Morin next surfaced in Corpus Christi,
Texas, and early on the morning of
November 30, 1981, he was on the prowl
in search of his next conquest. He was a
discriminating marauder with a marked
penchant for young girls in their late
34
teens or early twenties, preferably
blonde and curvaceous. He'd staked out
a nightclub called Doc Holliday’s as his
personal hunting domain and had met a
couple of young men at the bar. They,
too, were seeking feminine compan-
ionship but their motivations were far
more acceptable than Morin’s. Morin
read them wrong, however, and he told
them that he'd spotted a perfectly sexy,
desirable woman whom they could all
share. :
The trio had gone out to Morin’s car on
the parking lot to, as Morin explained,
wait for the object of his desires to leave
the establishment. While they were wait-
ing he became more explicit and descrip-
tive regarding his intentions saying,
‘‘We can all take turns with her and
you’ll never see or hear of her again. I'll
make sure of that.’’ He produced a pistol
and at about that time a pretty 23-year-
old woman walked out of the nightclub.
Her name was Wanda Tucker and she
had left her seven-year-old son with her
ex-husband while she enjoyed an even-
ing out on the town.
Wanda had no way of knowing that her
outing was destined to last for another
twelve days during which she would ex-
perience abuse and degradation which
utterly defied belief at the hands of a
two-legged ogre who sat eyeing her from
the darkened parking lot.
‘“‘That’s the one we'll get!’’ Morin
chortled as he started the car and pre-
ee Se TE TE TE TT TT TL TE TE a le TE RTE eT eT Ce ME ae eT
pared to follow the unsuspecting quarry
‘ who by now was walking towards a near-
by apartment house complex. His two
erstwhile pals had gotten the drift by now
and both decided they wanted no part of
what Morin had in mind. They asked to
be let out and Morin obligingly slowed
the car and allowed them to leap from the
moving vehicle, not wishing to lose sight
of his prey.
Minutes later he decided to strike and
he pulled up close to the woman who'd
almost reached her destination and safe-
ty. He was out of the car in a flash and
holding a gun at the frightened woman's
head before she was hardly aware of his
presence. Struggling in vain in his vise-
like grip, she was forced into the car by
her captor who threatened to kill her if
she screamed or resisted. The violence
had so aroused him that he drove but a
short distance before forcing her to per-
form an act of fellatio.
He later drove her to her own apart-
ment in nearby Portland, stopping twice
to rape her. They stopped briefly at her
apartment before setting out again on
what was to be an odyssey of sheer terror,
violence and erotica without parallel in
the annals of crime. Morin stopped at
several motels in Corpus Christi and, to
Wanda Tucker’s amazement, he picked
up his female accomplice before they left
town headed for San Antonio.
Her name was Rita Cassidy and she'd
met Morin in Buffalo, New York, before
he’d been busted for queer behavior
there. When he decided to get out of town
before a ‘‘make’’ came back on his set of
(continued on next page)
Ce ee
— ee Dy
FAR BRE:
prints inked by the Buffalo PD, she
agree to accompany him west to Denver
fo perverse reasons known only to her.
He was snorting coke and gulping ben-
nies and obviously on the run. Morin was
never one to conceal his seething lust for
women and the fact that he was a sadistic-
al bondage freak who derived consider-
able delight in abusing and spoiling
women. Rita slept with him and it must
be presumed that perhaps she was a in-
vetebrate masochist who herself enjoyed
being abused. degraded and humiliated.
In any event, this incongruent three-
some comprised of a deviant satyroma-
niac, his most recent victim and his girl
Friday arrived in San Antonio and check-
ed into the first of five different motels
during their stay. Morin repeatedly raped
his captive whom he kept drugged
throughout the first days of her ordeal.
He kept her bound and gagged much of
the time and forced white pills into her
mouth which left her in an extreme state -
of lethargy. Usually, when he took her, it
was with a gun at her head or a knife at
her throat. Rita was often in the room
during these orgiastic rituals. She later
dyed Wanda’s blonde hair brown.
At night, while they slept and to pre-
vent her escape. Morin used a tube halter
and a pair of pantyhose to tie Wanda’s
body to his. Another means which he
used to deter her escape was his threat to
kill her son in the event that she did
succeed. Oddly enough, Wanda had held
a loaded gun on Morin shortly after
abduction in Corpus Christi. Shortly af-
ter the first sexual assault was consu-
mated. he’d handed her the pistol he'd
used to cower her and. perhaps in a
momentary fit of remorse. told her to pull
the trigger. As she'd fought to muster the
courage to pull the trigger, however.
he'd reached out and wrenched the. gun
from her hand.
After a week of captivity, of moving
frequently from one motel to another and
of sleeping tied tightly to her captor’s
body, of being drugged and abused and
threatened, Wanda felt herself totally
drained of all resistance. Morin was
heavily armed with a gun and several
wicked looking knives and he'd repeat-
edly vowed to kill her son if she escaped
trom his clutches. Her abducter seemed
to sense his love-slave’s apathy and now
he took her to Sears where he waited
while she tried on a blouse and a pair of
slacks which he bought for her. We are
forced to wonder now why she didn’t try
to leave a note behind or to alert someone
or her plight. Morin even took her danc-
ing in several San Antonio nightclubs.
On December | 1. Morin seemed tense
and as on edge as a caged Bengal tiger.
He took his two women and started driv-
ing about at random on the freeway sys-
tem. It was obvious that he was once
again on the prowl in search of a woman
to sate his perverse, ugly compulsions to
violate. He spotted a woman in a car who
appealed to him. She was young and
blonde. He followed her to a place called
Maggie’s Restaurant in North San
Antonio and watched her go inside.
The three sat outside in the parking lot
after Morin said he wanted the woman
and that they would wait until she came
back out. Several times he took Wanda
with him while he went inside to surveil
his prey who sat at the bar oblivious of
the fact that she was being stalked. Later
he took both Rita and his hostage inside
while he watched the object of his inten-
tions. The invented victim dallied long
enough that Morin became impatient and
he transferred his attention to another
attractive young girl wearing a pantsuit
ensemble.
Her name was Carrie Marie Scott, 21,
who was with a close friend, a 25-year-
old woman named Dru Darnell- Valdes.
Morin, his: female consort and Wanda
were sitting in the car in the parking lot
when he spotted the pretty girl in the
pantsuit. He commanded Wanda to get in
the back seat of the car and to lie down.
She obeyed and heard Morin get out of
the vehicle. Carrie, unaware of Morin’s
approach, got into her car and was just
inserting the key into the ignition when
the intruder forced his way onto the front
seat, a gun aimed menacingly at her.
Just then, Carrie’s friend Dru left the
nightclub and approached the car una-
ware of Carrie’s dilemma until she got
close enough to see a stranger inside
holding his hostage in a cruel neck-hold.
Dru, a Texas gal with a lot of spunk,
stepped up to the side of the car and
ordered the man out of the car. He didn’t
respond and in Dru’s words, both he and
Carrie seemed to be frozen in place
momentarily. Then Carrie got her breath
and she screamed, ‘‘Run! Run! He’s got
away in full flight when she heard the
explosion behind her and felt a bullet tear
clear through her shoulder knocking her
flat. She struggled to her feet and ran
inside Maggie's while other shots roared
forth outside.
Bleeding profusely from the bullet
wound in her shoulder, the terrified
woman staggered towards the stage fall-
ing just short of the steps. She dragged
herself up to the microphone and used it
to plead for help for her friend outside in
the parking lot. Several patrons re-
sponded to her tearful plea and rushed
towards the front entrance. They found
the body of Carrie Marie Scott sprawled
near the door in a pool of blood. There
was no sigh of her assailant and someone
placed a call for the police and an ambu-
lance.
Dru was rushed to a nearby hospital.
Scott was pronounced dead-at-the-
scene. Police managed to locate several
witnesses who provided them with a de-
scription of a car seen speeding away
shortly after a volley of shots were fired.
An APB was promptly aired and police
launched a city-wide hunt for the vehicle
believed to have been driven by a man
accompanied by two female passengers.
Morin had returned to the motel where
he and Rita rushed Wanda into their room
and drew the drapes. He spent the next
twenty minutes nervously pacing the
floor of the second-floor unit, stopping
every few minutes to peer anxiously
through the curtains. He threw Wanda
onto the bed at one point and forced a gun
into her hand snarling, *“‘Go ahead —
shoot me! Put me out of my misery!”* For
the second time since her abduction
twelve days previously she held the life
of her brutal captor in her hands. She
glared at the man who'd raped and sodo-
mized her repeatedly and knew genuine
hatred. She also found herself unable to
pull the trigger.
Morin grabbed the gun from her hand
and rushed to a window just in time to see
a black-and-white police car skid to a halt
outside. Police had sighted a wanted
car parked in the motel parking lot and
four more units were enroute Code-3 to
back-up the first officers on the scene.
Morin dashed for the bathroom and tore
the screen off the window. A second later
and he'd squirmed through and dropped
to the ground at the rear of the motel and
raced down the alley undetected. Within
a half a minute afterward.police had sur-
rounded the motel unaware that their
quarry had already slipped the net.
After determining the room number
for the party owning the wanted car. they
rushed the room only to find two shiyer-
ing, badly frightened women sitting
wide-eyed on a rumpled bed inside.
Wanda Tucker's story defied belief
but it checked out. Rita Cassidy was
booked and held as an accomplice in the
tragic double-shooting incident at Mag-
gie’s which left one woman dead and
another badly injured. San Antonio
police were sorely disappointed to learn
that Morin had given them the slip. De-
spite the fact that an intensive search was
launched immediately for the man on
foot, he once again used his criminal
brain to evade apprehension.
Interrogation of Rita and questioning
of Wanda established the true identity of
the suspect and also developed informa-
(continued on next page)
35
2 coe ee Nt tn ER
Foreman. It is therefore co:sidered and acjuared by the tourt
af
ct
iy
oo
ct
cr
=!
0)
oy
ca)
a)
99)
|
dant Hmanusl Morris is guilty of Murder in the First
Degree.as found by the Jury and that he de punished as has been
fu
etermined by the Jury,that is vith
ry
(e)
mM 9,
et
a
fot
(2
am) j
.) ?
if
>
Ly
ia)
Ky
¢))
a
ta
.
to dJeil to await the Purther orde
And Whereas on the I9th.day of Sentember A D.1398 the said
court. pronounced sentences upon the said Emanuel Morris in accord—
ance with said Judgment as fully appears by the said sentence en-
tered upon the minutes of said Court as Pollows—to-wit:-
The State of Texas, )
VS. No.3642 ~~ ) September TSth.1398.
manuel Morris. )
THis day this cause deing again called,the State anpeared by her
District Attorney and the defendant Ememiel Morris was ae
into onen Court,in person in cherce of the Sheriff,nis counsel
; tus
also being present for the purpose of having the sentenss of tho
lary pronounced against him in accordnase with the Verdict an
X23 ana hy + denis € the saiA Aon FP Orin
Texes aid by the decision of the ssid Jourt of drimine? Appeals
the said Judgnent was on the Sth.@ey of June AeD.T898 in al}
thinzs affirmed,and which said decisik nd mengete f
x , hio) eclision and mandate in asc ordanse
therewith Haas been received by this court and is now on file
anong the papers in this csuse,and thereupon the defendant,
i a
why said sentence should not be pronounced against hin and he an-
swerane nothing in bar thereof,whereupon the dourt proceened in
the presence of the said defendent Emanuel Morris to pronounce
sical iiadibil wine ” —— PPMP MTT rey
ra mf leg S
IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
ay,
THE GRAND JURORS for the County of 77. 2&7... Rebs che, State aforesaid, duly
organized as such at the..42¢. AL CA per ronellen ct Term, A. D. 189.8, of the District Court for
ee wpon their oaths in said Court present that... ——<
OBA?? Cer tte te OL CLE¢22. a= al Se Sea Bienes eaaeceepser ttn a tA Sete ore seen lnos
on or aboué the... Saal A. D. I89. ee gentertor
to the presentment of this Indictment, ti the County and State upon. esatd, did, with malice
~
aj i alae kill... 422. Le... "eiactsnatiek, “4 pee naa? ...Di
avainst the peace and dignity of the State.
tf fer? |
an aeenemeene
a
| a f same, prema ie ay entnrrennrneeecrrient om fone li ene cenencesernane bn anutetemenscsttetnimenita eters aaainepeeratriats ane tee ~~ _ a eee i rome eevee Saas cps : :
py : an | ‘ t :
yh File No 3 (, Ue a NAMES OF WITNESSES UPON i
aa caanisan Seams | WHOSE TESTIMONY INDICTMENT j
: ; it WAS FOUND. i |
THE STATE OF TEXAS it. Z i |
| ag r we > “ f
E OD. PPA. CLYVMAAALE... Lorre tC? 2 : Lun ELI awh Oa Geet Ess ssserissten mnntnnes fessnnens |
: it |
Se tt ras Oe — ae Bg a ee ly VK EN eiscee gen ELE Soa Piraggehtovesevgscsossecccsenace sdesestentesdvesceeseessocs %
ew, 2a ee ;: |
Murder. ... 2220-5 | 5
INDICTMENT. |
* 4 f
6” | )
Tiled on the ELS nd eee day of ; %
Pe. ANALG A ping 189K
: * ‘s es oF . 4 i
ae. Vg of ‘
tebe ve Meese Mensecerses Per seedet oes plicit, ¢
“Clerk of the District:Court, \ ; : i
a 4 i \ ! “4
Ce: nty, Tevas. | 4
: By it. ae hisses ae. ae Deputy, x
ee 1), ig |) Sa day of .
ilk oe 189.00
Sad Shor eSitlcccdiccincobnacbacaded tcerneensgerreeycotnaserenisnensuneonenn bse son oo
ef :.
. \
pe SE haeeiinchiletat 4
2298 W. 388, P, C. 605 ¥ 1
; F i
| a a eaheaste La cunasephlajeabepadsiivsnGieeovsuegeienees |
saninananthsainah ba A is Bi |
| csoaseinadiaaetelt nc ook eo Sis a ae : ae mae cai se we Sees as re
| . ee ee LL I Na A ne ON A I I le
3 For sale by Geo. D, Barna’ & Co.. Pra. St. Lonta.
ee
ara
THE STATE OF TEXAS.
Whereas on the First cey of April A.D.1898,in the District Sourt
of said County Branuel Morris was duly and legally sonvicted of
e8a,as fully appears by the
on!
the orine of Murder in the First degr
Judgment of said Court ensered upon the minutes of Said Court
/
as follows to-wit:-
The State of Taéxas
M0.3642 V3.
Sa ee RF ee ee?
}
f4
co
oO
oo
Emanuel Morris,
This day this cause was called for trial and the State annearsd
by hat District Attorney and the defendant mBmanuel Morris annear-
ed in person in open court , nits Counsel also being present and
the said defendant ,fmanuel Morris having been duly arraigned and
having pleaded not guilty tox the indictment herein,both parties
announced reddy for trial,and theraupon a jury to-witi- F.M.Ferris,
and eleven others was duly selected,inpannelisad 2nd sworn who hav-
ing heard the indictment read and the defendant 's plea of not
guilty thereto and hevingnesard the gatandemk evidence submitted,
ana having been duly charged by the Court, retired in bharge of
the nroper officer to consider of their verdict and afterwards”
as
acaba ae into Court by the prover officer,the
7 at
A
ey)
3
ct
ia)
e) we)
(2
open Sourt thePollowing verdict,which was recived by the Court
and is here now entered upon the minutes of the Court to-witi-
No.3G42. The Statw of Texas vs-Enanuel Morris, ‘Ve the Juryfind the.
defendant guilty of Murder in the First degree,as charged in wne
indictment and wusxs assess eal giment it at eee eM. Porrgay
aie Opt re ee eee
ame ‘ oe 7 eer
Pe Ae:
-.
Monson, AND His. ‘vierne..
{
it
i
i Sock
ee
Secon Gok ananse
way. Frog the scaffold to-day he
‘am assemblage bf thousands, Hite ‘voles | penal
pert g ex ha He was among the cool-
“eat in tee throng. In his palmiest days he
addressed a
never ation with more
Geliberation than {id’in that speech from
the scaffold, His rest. last night was as
‘-lsound as it he had occupicd a feather: bed
instead df a*‘cot in a-jail with men over.
him whose duty it was to keep him in thelr}
sight until his last breath was drawn. His
appetite was alwayy aplendid. Physically
poemed sate He awoke from sound
‘stumber about 7 ra enpaic lt was raining
He gased out of the window for «
then turning to one of the
pense this. would be @
js breakfust, his last
tm and he disposed of
¥rom that time on
So rone who shaved
jhim and trimmed his hair... He »cemed
: Rat ther indifferent: about this, remurking to
neenee that he didn't see very much
such @ proceeding. This task com-
By he ‘enjoyed. ed a bath und exchanged
slothes or a sult of black furnished
f Williams. He was then told
Ay sister desired to sce him for the
sat timer About ed ate ae ghee
‘pan ownsend and oth-
ern. inadovtaas ithe the room she gteeted him
affectionately and he responded in the same.
calm, unconcerned way that has churacter-
hia every action and utterance during
ls long nement.
After a — commonplace words. were ex-
cha. — Pinat religious ‘sery-
ces naa Townsend
rendéred ‘Nearer, ay Goa,: to Thee.”
fant then offered a fervent prayer. The
loumed man then sang softiy a hymn... His
levoted..siater, who has never Wavered,
to her knees, and, with a Voice in.
ve, fervor and despair were 7
blended, commen the soul of het
tr to hie Maker. is supplication
SpanyTe
‘ot
bro teara to the eyes of almost évery
perese fn the room save the one in whose
‘ fit was given. Arising slowly, with
with tears, she: carew her-
i s arma nd covered bis
ath ee er tenderly in
‘bebe?
he accepted it in the same,
addressed
pay the Kanda of The D:
rtrue to. me.
tougbing'y :
Rev.
bittereat- of feeitn ing ‘for those who: ‘si
ind neniees re. aay to you now as.t |
nap ey you te he (
is or oF oe
he time Mr.
e
: r
eS writing. wbick:
‘= Tepre-
tative. I suppose it ae be. MSblehed in*
ail t ask ie ee sot er
wi
ave nul so much eet my case. *
fersed Christian man and @ milniater oft the
Koepel is, of course, expected not to do these:
things and when they are accused of 1c’
is more noticed and magnified than any one
else's, T don’ eer how. the Panhahdle
prone are now, in requrd to thix matter,
suppose they are atill pretudiged aguinast,
me, as they ; eye iat been. amar ioe lone
my wife and a love her.
with her seventeen
years and 1 isos witha true, us mp Ps
can love a woman, «In that greater day ‘ot
+¥00's Judgment. we. will know all about
those thingw. My. dear: frienas, it is: not f
all of Ufe to Hve nor al) of death to die,
but after this life vomes tho spiritual. life
‘and beseech you all to take upsn. yourselves
the spiritual life. -Be trus.to- your. married
life, be true to your wife and family and
then thers awaits for you a crown of eternal
Nite. 1 want every oneof you to try to bear
ae fn your rang tad & rot at my. worst, hot
Y wtand he ore you now,
t at m
uit God's time comes. | He will te
lorious welcome.
here ts one thing I satomaa? that]
e Oo say, an
es Seen, te Verne each v
OW 2
rticle.of sym
who h Mere and
Athy
ba he
‘Garters 4, appellant ae oat: heosesare
and-was ¢
re tw a ennencntite 9
e Sunda
n, scemeaatie miles
Bout railroad, and one.
Kansas
Dien gumre ted
wif
years and a had lived tn -
at,one time
h-
ye bnveach
month at
PB
ae te mile
ent: yand
another tome = Okiahoma territory, fro
which. last plas he moved to Pachandie.
He was born’and ieee tn aipsie and went.
to school at Car
acevanes wit
iss Anna,
tines Pasi ae
e move
tis aw
esided a here ‘en
deoth of decea
dca
ellant in‘. ‘A
of hig wife in
nd there became
ee onin. Prosecuting. wit-
Babwequent and went to
ently Miss Whit-
an ey ena mother
o- Topeka,
Kan., and
the
"years previous ta.
st previous | tothe
tober, 1807, met me |
Waittlesey. his school days sweetheart
SS ve and made offers of marrtage. -
fier
Shute
of marriage occurred in Augiist, at
which time appellant
Whittlesey's brothe:
his wife was dead’
_ vleven
accoun
years; that he hoa quit
of throat trouble and
ectnita Ww (Morria)
prétended to Miss”
that
had ‘been dead
reaching on
nm ens
gaged in the-cattlc business for ‘ight years
near, Higgins, Tex., which was
offic
post-
“He represented also that he was doing a
thriving business, and mace the same rep
resentations to Miss yee Cees
stated to. her bry
tlson, whom
twenty years
was -marri
Le also
hig cousin,
Whittlesey h
efore at Car
ed ‘and lived, at. Panhandle,
haa
ae
that he was the Methodiet preavher at that
place,
The evidence discloses’ that this
stutement. was whoily: false.
“After ap
Whittlesey,
her,” urgin
stating tha
huis
tliant’s e
@ begun a
pro
‘he had
agement to Mins
orrespundence with
ition of. marriage,
nteaded for a nu
ver
ears to come ie her phar cau
bo onorably, and h
@ belleved
@ could Kee
nee the time, Thig ‘statement was.made
on September 10, one month before the
death of hin wife.
“In all of his !etters to her he co’ tinuous-
represented
himyelf as being in’ the cattle
8, and a ranchman.* *.
“He made another visit to Topeka.
hte fest und a rer
and
tous to
returning from
a atter | do
hie
nore on
the deat
“] have writtem anyth for aes
el say in the.very
nce ow By Ruity
;fur-
hty *
® just The
firmed. uGgmMmeh
i
om wy mings af-
MOMBISOR’s ERTATEOERY, E
Afarme Mis Innocence. Givis i -
aton of the Whele Aft Py a ge
Vernon, Tex.,” Oct. 21.—The following is
the letter handed The News correspondent
by Rev. G. E. Morsison on yesterday:
+ Vernon, Tex., Oct. % To The News; 1
submit td you for publication the follow-
ing statement of my troubles. I have been
published all ovér/ the United States aud a
great many‘of the asticles -have not had
@ semblance of the truth imahem, But my.
having been a minister has given reporters
= papers an excuse for flaring headlines,
nd I believe have done more to lo exefte ub-"
fet reeeneee and to conviet me tha tbe levi.
dence in the case.. This is th vitrat th aged |
uM Seepesacie = rise crite
we
Bie as any ui
the ministry. in Kansad in LNs
Aes peoreed one year at Crestline. The fal-
lowing veee I _ Bes en i. at. Hallowel,
went into the
Kan. d the hoa 4 4
Indian “territory ‘an and ook ‘dp mission work
a“ three years Wus anarrere to
cduference
3 al
work about - nad came ta. :
hhand
at. Pa le, tatecding to” go back in
the regular work at the fonewtng session |
or 1 ig coat Oe ‘
of t
to fon @ me. ha yond Deen throat began
Sal, Peeceins a sta Serr ey set
+ ut ha’
Treated - and ‘there. 1- rahet, with oid
Aner ¥ in | same way had heard that
wana. w' — and taking the matter. as
wu Wot ending at ng ot ne © teat! ta -be _
J eu 5
@ friends: t oe.
ad o were
Christ 2. ‘scientist and I began
gate = Smaller. nd whetbac the Christan
tat he rest from r
king I Sake not, _ anyhow, my
poe Kot: bet
my Petbre. letters | me .by
pate rmatt, i realized ie elt. ry I. had
done wrong. but did not. have the courage
tell the truth hen alt nt ancabencoaie man
e-tru at
et sogdenty, ill and dl pas ot hpieos ere
all in my power to get a dector for
her.” Atzwthe time she w
train: for: Amarillo had ate Stowe =
only wa
that | belleved
one was the result of
pite.
Wes «not rolee ned. tthe atoc
inqu y
my w i
ae. nok bel aoe
: e tollows some ten linet
be a
t horrine
rous paid
most fiend
in Travis
tle town
milee this
thrifty Bw
W. and M
was about
cars his
iivéd. alone
tte
that mit
Bap pth a barber who sh +
ptbert rinsed ahens this’ ate on med
d u
workman that he aie Svale buick
t nee very much.
t she ie," 4 pand be
W.. B, Townsend and oth- fi
mnenserned 1 way: that bas charactet
ac mand wu
is long coflinement. ppigpe oc n ~)
' After a few rds were ex:
3 he ,
ligtou:
held. ts. Townsend -
“Nearer, My God, to Thee.
rea a a pepe: 5 So +
vwavered
‘plese
‘au.
.°. 1 believe w
\ ae e@ leaves
ie gates of heaven will Lopate wre, bib
mand I will-h @
ve 2 glorious: eo.
I am in 4a of your shest 5
Iw o' eayY,
sary
fare
him that
“Fy have ‘mad
pub- |'his frst and
1 awe
otter of marriage -occurred tn Augunt,
which time sappetiant prétended to he:
hittlesey’s brothet-in-law. (Morris): tha
9 Snes nee’ ~. been Grad
cleven years; qu
account of throat trouble and ha
an the cattle bus uy see eight yearp
was
ot fs he was doing a
, Ce the same rep-
init 4 ‘aleo
| twenty : befor® at
‘ was Jarred and ly
thathe was the Met t
; evidence 3
> and that | of
: oeateraent
s* .*
ore :
her he coritinuous:
as teing im the cattle
festhiess, and a ranchman. - poe ag eee
“He made another. visit:
toua to t
wife, and w
one occasion:
been taused: from strychnine
x puipowe, oF Be
before. Hits
Ufe ever-*
as
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a
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yf
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is post- .
was~made
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ohnine for~ tt Le a
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gate the iter and whether the Chrtatia
fence: nejoed me or the rom te
now not, bat* ahyhow,
tetnen Jeti re beg gan to come
e an
{ realized and Telit that f
not have the courage
up my mind to
my
tell the truth when all at once my wife was } 7
taken. suddenly il) and died. ;
"7 did all in my power to get a doctor for
her, At>t tlie she. was taken sick t
on ey
ba ep yet
mother : ber,
« team ‘ran .away ‘and
MORRISON, George, (Clergyman), white, hanged at Vernon, Texas, on Oct. 27, 1899.
af,
Worrisen Case--=
neanging
ee ee
CONDEMNED IS COOLS?
| MAN AT HIS EXECUTTON
MANY WITNESS. HANGING
‘George E. Morrison, the wife murderer, was hung hore last
Mrideaye The trap was sprung at 12:55 Be Me, 2t°1:08 pe me
life was prenounced extinct, and at 1:14 pe me the body was
taken downe His neck was broken and he died without a struggle.
He made a speech on the gallows which was but a repetition of
the speech made at the time, Snd is not here given for the want
of space. After his speech he sang a verse of “Jesus, Jesus,
Blessed Jesuse" He then shook hands with all on ‘the soxffold,
urging them to.live religious ‘livese Reve Ae Je Tant led in
prayer, and while the officers were preparing him for the fatal
drop, "Jesus Lover of My Soul” Was sunge During the whole try-~
ing ordeal, he was the coolest and most collected person present.
He never showed agitationse -He died as he lived, protesting his
innocence. oe ie aa OY LBP STAAL oh
His Crime *
| He was charged with the murder of his wife, Minnie Morrison,
by poisoning her with strychnine at Panhendle, Carson County,
texas October 10th, 1897. He fled; was pursued and. captured in
California and was brought back to Panhandle, and indicted for
murdering his wife with poisone The venue of the case was
changed from Carson to Hemphill county, then to this, Wilbarger
Countye He was put on trial Sept. 20, 1898, and at 23:15 pe me
On Septe 27, the jury returned’a verdict of guilty of murder in
the first degree, and fixed the penalty at deathe -fin appeal was
teken, and the judgment of the lower court was affirmed. The
court of criminal appeals, in concluding the judgment of affirma-
tion, saya: ROMER UR Shak oth Aa RRs oe i ath 2 ah! APP OS
~ “We have exenined all appellant's assignments of error in the
order in which they are stated in the record and find no reversi-
ble error thereine The facts show that for deliberate fiendish-
ness they are almost without a parzilel in the annals of criminal
jJurisprudencee The jury inflicted the punishment of death upon
appellant and according to the record before us, this is juste
The judgment is in all things affirmed." *. . “6
He made a statement which he sealed.and gave to the Dallas
News reporter, It contained nothing new from his speeches made
when sentenced and on the gallowse
Re Oey eae a
iv ao ee a ts <u es ‘
Pg 2d . ras ~- Se >
f : . See ae 4 ;
\ The Mam --g0 Fert pie
a % ‘ ee ee he aati Tad ‘a
° ~ 44 Cae te mye x, 22-3 *
fa
: He was a good looking mans of natural ability and fairly well
educated, and of good address, at the time of the commitment of
DETECTIVE pee
__INSIDE DETECTIVE _
FRONT PAGE —E_s A ti wacazine
EVERY TWO
MARCH, 1959
CARMENA FREEMAN _Edifor : i
JAMES W. BOWSER managing editor #
RHYN SERLIN associate editor
ELIZABETH PIERCE editorial assistant
4
4
4
GERALD FERGUSON art editor
EUGENE WITAL photographic art
Sede tang oe
FERNANDO TEXIDOR art director
@ hi @
in fhis issue
10 FULL LENGTH STORIES
THE ESCAPED CONVICT WHO WAS ADOPTED FOR
EWES 60 6
READY FOR ANOTHER LINE-UP, MARY?............ 16
= L GOT NO MORE TEARS = = 20
BOSKS TALL LE WAS TRUE 24
‘| WAS FORCED TO DIG MY OWN GRAVE.......... 28
WHO PUT BONNIE THROUGH THE KNIFE-MACHINE? 30
{ GOT YOUR KILLERS, DAD.............. A 36
RATTLER ON THE LOOSE.......:075.......-/.7. 38 :
WHY CAN'T YOU REMEMBER, LILLIAN?........... 42 [
THE KILLER WHO BEGGED TO BE CAUGHT........ 44 5
7 FEATURES
THE BLOTTER. oS ee os A
IF YOU ASK ME........ Ce ae
ERONT PAGE CASE ROOK... 12
The CEAMUE SPOT) oo. 14 t
cis COG OU 53 a
THE HUMAN TOUCH....... ae a 58
THE ALMOST PERFECT MURDER............-. ee 68
1 PICTURE STORY
After his confession: I’m sorry ... but I was cried a7
¢ out at 15. Now I Got No More Tears. . . . Page 20 GET READY, GET SET, FIND THEM........ vee ere 48 if
Eg EE I I
COVER BY BURT OWEN
The photograph on page 24 was posed by professional models.
POSTMASTER: Please send notice on Form 3579 to 321 W. 44th Street, New York 36, N.Y.
FRONT PAGE DETECTIVE, Vol. 22, No. 11, March, 1959. Trademark $596,798. Published by Dell Publishing Co., Inc., Washington and South
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| MUST HAVE BEEN
MADE FROM SCRAPS.
THERE'S NO RECORD
| EVEN WAS BORN
a
ef
¢
t
also fell splashing down in the creek.
I reloaded the gun and shot them all
again, I was so scared of them. The
police say I shot the little boy at least
eight times, his father four times, and
the other one twice. I don’t remember.
I don’t know why I shot them so much.
I'd already picked up both of the
billfolds and put each in one of my
pants pockets, and put the money in
my pocket. I reloaded the gun again,
and put it in my belt and covered it
up with my jacket.
I was wearing blue jeans and my
3 ’ ; See Te i st gn : a Ee, a we © 4 } faded blue (Continued on page 69)
They found the boy’ ‘ D ised to do anything if This man had a couple of 13-year-old kids. I wish I'd been
I just wouldn’t shoo: T panicked, shot him twice. brave enough to put the bullets in me and not him. , . . | , thie wad ew iaddibs: hielo.
of this wallet on his cards
She’d already noticed the age of the owner
and knew I was too young to call it mine.
twice more before we got to the edge of
the woods. As soon as we were in the
trees, I told them to drop their wallets
and money. Both of them took their
billfolds out and dropped them. The
oldest guy took some bills out of his
pocket and dropped this money on the
ground with his wallet. Then I made
them walk on in the woods.
T had in mind to leave the people in
the woods. I asked the oldest guy for his
car keys, and he said they were in the
car. They walked on up pretty close to
the bank of the creek, and then the
oldest guy hollered and went to running.
That’s when all the coward came out
in me.
It was like I had a chill. I was so
scared that I don’t know what I was
scared would happen. It’s the scardest
I've ever been in my life. Even after
it was all over, I was scared.
I pulled the trigger, and saw the guy j
topple into the creek and heard him }
splash. In just a second, the other guy,
the middle-aged one in the red shirt, }
turned on me and made a run for me. |
I shot twice, and I think I shot him in }
the chest or stomach. The little boy went }
to running away and hollering that he f
would do anything I wanted if I
wouldn't shoot him. I was so scared I
was crazy. I shot him in the chest just
as he turned toward me and stopped. He
23
he
THE,PERFECT
MURDER
No. 2 WHERE THERE'S A WILL
™@ Marcel Marten threw down the pen
in triumphant exhaustion. For seven
hours he had labored over the document,
tediously imitating the writing style in
the letters he had spread about him.
It looked perfect. After all, Henri
Marten, his uncle, was an old man,
well over 70. His writing was quite nat-
urally jerky and unsure. Who would
question this forged will? Certainly the
fact that all of Uncle Henri’s estate was
being left to Marcel would not be sur-
prising: Uncle Marten did have a large
circle of relatives, but none of them
were exactly his favorites. They were
all Parisiennes, and the dislike Uncle
Henri had for citizens of the capital
was commonly known.
Years before he had written all his
relatives that he would never have any-
thing to do with any Parisiennes, who
were, to his way of thinking, just over-
educated louts. He gave his relatives a
choice: either they could continue
their wicked ways living in the evil big
city and never hope to see a franc of
his money, or they could move anywhere
else in France and have great expecta-
tions as an heir.
Living in Calais, Marcel was the only
one who met his uncle’s requirements.
Twice a year, Marcel would receive a
letter from his uncle commending him
on being wiser than his relatives.
Several times Marcel traveled to visit
his uncle at his home near Boulogne.
And each time he was appalled to find
the old gentleman disgustingly in the
pink. The old man looked like he was
going to live to 100!
It was the letter in which his uncle
said that Madame Leon was leaving him
for a few months to visit relatives on
Corsica that made up Marcel’s mind.
Madame Leon was his uncle’s aged
housekeeper—with her out of the way,
Marcel could go to Boulogne, poison
Uncle Henri’s wine and be rich.
The actual murder of Uncle Henri
went off like a charm. He was very
happy to see Marcel and brought out a
bottle of his best wine. Marcel insisted
on pouring the first drink as they saluted
each other. Uncle didn’t even live long
enough for a refill from the wine bottle.
All the way home on the train to
Calais, Marcel licked his lips in antici-
pation. There was a Possibility that
Uncle Henri’s body wouldn’t be discov-
ered for two more weeks until Madame
Leon returned, but he could wait. Then
the body and the will would be found
and he’d be set for life.
It had been fortunate Marcel had
constructed his own will. He’d found
one his uncle had. made out which left
him a mere ten per cent of the estate.
The rest, aside from a few thousand
francs for Madame Leon, was to go to
the church for the schooling of poor
boys. Imagine, Marcel snorted to him-
self, Uncle Henri who always com-
plained about the over-educated Pari-
siennes, leaving all his money to help
make more eggheads.
To the day, almost the hour, Marcel
had it figured out when the housekeeper
would return and find the body. The
Police in Boulogne would be summoned.
They would notify the authorities in
Calais to contact Marcel.
It happened exactly that way and
Marcel just gushed over with tears when
he got the news.
His crocodile tears quickly turned to
real ones, however, when the police
also told him he was under arrest for
Poisoning his uncle.
“We would not have suspected a
thing were it not for the forged will,”
the arresting inspector explained. “You
see, Madame Leon was able to enlighten
us to the fact that your uncle had not
written the will. She always did all his
writing for him, including his corres-
Pondence to you. Your uncle, you see,
could not write at all, but was so
ashamed of the fact that he always kept
it a secret from everyone.” a
Colnas immediately phoned for help and
joining him in minutes were Patrolmen Charles
Seruntine and Joseph Hurban. They drove
to the bar, radioing what brief information
they had to Police Captain P. J. Trosclair on
the way. Trosclair, only a few blocks from
the scene, sped there and met them at the
door to the bar. They went in and found the
Porter gesturing excitedly towards the stor-
age room.
“He’s in there!” he shouted. “He picked the
. wrong door!”
The officers approached the door warning
others in the bar to stay back. The armed
thief might choose to shoot it out! With
Seruntine helping him at the door and the
other officers lined up beside them with’ guns
drawn, the captain unlocked the door.
“Come out!” Trosclair called. “We're police
and armed!”
He opened the door a foot and stepped
back.
As he did, a hand holding a small auto-
matic snaked out and aimed directly at the
police captain’s chest.
The finger tightened!
There was only a sharp click!
Trosclair grabbed for the man’s wrist,
twisting the gun downwards, and he and
Seruntine lunged forward, their shoulders
against the door.
It gave. There was a thud—and they piled
inward to pin the struggling bandit on the
floor. One of the officers quickly snapped
handcuffs on the snarling man’s wrists.
The gunman was driven to the First District
Police station and booked. Sullen and bitter
at first, he refused to give them his name. At
last he shrugged.
“Call me Mike,” he snapped, “but the full
moniker is Charles R. Smith.”
It had a familiar ring!
“Address ?”
“None. I just been living around.”
“Employed?”
“I worked over in Cameron Parish a while.”
Officers examining the small automatic
extracted the shell that had jammed. If it
hadn’t, it could have cost Captain Trosclair
his life.
As they worked, one of the officers recalled
that the previous night a man had robbed
a bar on St. Charles Street. The bartender had
been shot in the mouth, suffering a broken
jaw. He had told police a small man with a
ducktail haircut had put a little gun in his:
face and threatened to kill him if he didn’t
hand over the contents of the cash drawer.
Doctors at Charity Hospital later had re-
moved a .22-caliber bullet from the bar-
tender’s wound. And this automatic was a .22.
Smith calmly admitted holding up the St.
Charles Street bar when asked about it.
“Anything else you’d like to admit?” Cap-
tain Trosclair asked, looking closely at the
scowling prisoner. As he looked at him he
wondered where he had seen him before.
“That's all,” “Mike” growled.
Then the Captain remembered! The murder
bulletin from Miami! He sent an officer to
bring it in and studied it as Smith watched.
The same name. The picture checked. And
both Florida murders had been committed
with a little .22 gun!
“When were you in Florida last?” Tros-
clair asked.
Smith lost his annoyed frown. For a mo-
ment it looked as if he was going to Junge
at the police captain, then he settled back.
“I’ve never been there,” he said.
Trosclair showed him the police picture
he- held in his hand.
“Must be another Smith,” the suspect said.
But New Orleans police immediately got in
touch with the Miami homicide department.
Fingerprints were rushed: from the Florida
resort town and compared with those of the
French Quarter bandit who had been caught
when he chose the wrong door.
They were the same!
Still denying he ever had been in Florida,
in spite of the overwhelming evidence against
him, Charles “Mike” Smith agreed to waive
extradition. He talked freely with Captain
Trosclair.
He’d had tough breaks all his life, he said.
At 29, he’d already spent nine and a half years
in prison. His father had died when he was
seven,
“J got married when I was 18,” he said. “I
got a child I haven’t seen for a couple of years.
She lives with my ex-wife.”
On December 3, Miami detectives arrived.
They were scheduled to go before Judge
Edward A. Haggerty the following morning
to present their credentials, so that they
might take Smith back.
“We have an airtight case,” one told New
Orleans reporters. “The name, description,
fingerprints and the gun. It’s more than
ridiculous that Smith continues to deny he’s
our man.” 3
A reporter asked him if he knew of any
other case where a criminal had been cap-
tured because he attempted to flee through
the wrong door.
“JT don’t know about that,” the officer said.
“But it looks as if when it comes to the last
door he ever goes through, he won’t have any
choice.”
The following morning, handcuffed and still
bitterly sullen, Charles “Mike” Smith, ac-
companied by the two Miami detectives, took
off from the airport for Miami, where he will
go before the grand jury of either Dade or
Monroe County on a first-degree murder
charge in the slaying of Commander Stewart
and cabdriver Edward Setnor. a
I Got No More Tears
continued from page 23
denim jacket. Under my cap I wore a lady’s
silk stocking on my hair. I wear it just
about all the time over my hair to keep
dandruff from falling in my eyes. I’ve had
dandruff bad as long as I can remember. My
hair is black and thick, I guess from Indian
ancestors. My eyes are dark brown, and I’m
thin-faced. I’m thin all over, weighing about
140 to my five feet, ten. I had on high laced,
hunting boots.
I was still backing away from those
people I’d shot when I heard somebody com-
ing. I reached up and pulled the stocking on
my head down over my eyes and nose, for a
mask. Then I started running, not in any
special direction, just to get away.
For a while I was so scared I don’t re-
member too well, and I’ll have to tell you
what that girl said she saw and did, that’s all
I’ve got to go on.
Her, name is Gail Gillaspy, and she’s just
17, but she’s smart and brave. She’s every-
thing I’m not. She comes from a well-to-do
family, goes to school, and her hobby is
horses. They say she rides better than a
cowboy. She’s freckle-faced, blonde, about
five feet, two, and stocky. She and three
girlfriends had borrowed horses, and were
riding near the dam when they heard the
shots I fired.
She said they rode to the top of the levee
and saw me at the edge of the woods hold-
ing a gun. She thought I was hunting, and
decided to ride over and tell me that the
government didn’t permit shooting in that
area. I was still carrying my rifle. She and
her friends thought they saw me point it to-
ward them, and they galloped after me. I
ran when I saw them headed my way on
those horses.
They rode up to the fence and looked for
me. Once in a while they’d catch a glimpse
of me, but when they got there I was gone.
In this way they followed me along the
woods, hollering that I shouldn’t hunt in
there because I’d be fined. Along the trail,
Gail Gillaspy looked down and saw a black
billfold. She decided to investigate.
She got off her horse, and picked up the
wallet. Her quick mind memorized the figures
on the driver’s license inside. It belonged to
Bertram J. Appleton, born 5-2-20. She
thought it might be mine, so she came looking
for me again. *
Finally, she spotted me on the edge of the
range, and she and her friends ran their
horses to catch up with me. When they got
in line with me, but across the fence, I told
them to stay where they were, and not try
to come closer. They told me they’d found
a wallet, and asked if there was any way I
could identify it.
By this time, I was no longer in a state
of panic, but I was still scared, like in a
nightmare. Somehow I managed to mumble,
“Yes, it’s black.”
I knew it must have dropped out of my
pocket, and be the one that belonged to the
dead man in the red shirt.
The girl saw me close enough now, and
she knew I wasn’t the age of the man who
owned that driver’s license. I didn’t even
know the man’s name. But she remembered
the detail of his birth date. When she started
asking me questions, I pointed my rifle at
her and told her to put the billfold on the
fence, and ride away from there before I shot
her horse.
OE of the girls said something about being
a junior deputy sheriff, and how quick
she could go to a phone and call the police.
I told them to ride off in the direction away
from the road, and to keep going. I stood
and watched while they obeyed.
I had the stocking down over my eyes all
the time I talked with the girls. I got the
billfold off the fence, and put it in my
pocket. Then I ran to where the people I’d
shot had left their ’57 Ford.
I didn’t know it, but the blonde girl and
her friends had decided to keep an eye on
me, and had doubled back toward the Ford,
which they thought was mine.
I ran to the Ford and looked for the key.
I found a key on the seat and tried to start
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the car with it, but the key didn’t seem to
fit. I looked in the glove compartment and
found a half pint bottle of whisky there,
which I put in my pocket. Then I got out
of the car and wiped my fingerprints off the
door handle with my shirt tail. I poked around
there a while, and then started up the hill
toward my house.
All tk’s time, the girls had watched me
from behind a hill. Now they rode up on me
again. Suddenly, I had to talk.
I told them there were three dead people
back in the woods, one in a red shirt, and an
older man, and a little boy about ten or
twelve.
“Are you sure they’re dead?” she asked.
“Yes, they’re very dead.”
I didn’t know it, but Gail Gillaspy was
good at finding bodies. She knew these woods
as well as I did, and had found two dead
men a year ago, one a suicide, and one who’d
shot himself accidentally. She turned to go
look for the bodies I’d told her about, and
I thought all of them were going. I didn’t
know that one of the girls followed me at a
distance all the way to my house, while two
others went to call the police. Gail Gillaspy
rode back to the woods alone.
I HATE liquor, and I took the bottle out of
my pocket and broke it. When I got home, I
left my rifle outside the house and went
straight to my bedroom. I hid the pistol in
a closet and the money under an old dirty
shirt. There was no money in the billfolds.
I took them and threw them into the chimney
that had an opening into my bedroom.
I told my mother that there were three
dead people in the woods, but she didn’t be-
lieve me. About that time, though, the cops
came to see me.
In the meantime, Gail Gillaspy had returned
to the section of the woods where she first
saw me. From there, she rode her horse along
the creek bank, within about thirty feet of
the creek. She spotted the man in the red
shirt. He had both hands under him, and he
was face down. This little blonde, with nerves
of steel, got off her horse and tied the reins
to a tree, walked over to the dead man, and
raised him up by his left shoulder so she
could feel his jugular vein to see if he was
dead.
She noticed two bullet holes in his back and
one in his head. When she was sure there
was nothing she could do for him, she went
to find the other two bodies I’d told her
were there. She found one in the creek. It
lay on its side, close to the bank, the head,
arms, and legs under water. She looked
around some more, but failed to find the
third body, so she rode back to see if the
police her friends had gone to summon had
arrived.
They’d already picked me up, and she got
in the police car with me. I told them
I'd seen the bodies. I didn’t say anything
about being the one who shot those people.
She looked at me funny, out of the corner
of her eyes.
“I thought you were kidding. I didn’t
really believe any bodies were there until I
found them.”
I was scared, and it was hard to talk. “I
told you there was.”
We rode up to the top of the dam and the
police broke down the gate and went in.
Gail went and got her horse and rode down
ahead of the police. As she walked along,
‘in front, leading her horse, she found the
third body. :
It was in the creek, about 40 feet from the
other one. It was face down. A log had floated '
over the head, and she could see only from
the coat collar to the hips.
She helped the officers pull the bodies from
the creek. Once, when a deputy slipped on
the muddy bank, she grabbed him and kept
him from falling. She certainly had guts. If
I'd had some of her courage, I’d never have
panicked and shot those people. But, then,
if I’d had her brains I’d never have tried a
holdup in the first place.
The officers asked me what kind of gun
I'd used on those people, and I told them I
didn’t do it. Then the blonde girl told them
Conn
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i ee
PAV
about the wallet, and I said I’d lost it again
in a field on the way home. Deputy Joe
Thorp took me to the field to look for it.
Of course, we didn’t find it.
On the way back to the car I made up my
mind to tell the truth. Then I took the
officers to my home and pointed out to Sheriff
C. V. (Buster) Kern where the money and
pistol were, and showed him where I hid
the wallets.
I didn’t even know how much money was
in the roll of bills. The officers counted it out,
only $48.
The father and son I killed were Bertram J.
Appleton, 38, an Air Force veteran, who was
sales manager for a swimming pool company,
and his 11-year-old son, Steven. The boy
was a member of the International Rifle As-
sociation, and his father had taught him
about guns. That night, after they told Mrs.
Appleton what happened, a doctor had to
give her sedatives to quiet her, the shock was
so great. There was one other child, a girl,
13.
The other man was Lee Hanson, 40, who’d
worked for a petroleum chemical company.
He’d recently been divorced, but had just
returned from a visit in Austin with his
ex-wife and 13-year-old twin son and
daughter.
Wry are they dead? Because of me. The
whole thing was senseless. The police psy-
chiatrist has agreed with me that I’m not
crazy. But my court-appointed lawyers want
other doctors to examine me. I’ll tell them
the truth, as far as I know it, and they can
decide for themselves.
I’ve been charged on three counts of mur-
der, and I'll go before the grand jury in a
day or two and be indicted.
I wanted to be a doctor once. But that
was a long time ago. The only job I ever had
was in a grocery store, six months ago, but
they changed managers, and the new one got
a boy who was a friend of his, letting me
out. I’ve looked all over Houston since then,
But I couldn’t find work.
What I wanted money for was to take the
girl I like to a movie Saturday night in the
car I was going to steal from those people I
shot. Then I was going to use the rest of
the money to have Mom’s teeth fixed. They
hurt her so much she cries all the time. Dad
works as a welder, but I didn’t think he’d
spend the money for her teeth.
Mom’s going to worry about me. She
really will care. I don’t know what Dad will
think. I don’t know what he’ll do. They both
say they don’t believe I really did it. Dad
thinks I just went crazy when I found three
bodies in the woods. But I didn’t. I killed
those people.
I didn’t hate them. I never wanted to kill
them. If someone did that to a relative of
mine, I’d kill them. Turn about’s fair play.
Now I’m not scared. I'll either get life or
death. It doesn’t scare me. Everybody’s got
to die sometime. Whether I get the chair or
life makes no difference. I’d just as soon die in
the chair as rot in a cell all my life.
I guess my girl’s folks wouldn’t let her
come to see me if she wanted to. I don’t blame
them, either.
They say I’m a cold killer who shows no
remorse. They don’t understand that I don’t
cry any more. Now, I just think about things
and wish they were different. I wish there was
a good reason for me not having a birth
certificate. I wish I’d never been born. @
Ready for Another
Line-Up, Mary?
continued from page !9?
hands, moaning, “Oh, Peter, Peter, why did
they do it?” she suddenly fainted again.
“Can’t you see she’s in no shape to be
questioned?” her sister-in-law demanded.
“We have to get the killer’s description, at
least,” Drantz insisted. “Otherwise we’re look-
ing for a needle in a haystack.”
A few minutes later, when Mrs. Saisi opened
her eyes, Drantz said gently, “Every officer
in the city will be looking for the murderer,
but they have to know who to look for—his
description.”
“He was 25 or 30 years old; a Negro. A
big, powerful man, at least six feet four, and
weighing about 200 pounds. He had bushy
black hair. He was wearing a dark jacket.”
Drantz went to a telephone and flashed
the description to police headquarters to be
put on the air and the teletype network.
As he finished dictating the description, the
officer at the other end of the wire told him
to hold on—-“A call just came in,” he an-
nounced. “Two men, believed to be the killers,
have been sighted a block north of the Saisi
house. The cars at the scene are radioing for
help.”
Drantz and the other officers at the Saisi
home raced on foot to the 400 block on North °
Street, near Louis Avenue, where three squads
of officers were scrambling over the rooftops
hunting the suspects. Sirens screaming, 50
additional officers arrived in prowl cars to
seal off the area. They were followed by fire
trucks, whose crews set up floodlights and
raised ladders to facilitate the hunt.
“What’s all this about,” Drantz asked one
of the patrol officers.
“A few minutes ago, a 14-year-old high
school girl woke up when two men, one with
a revolver and the other with a knife, started
climbing through her second-floor bedroom
window from the roof of the building next
door. She screamed and they took off across
the roofs, ducking behind some chimneys.
The guy with the rod answers the description
of the Peter Saisi killer.”
The manhunt, directed by Captain Russell
Corcoran, ranged for over an hour through
attics, basements, sheds, garages, yards, alleys
and vacant lots. But no further trace of the
suspects was found.
Returning to the Saisi home to continue
the interrupted investigation, Detective Drantz
told the women about the hunt, and com-
mented that the actions of the two fugitives
seemed completely nuts— “. . . stopping a
block away from a murder, to break into a
house!”
“I may have an explanation for that,”
Mrs. Saisi offered. “The murderer was on
dope.”
“How do you know that?”
“Years ago, before I was married, I worked
in a candy store in a very tough neighbor-
hood,” she answered. “A lot of dope addicts
used to hang out there. I learned to recognize -
those staring, glassy, bloodshot eyes. And
that’s the kind of eyes my husband’s mur-
derer had.”
“Wonder how they got in,” Detective Di
Leonardi said after the officers had examined
the den. The windows were screened and
barred; the front and rear doors were locked
and there were no marks or other signs of
forcible entry anywhere!
“Oh,” Mrs. Saisi moaned, “maybe Peter
let them in himself!’ and she pointed to two
tricycles belonging to her sons, and her
daughter’s baby buggy standing just inside
the rear door of the basement.
“They were out in the yard when Peter
came home,” she explained. “He must’ve
opened the door to take them in. Maybe that’s
when his murderers got in!”
“No,” Detective Drantz disagreed, “Your
husband was wearing only his shoes, socks and
underwear when he was killed. A man so
careful of his health that he puts on heavy
underwear in October wouldn’t go outside, in
the cold, without more clothes on. And he
certainly didn’t get undressed after a couple
of punks crashed in!”
Another possible explanation arrived with
Mrs. Saisi’s brother, a drummer who stored
his drums in the Saisi basement.
“I live down the street, but I have no room
for the drums in my flat,” he explained. “When
I came to pick them up—lI guess it was a little
after nine tonight—I let myself in the front
door with a key Peter gave me... and I left
the door open while I was loading my car,
before I went back for the rest of the traps.
The killers could have slipped inside while
my back was turned; they would’ve had
plenty of opportunity.”
“How did you learn of the shooting?” De-
tective Drantz asked.
“My brother’s wife lives on the second
floor here, and she phoned my wife,” he an-
swered, “and my wife called me at the club.”
“Was Peter Saisi home when you were
here?”
“J don’t know. I was in a hurry and didn’t
go upstairs.”
“Peter got home at 9:30,” Mrs. Saisi spoke
up. “The TV programs were just changing.”
“T was here long before that,” her brother
said. “I was at work at 9:30, right on time.”
“If the killers did slip in between the two
trips you made to your car, they must have
remained hidden while Saisi brought the
kids’ bikes and buggy in from the yard, and
while he took off his hat, overcoat, suit, shirt
and upper part of his underwear,” a precinct
detective reconstructed. “After they shot him,
they probably ran out the back door. It has
a snap lock, which can be opened from the
inside without a key and which locks when
the door is slammed shut.”
HERE’S one thing that puzzles me,” De-
tective Drantz frowned. “With all the hous-
es in Chicago to choose from, houses where
they really would have cleaned up, why did
two holdup men sneak into this particular base-
ment? Just what attracted them?”
“A lot of insurance agents have been held
up lately,” Di Leonardi pointed out.
“On the street, yes,” Drantz agreed, “but
not in their homes.”
“Perhaps they had been casing Saisi, fol-
lowing him on his rounds,” Di Leonardi sug-
gested, “and found out he kept his cash
collections down here.”
“Tf they did, somebody may have noticed
them trailing him,” Drantz said, excited at
the possibility of a new lead to follow. “Let’s
check his movements.”
Then, later, when the assistant superintend-
ent of the branch office of the life insurance
company which employed Saisi inspected the
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Sheriff's Captain J. D. Walters showing us the stock-
ing mask accused wore when we first encountered him.
Left to right are myself, Pat Smith and Elaine Weiman.
loped off to the nearest house to phone the police in Houston,
four miles to the south.
After watching the man, who already had threatened to
shoot us, try vainly to start a couple of cars parked near the
foot of the dam, I saw him head up the slope of the earthen
levee toward me. That was when I went into high speed,
taking a little more than just blue denim from the seat of
jeans, as I slid down to join Susan.
Again the man waved to us to join him. He still had that
.22 rifle, so we walked our horses along the lane angling up
the front of the dam—but slowly in an effort to stall for time
for the police to come to our rescue. As we approached, he
removed the silk stocking mask that had contorted his fea-
tures and made them yellowish-brown in color so that he
had looked like some creature from outer space.
Now we could see that he was a good looking boy with
dark curly hair and brown eyes. He looked no older than us,
and I am 17. Susan, though married, is only 20. When we
came within a few yards of him, Susan and I halted our
mounts and waited for him to speak, and when he did I
nearly fell off my borrowed horse, Dixie.
“Did you know there are three dead people back there in
the woods?” he asked matter-of-factly. ; .
“Are you sure they’re dead?” I asked, stunned and half
wary.
“Yes, they’re very dead,” he answered. “There’s a man in
a red shirt and a boy about 10 or 12 and another man.”
Neither Susan nor I could speak.
“They’ve been killed with a .22 pistol,” he went on, “but
as you can see, I don’t have a pistol.”
The silence which followed was awkward to say the least
and he shifted from one foot to the other uneasily as he kept
his eyes riveted on us.
“I live in the second house, down there to the right,” he
said as he pointed down the road to the dam. “I’m going
home.”
As he walked away like one in a daze, I looked off toward
the woods two miles away and said, “We'd better check.
There may be something'to what he says, with all those shots
This is Suzan Armstrong, who was
with me when the accused told us
of finding three bodies. When I went
to see them, she set off for police.
wounded and if they are dead, someone has to be told.”
Susan didn’t reply, so I added urgently, “Let’s go. Those
shots came from back in the woods, not far from where I
found that billfold.”
Then suddenly I realized I was all alone. Either Susan
hadn’t heard me, or she thought it more important to keep
an eye on the guy who didn’t seem to appreciate our all-girl
posse. Anyway she had headed off in the opposite direction.
For a long moment I stood all alone, arguing with myself.
It could be a trap. I was blonde and 17, a little muscular per-
haps, but the boys didn’t seem to mind. They just told me my
eyes were very blue and my cheeks flushed when I raced
my horse with the wind down the 11-mile asphalt road atop
the dam.
But I knew that we had heard several shots, and they had
come from those woods. On the other hand, was the boy
telling the truth? Was he actually going home or would he
shoot me in the back if I rode off? He was bound to be the
killer. How else would he know three people had been shot
with a .22 pistol?
I know about guns and usually carry a rifle in a holster
on my saddle for snakes and for comfort when running hunt-
ers off the 490 acres of government land our friend Mrs.
Francis had leased for grazing along a long stretch of the
dam. The government was very strict about not allowing
any hunters on the property.
How could the boy be sure these persons, the man in
the red shirt, the other man and the hoy, had been shot with
a .22 pistol? I couldn’t look at an animal and tell what kind
of a gun it had been shot with. Besides, why hadn’t he
offered to show us where the bodies were or asked us to
go for help?
With the fear of a possible shot in the back in my mind, I
put my heels (I wasn’t wearing spurs) to Dixie and in-
advertently hit her in a tender spot. She jumped sky-high
and tried to throw me before careening down the hard road
at top speed. We were flying so fast that I was barely able
to guide her through a gap in the paralleling fence and get
down on the side of the dam where I would no longer be a
we heard. We might save someone’s life, if they’re just ® skyline target for the man with a rifle. Even so, I got the
Deputies Danny
the young and
murder. They
horse unde
over a cliff
From the:
the slope h
road abov:
and the sha
daylight wi
the preca:
I had hac
ville, Ill., ts
wasn’t eno
blow. She
the way. }
As soon :
back to the
And we su:
the next n
Meanwh
events sir
for an aft:
on the sout}
the gate ar
of shots. W
“FT hat’s
the others
“Let’s go
spurred her
Before ar
out.
It took u
and look al
parallel to °
tween two ;
we Saw at
“Hey!” F
governmen
The man
his gun at »
ered his we
trees where
mstrong, who was
he accused told us
dies. When I went
set off for police.
~ Deputies Danny Brock, left, and Joe Thorpe, questioning
the young and strange boy who is accused of the triple
murder, They have his hands shackled behind the tree.
Sheriff C. V. Kern points his flashlight at
base of flue in the suspect’s house where
the wallets of two victims were discovered.
has to be told.”
“Let’s go. Those
far from where I
Either Susan
important to keep
reciate gur all-girl
opposite direction.
guing with myself.
ttle muscular per-
1ey just told me my
ished when I raced
asphalt road atop
hots, and they had
iand, was the boy
home or would he
1s bound to be the
2ple had been shot
a rifle in a holster
vyhen running hunt-
nd our friend Mrs.
long stretch of the
bout not allowing
rsons, the man in
1ad been shot with
and tell what kind
s, why hadn’t he
e or asked us to
oack in my mind, I
to Dixie and in-
jumped sky-high
own the hard road
I was barely able
.eling fence and get
suld no longer be a
Even so, I got the
horse under control just in time to prevent us fromm hurtling
over a cliff-like drop at that point. \
From there on I had no choice but to ride at “tilt” along
the slope half way between the cliff below and the asphalt
road above. By now the sun had dropped behind the dam
and the shadows were lengthening. I wondered how much
daylight was left and whether my horse would stumble on
the precarious footing. She was a good horse, but not mine.
I had had to leave my horse, Rocket Lady Lee, in Collins-
ville, Ill., two years before when we moved to Texas. There
wasn’t enough money to bring her. That was my first great
blow. She was given to me as a colt, and I had trained her all
the way. Perhaps some day I will be able to ride her again.
As soon as I knew I was out of rifle range, I guided Dixie
back to the top of the dam where we could make better time.
And we sure did, we just flew along the rim of the dam for
the next mile and a half.
Meanwhile, I tried to make some sense of the jumbled
events since the four of us had arrived at the Francis ranch
for an afternoon of riding. We had just cleared the woods,
on the south side of the dam toward the Francis home, closed
the gate and started up the dam when we heard a succession
of shots. We all looked at each other.
“That's too close to be at the rifle range,” I poirited out to
the others,
“Let’s go take a look,” 15-year-old Pat Smith called as she’
spurred her horse toward the top of the dam.
Before any of us could reach the top another volley rang
out.
It took us less than a minute to reach the top of the dam
and look along the 100-yard right of way to the fence running
parallel to the dam on the north side. About half way be-
tween two patches of woods and walking along the fence line,
we saw a tall fellow carrying a gun.
“Hey!” Pat yelled. “Get out of here! Don’t you know this is
government land? You can’t hunt here.” ,
The man stopped and looked at us a moment and levelled
his gun at us for what seemed five minutes. Finally, he low-
ered his weapon and high-tailed it to the smaller patch of
trees where he disappeared.
“Good thing he didn’t go into the woods on the right,” I
told the girls. “They just go on forever. We’ll twist him out
of this clump of woods like a possum out of a hollow log.
There’s no place for him to go. Let’s smoke him out of there.”
We had a shallow pond to cross and with every step a
horse could break a leg in a bog hole, so we picked our way
carefully. Why he didn’t shoot us when we were like sitting
ducks out there in the open, I’ll probably never know.
But instead he came out of the far side of the woods and
cut a half moon back toward the fence that extended on down
close to where we were. We could see him clearly, all except
his face which looked as if it were made of putty.
That had me worried, so I said, “Maybe we had better
watch him and see that he really leaves. With all that shoot-
ing, maybe he shot a cow ora calf and was trying to steal it.”
As we walked our mounts along the fence-line, warily
keeping our eyes on the strange-faced man, my horse sud-
denly side-stepped and I looked quickly at the ground to
discover the reason. Lying where Dixie had nearly stepped
on it was a man’s wallet. I dismounted, picked it up and
began riffing through the contents.
There was no money in the billfold, and to keep from an-
swering three sets of questions at the same time, I dealt out
the identification cards to the three girls, keeping the driver’s
license in my own hand. The name on the license was Ber-
tram J. Appleton; his birthday was May 2, 1920, and he ap-
parently was from Miami, Fla.
The strangely acting man with the gun had climbed the
fence at that point, so we decided the wallet must be his.
“He doesn’t deserve it, not after pointing that gun at us,”
Pat retorted, “but let’s chase him down and return it, any-
way.”
“Chase him down is right, he’s really making tracks now,”
Susan observed. “He’s over half a mile down the fence line.”
So off we went at a gallop. As soon as we were within
hearing range we began calling to him, “Mr. Appleton.
Oh, Mr. Appleton, we’ve found your billfold. Did you hear
us, Mr. Appleton, we’ve found your billfold.”
The man only quickened his pace, but we galloped on
full tilt. [Continued on page 81]
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been in to find out, too snakey. I was glad
it was cold, maybe they wouldn’t be out.
But just as I approached the spot where
the fence crossed the creek beside a log,
I counted four water moccasins as they
slithered into the water. Although I had
walked that log’ many times before, hold-
ing to the barbed wire fence, it looked
very foreboding now. Crossing the creek
was somewhat like cutting off my own
retreat. Eveh my horse would be on the
other side.
“Was that something red I saw a few
feet away, through the briars on my side
of the creek?” I said to myself.
Looking closely as I pushed through the
briars, I could see the body of a man face
down on the bank of the creek. He had
on a heavy, red woolen shirt, but there
was a darker, deeper red from a hole near
his left shoulder blade, and there was an-
other hole, lower on his back. One bullet
had creased his scalp. His arms were
folded underneath his body.
Was he dead? I had to draw on all my
courage to touch him so as to feel for his
ulse at the neck and near the chin. I lifted
his head ever so gently, steadying it
against my knee, as I felt for his pulse.
I raised him a little more, trying to
make sure. Then it was that I saw the
large circle of blood under his chest. The
bullet which I thought had entered under
_ his left shoulder blade must have gone
right through his heart. He must have
been shot from the front, right through
the chest, and pitched forward. Now I
knew he was dead.
Colder than ever, I rose to my feet. I
felt numb. There must -be other bodies,
two more. It was like a terrible night-
mare that couldn’t be true.
I flailed my way through the under-
brush and down the bank of the creek. I
squirmed around a big, old, vine-covered
cypress whose roots were in the water and
all but stepped on a man’s hand. His head,
feet and left arm were beneath the sur-
face of the murky water. He was floating
on his left side, the right arm extended
toward the bank.
I could tell nothing of his age nor who
he was, but of one thing I was certain.
He was dead. The water in which he
floated was darker yet, with blood, and he
would have drowned, if he had not been
killed by bullets.
It was almost dark by now, and there
was one body still to be found. I cast
about frantically a few minutes longer,
in search of the body of a 10 or 12-year-
old boy, but I couldn’t find him.
Then another thought edged some of
the horror out of my mind. Had the girls
gotten the police? They didn’t know for
sure the man we saw was a killer, but I
knew and he mustn’t get away.
I stumbled out of the swamp, back to
where I had tied Dixie to the fence. Then
I rode full speed back along the dam
toward the Addicks-Fairbanks road two
miles away. Was the killer still there? Did
he live in the house where he said he did? :
Had the girls gotten the police?
As I drew near the house the boy had
pointed out to us, I saw the headlights of
a car and a most welcome sight they were.
The police were there talking to Pat
Smith who was pointing out the boy’s
home as I rode up.
“Wait! Wait!” I called breathlessly. “I’ve
found the bodies. Is he there, Pat? Where
is he?”
The police lost no time. The boy whom
we had chased, 18-year-old Nearval
Moon, walked meekly from his home in
the custody of Deputies T. J. (Tommy)
Cleboski and H. C. Gregory. The boy in-
sisted he had done nothing more than
PERCE RW PMO TG CREB
find the bodies in the woods while hunt-
ing.
“Get into the car,” the deputies said to
Moon and to me. “We'll need you to show
us the bodies. They stood and held the
door open. I saw nothing I could do except
crawl in beside the boy, who was not
handcuffed, and I did not know whether
he had been searched for a weapon.
“You see,” he said to me in a queer sort
of tone as the deputies headed for the
dam. “I told you there were three bodies
in the woods.”
Then two more police cars arrived, but
the autos could not pass through the
locked gate barring the road on top of
the gate. While Deputies Danny Brock
and Joe Thorpe were knocking off the
lock with hatchets, I slipped out of the
car, mounted Dixie and was two-thirds
of the way to the scene of the crime before
the officers got through the gate.
,, When I reached the woods where the
bodies lay, I plunged right in. This time
I was not afraid. I knew the police were
behind me, but I wanted to find the other
body.
I skirted the two bodies I had found to
hunt further up the stream and in a few
moments of clawing through the tangle
of vines, I came upon the body of the boy
floating in the water. I couldn’t see his
head, for it was under a log. I am glad it
was too dark to see the eight bullet holes
in his body. Deputy Cleboski soon caught
up with me.
We had to wait for the ambulances
and while police checked the victims, who
were identified as Appleton, his son
Stephen, 11, and a friend, Lee Hanson of
Pasadena. Nearval Moon was there, with
two police holding him by the arms. Then
they handcuffed his arms behind him and
around a pine tree. Hanson’s corpse was
the first one I found and Appleton, was a
regional sales manager for the Interna-
tional Swimming Pool Corp., with his
home in Houston.
Much had happened I knew nothing
about. ‘As we waited for the ambulances,
Deputy Gregory, who seemed assigned to
watch me, was kind enough to brief me in.
Pat and Elaine had gone to a house,
next door to Moon’s home, to call the
cops. They were having difficulty making
the police believe their wild tale about a
man in a stocking mask, until Suzan came
flying up with the news that he had just
told us that he had found the bodies in
the woods and that I had gone to look
for them.
As the bodies were loaded on the
stretchers my. heart ached for the Apple-
ton and Hanson families. How could any-
one tell Mrs. Appleton that both her
husband and her son were dead.
I looked at the killer. I wanted to hate
him. I don’t know. Maybe he did kill
those three and rob them, as he told
police, because his mother cried night
after night with the toothache and there
was no money for a dentist. Moon had
told Sheriff C. V. (Buster) Kern that he
had come upon the trio target shooting
with a .22 and had asked to try his aim,
too, Once the gun was handed to him, he
had pumped bullets into all three and
stolen the wallets of the two men.
While we were at the scene of the triple
slaying, other officers had found Apple-
ton’s and Hanson’s wallets at the base of
a flue in Moon’s home. They had had to
- knock a hole in the flue in order to re-
trieve them from where they had landed
when Moon had shoved them through a
hole at the top of the flue. In a closet in
Moon’s room, Sheriff’s Capt. J. D. Walters
found the stolen gun, money and personal
effects taken from the victims.
Black Angel 0’
[Contin
pretty nurse in the
Judge Atwill Wests
on June 20.
According to
police, Duncan and
only a short time-
month—when Dun
out and went back
Olga took an apart
One woman, who
to identify, reporte
one occasion, Eliza
Olga’s apartment ar
her home flew into
“She told me th
if it was the last t!
woman was quoted
beth Duncan shri:
the nurse were liv
The woman told |
strated and said th:
beth Duncan said
check with Vent
been annulled.’ ”
Captain Wade h
annulment befor:
about them. The at
ceived a phone «
Ventura, Hal H:
before.
He said Ham:
been talking to a
and mentioned tt
nulment for Dunc
The second attor:
and said he thoug!
pecting a baby.
It was tHen that
can and asked hin
in annulment p:
Duncan said he
nulment and thou
Wade then che
Ventura County's
Gustafson, who as
gator, Clarence H
It didn’t take lor
annulment had
Frank Duncan on
Hammons explain:
had appeared in |
herself as Mrs. Ol«
pear to be pregna:
for the annulmer
had not been cons
It was also po!
the fraudulent M
her age as 30 s}
Santa Barbara px
Mrs. Elizabeth |
the Ventura
granted the ann)
mons. Both were
who had obtaine
name of her daus
On Decemt
dropped around t
beth Duncan. He
with a local law
and was living i:
Mrs. Duncan de:
do with the annv
knew nothing of
mysterious disap;
But as the dete
apartment house
Short, 84, who ider
and neighbor of }
In a chatty s
tioned her and g
told them that s}
Duncan and a:
“Ralph” to Vent
they applied for «
‘ing what
ittle. But
d the .22
cide later
d. “Now
down a
ly about
anything
hat until
ingham.
It was
ore than
been
turn off
et no-
This is
ittered.
hardly
I lived a lifetime while Edwards made
up his mind. He’d let us go, he said, if we
would promise not to notify the police
about his whereabouts until we got back
to Shelbyville.
“I swear we won’t tell, if you'll just let
us go,” I pleaded.
His eyes burned into mine. “I believe
you,” he said, and he got out of the car.
Edwards counted out $6 and handed it
to Dwight. “This ought to fix the heap and
get you home,” he said.
The last time we saw Spence Edwards
he was climbing into a car he’d flagged
down on the highway.
For us, this was the moment of decision.
Should we keep our promise to this killer
and kidnaper and return to Shelbyville
before sounding an alarm? Or should we
call the police right now? Right or wrong,
we decided to keep silent.
We got Dwight’s car fixed, expecting
any minute to look over our shoulders and
find Edwards behind us. The same uneasi-
ness rode with us to Shelbyville. We were
still scared, nagged by a growing sus-
picion that he might kidnap the man with
whom he’d caught a ride and return to
see if we had kept our promise.
Dwight didn’t stop until we pulled into
the service station where he worked. The
police, we were told, had found the stolen
patrol car and our families had reported
us missing. They hadn't released it to the
news media, however, for fear Edwards
would dispose of us and the car.
We were hustled off to police headquar-
ters and for the next hour or so we were
questioned closely by officers and FBI
agents. I expected them to be critical of
our decision to trade Edwards four hours
for our lives, but they understood how
frightened we’d been.
“You kids used your heads,” an officer
told us. “That was the smart thing to do.”
When the police were finished with us,
we all sat down to a real Thanksgiving
dinner, complete with turkey and all the
trimmings. Believe me, we had plenty to
be thankful for. We were alive!
For the next few days, we read every-
thing printed in the newspapers about
Edwards. The police lost his trail in Birm-
ingham and apparently the motorist who’d
given him a ride there on the highway
never realized who his passenger was. No
one reported a kidnaping or robbery. The
FBI sent out 100,000 wanted notices on
our abductor in an effort to track him
down.
On December 2, near Carrizo Springs,
Tex., about 25 miles from the Mexican
border, Trooper Allan Kempf stopped the
badly wanked fugitive for a routine check.
Edwards, the newspapers said, shot it out
with Kempf and escaped into the wild
desert country. In the end, it was nature
that did what more than 100 possemen
could not do, Sheriff Tom Brady told re-
porters.
The prickly pears in the thick under-
brush tore into Edwards’ flesh at every
turn and the howling of coyotes sent him
dashing into the open where he tossed
away his guns and surrendered meekly.
On December 8, Dwight, Enos and I
went before the Bedford County, Tenn.,
grand jury and retold our story. Edwards
was indicted for kidnaping. But it may be
some time before he is returned to Ten-
nessee to face trial on this charge.
Texas authorities are holding him for
the attempted slaying of Trooper Kempf
and auto theft. Kempf and Edwards both
escaped being hit by the flying slugs.
Georgia naturally wants Edwards back for
kidnaping and escape. Whenever these
legal entanglements are worked out, he’ll
have still another charge waiting—the
kidnaping of Trooper Moore.
| Found 3 Corpses
[Continued from page 33]
“Don’t you want your billfold?” 23-
year-old Mrs. Weiman asked as we reined
our horses, not 20 feet from him.
He wheeled around, and no wonder our
mounts reared and snorted. He really was
something left over from Hallowe’en.
He had a silk stocking mask pulled
down over his face, smashing the nose and
contorting features. An old army cap
pulled low all but hid the eyes, yet they
glittered through at us.
He had the slight build of a boy. His legs
were long and his faded jeans tight, like
those worn by high school boys. As my
wondering eyes traveled over him, I saw
that his waist looked too full for his thin
chest. Small wonder, he was wearing three
shirts, a white T shirt, clearly visible at
the neck, a sort of rattlesnake plaid gray»
and red flannel with the collar turned out
over the blue denim shirt-jacket he wore
on the outside.
“We've come to return your billfold,”
Susan said, getting hold of herself. “That
is if you can identify it.”
“It’s mine,” he said simply, but his voice
sounded high pitched for a man.
“Can you identify it?” Susan demanded,
holding some of the cards I had given her
in plain view.
“What's your first name, Mr. Appleton?”
Elaine Weiman asked with authority. “I’m
a deputy sheriff and I know a short-cut
and could call the cops mighty fast.”
The fellow in the mask pointed his gun
at Susan’s mount, a beautiful palamino
which means as much to her as Rocket
Lady Lee had to me before I had to give
her up.
“It’s black,” he said, “and it hasn’t got
any money in it.”
“You'll have to do better than that,”
Susan added.
“What’s your age?” I put in, thinking he
looked much younger than the age 38
listed on Appleton’s driving license.
In reply, the masked man swung the
barrel of his gun in a semi-circle that took
in all four of us. “I’ll count to ten,” he bit
out. “If that wallet isn’t on the fence by
then, I'll shoot your mounts right out from
under you. One—two—three—Hang it on
the fence, I say!” ,
“‘T’ve already put it on the fence,” I
shrieked, pointing to where I had hung it
over the top strand of barbed wire.
And that was the last we saw of the
strange‘armed apparition until back there
at the dam. And now Dixie and I had :
reached the very spot near the woods
where I had found the wallet and I was all
alone. As I faced the fast-darkening trees
where a stinking swamp creek writhes in
and out, even the air seemed to have a
strange smell. But I knew that the mois-
ture-laden swamp air has a way of trap-
ping its own stench close to the ground.
Fearfully, but realizing that one or more
persons might be lying wounded among
those trees, I picked my way a few feet
through the briars to the edge of the stag-
nant stream.
I didn’t relish the idea of crossing the
creek in the gathering darkness. I could
cross it, all right enough, without getting
into the water, which was probably about
four-and-a-half feet deep. I had never
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Write Today for Our > me pia T
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§ EXCELSIOR :
t MEDICAL CLINIC i
g Dept. B2850 1
§ EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, MO. 1
§ Gentlemen. Kindly send at once your New :
H FREE BOOK. | am years old 4
i t
i NAME__ i
: H
i ADDRESS. I
| TOWN I
i a
a STATE. 1
ad 81
oe
eee . 7
MOEGAN, Callon, white,m elec, TxSP IIEl BRSO)-August 19, 1938
. Wee =RICHARD WARREN
MAD MOMENTS—— —
jealousy drove him to imagine her in another's
; sent his tortured brain whirling for-
‘forward toward a wild vortex of murder.
4
THE HU
Callon K
to ident
his wife
T loo}
that
dezv
TI
done
apal
young
bent—t
mercifu
blood-«
on the
single
cushio!
Ther:
out on
scatter
in the
Whe i
man’s
fingers
around
The «
And
woma!
Roy
El Pasi
ile q the gar
i Z ‘ t . 4 at the
man’s
ge had int
yr the flo
“She
noted
1t was
“How
_/ —
4 ike carl aro
v
LY Ope 1rt—-o- _ °
through: the
district, you' come in on’ the north
side where there ain't going to. be
nd town.’ - ? tonnes
; Unthinkable, .
presents considerable inconvenience,
in. view of the. extremely
hazardous. financial times, which
every carrier.in the country is ex-
periencing. it is unthinkable and
utterly impossible to think of doing
any such thing as eliminating the
arade crossings. We are willing to
co-operate with you in every. way
poasible.” :
Chief FitzGerald... first. witness
called by City Attorney Guinn, said
the crossing . presented “ a» traffic
blocked recently on an emergency
call. f
i “There have been oceasions when
ambulances were blocked.”. he: sald.
“From 75 to 80 per cent of the acci-
dents occur south of the tracks. All
the hospitals, with the exception of
the City-County Hospital, are locat«
ed north of the tracks." =
Kemp. who cross examined the
city’s witnesses, . developed = that
automobile, - accidents FitzGerald
listed at the crossings. were.rear
end collisions and: might -have: oc-
curred on. any. downtown street;
"You know: the: railroads’ put. tn
the traffic. signals ata: cost: of over
$26,000 at the request of the City
Council, to do away: with the gates
~ ~ speed: up.trains,”.. Kemp - said.
jmatter of fact it did not work
“No, sir,” PlizGerald said
ah Knews About Law... =:
The chief said he knew there’ was
“
i
erossings<being blocked. That. was
hazard) He said he had not been |’
here in. 1820. F
Rak
nh
with fire
40. years. and.
1922: He had
instance. where a
had occurred = as 2
} under. the--cross exam-
mediately: started talking about the
jail food: pF,:looking ‘out of his. cell
window,: remarked about the. scen-
«= Letter Brought Inu
Thevstaté during. Morgan's : trial.
contended Morgan and hia wife had
had. considerable ‘trouble and ‘that
Morgan: had: found a letter intimat-
Stockwell said he started ‘work: on
the grade crossiig plan. in. 1919:
when he was at: the: Chamber: of
Commerce, It waa the. consensus of
engineers who had studied the: sit-
uation. that. the crossings should ‘be:
eliminated, he said. Wh as +t,
Referring to the plan’ submitted’
by: railroad engineers, Guinn asked:
“Is this the reasonable way. 10 dis-
pose uf the problem at a reusunable
cost?” Stockwell said: it was. |
Other railroad ‘officials atthe
hearing who agreed with the views.
expressed by McDonald were A- B.
Mimmsg, ‘vice president: and general
manager, of the T. & N.O; R. W.
Barnes, % ch¥éf- engineer’ of that
division: © F.° A. Feikert.: division
engineer of the Pacific Lines, <:»%*’
Pennsylvania: Village. x:
-* Had- 1820: Dry League
. London: Grove; Pa. > tUPY—This
little Chester County. settlement
claims ‘the’ distinction af: being the
setting for the organization. of .the
first temperante . society. in =the
United: States. *- Pees
“The: Guardian: Society. toi Pres.
venting’ Drunkenness”-was. fviinded
F See SIS
with them. © 03 ° 3
ing .she..wanted. to leave him: The
argument, the state assertéd,- ied to
the slayingig) So
Morgan. was ‘considered “cold: by
those who. cane in’ contact with
him, tia ete Boyes Prot
_ The. day following the slaying he
told’ a Times, reporter: = *
“I have no regrets. I knew Avhat
Iwas doing.” / :
. At only one time during: his trial
did Morgan show ‘signs of interest.
‘As Judge. Ws D. Howe recited: the
ominous words:.“"Through the body
of; the’ said). Callon’ H. Morgan: a
current. of electricity “of ‘sufficient
Intensity to cause death,” Morgan
glanced . ats the. judge - and: then
dropped® hig. ves: to- the’ ‘floor. -In
bis fingers:he-held a cigaretie which
trembled. as, the: judge completed
the death-sentenge 9 joe
i! Geta Held OF Self
© Quickly,” however, jhe recovered
his ‘composure ‘und: a few. minutes’ :
later, when his) attorneys went to.
his ‘cell to ‘disciss" plans for seek-
ing clemency, he: laughed and joked |
“Morgan's: defenseentered by his
attorneys, Was jnsanity, His lawyers
continued their efforts to’ win: com-
mutation of ‘sentence from the board
et _Beadtagly te 410 discuss | Park. N.Y... after: participating;
his wife with “anyone, ne us." = yewowneog Mllotipbaanagon.
<4 Thousand: Islands: and lett“
“|e $17,935,844; since: the: scheme
the train at 3 pom, iG, S$. T) He.
T.00, a tC Ss Ti tomorrow > :
Speech Acclaimed \
By British Officials
President Roosevelt's «Kingston
‘can’ pledge that > will: make®-the
Anglo-French alliance, more formi-
dable in the face of Europe's heavi-
ly-armed totalitarian nationa, .%: «+
Government: officials. declined :to
‘comment before’ thorough’ analy-
; sis. Of the ‘President's: ‘Canadian
apeech.in which he: deplored® the
regimes. but there was -widespread
enthusiasm ~ for ‘his assurance’, that}
tthe. United. States -wilt: aid -in-de-
See
Age Pensions: Commission: has: paid
went into effect: last September...
$696,092 to. aged. Quebec: people,
The.” growing.” establishroents “in.
Japan. nimber 1,124,000 “and cover
en area of 100,000 acres, The: Jap- |:
anese: tea crop in “the last. fear:
of paroles én that ground, but lost.
> London Aug. 18 ru Great]
Britain tonight judliantly acclaimed |
“wanton, britalily” of some foreign +
‘tense of the Dominion, of, Caneda,::.: rr
Quebeck Age‘ Pensions {Its
f° Quebec, UP). The: Quebec Old 1}.
During July. the commission sent i
oul 547,257 checks: amounting *: to | has
to ite nearness to the f
perte’ assert that na. be
the: sir can, damage
ita’ efficiency: -
is’ scheduled to reach Hyde: Park at | gene.
} Speech as a new’ and vital ‘Ameri: tee
Sere)
mites
amounted: to: 119,795,000: pounds, set.
ting a new all-time record, 600 <<
tekick Indicates a case in which the
detective work was of outstanding
and exceptional merit.
teiek Indicates a case in which the ar-
resting officer captured the criminal ,
under circumstances showing particu-
lar gallantry.
tex Indicates a case in which excellent
cooperative work among several of-
ficers or offices solved the crime.
* Indicates a case presenting some
difficulties to the police.
No star is placed before a case in
which the criminal gave himself up
without resistance before being sus-
pected. :
Victim—William Colantonio, Chicago,
Illinois: Method — shooting, revolver.
Held for investigation—Mrs. Alice Col-
antonio, wife. Remarkable features—
Couple had been quarrelling, witnesses
say victim was drunk; often beat his
wife. After shooting she ran four
blocks to police station in her night-
dress covered with blood. Self-defence
plea.
YotckkVictin—Mrs. Eleanor Morgan,
El Paso, Texas. Method—Strangling,
electric light cord. Held for trial—
Collan Morgan, husband. Arrest by—
Night Police Chief Leonard Butchofsy,
who went to apartment on discovery of
body, alleges that. he found seven cards
at Mrs. Morgan’s feet, seven more on
floor opposite, indicating card game for
two; that he discovered witness who
heard suspicious sounds in apartment
shortly after Morgan returned from
work, traced down pair of Morgan’s
trousers, stained with blood correspond-
ing to Mrs. Morgan’s in type. Motive
unknown.
* Victim—Clarence Kreise, Pasadena,
Texas. Method —Stabbing, pocket-
knife. Held for triaK—O. L. McLain.
Remarkable features—Barroom quarrel ;
witnesses say McLain was kidding
Waitresses in café, one of them Kreise’s
wife; men went outside for fight. Mc-
Lain pleads self-defence, saying Kreise
hit him with broken beer bottle.
* Victim—Helen Schuler, Tell City,
Indiana.
Meth d—Shogtigg: wt qv
Victim—Eugene Harper, Little Rock,
Arkansas. Method—Shooting, shotgun.
Held for investigation—Beatrice Wash-
ington, divorced wife. Remarkable
features—Witnesses say Harper, drunk,
tried to force his way into Miss Wash-
ington’s house; that she fired through
96
‘door with .12 gauge “shotgun, ° killing
him instantly.
4k Victim—Cross Lamb, Hope, Ark-_
ansas. Method—Head cut off, axe.
Motive—Robbery. Remarkable features
—Crime took place 1935. Sheriff Bear-
den identified perpetrator as Marion
Edwards, negro; broadcast description
of him. Arrest by—Officers Maupin
and Ross, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Con-
fession.
* Victim—Haywood Mayo, Charlottes-
ville, Virginia, | Method — Shooting,
shotgun. Held for trial—John T.
Wolfe. Motive—Police allege quarrel
over right of way on farm road. Arrest
by—Deputy Sheriff Abbott Smith. Tip
off.
* Victim—Mrs. Grace Christensen,
Elgin, Illinois. Method—State charges
murder by abortion. Held for trial—
Mrs. Hilda Holmes, bath-house > pro-
prietor. Investigation by—Prosecutor
O’Connor, who secured deathbed state-
ment from victim.
tekkk Victin—Paul Krochmalny, Wil-
mington, North Carolina. Held for
trial—Pete Krochmalny, son; Paul
Krochmalny, grandson; Evin Williams,
son-in-law. Remarkable features—Vic-
tim disappeared in 1936; never seen
again. In charge of case—District
Solicitor’ John J. Burney, who says he
‘can prove death and that money orders
known to be on victim’s body at time
of disappearance have been cashed by
accused. :
* Victim—Joe Campbell, Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma. Method—Beating with
revolver butt. Held for trial—C. H.
Vestel. Remarkable features—Killing
came as result of quarrel in pool-hall,
witnesses say over game of dominoes;
self-defence plea by Vestel who com-
plains Campbell and three companions
were cheating.
wk Victim—Mrs. Ida Ewing. Method
—Axe. Held for investigation—Sam-
vel Ewing, husband. Arrest by—Of-
ficers Herman Talghader, Bernard
Kreutzinger, Ernest Wachter, who were
summoned by victim’s granddaughter,
say they found suspect standing over
body brandishing axe and two open
-razors; bravely disarmed him. Be-
sieved insane. 2 :
x Victim—Albert Dubs, Springfield,
Hlinois. Held for trial—Edward Mc-
ill. Arrest by—Radio Patrol S, L.
Myers and Elijah Neale. Remarkable
féatures-—Victim’s wife says Dubs quar-
*relled with McGill every night; when
the two men customarily got drunk to-
gether. Victim died of broken neck
as result of strangle hold. Suspect re-
ported by police too drunk to talk.
ek Victim—Walter Welch, East St.
Louis; Illinois. Method—Shooting, re-
ae
volver. Held for trial—Arthur Thomp-
son and Ann Nicolas. Investigation by
—Police Chief M. J. O’Rourke, East
St. Louis, Illinois. Remarkable fea-
‘tures—Police say killing took place
1936; that car pulled up in front of
tavern, opened fire on tavern-keeper,
Welch killed by stray bullet. That Mrs.
Nicolas fled with ‘Thompson, both
traced by telegram she sent to her
mother in Galveston, Texas.
* Victim—Mary Jane Mohan, Detroit,
Michigan. Method—Beating and burn-
ing. Held for trial—James McCormick.
Remarkable features—Crime took place
at Day Break Inn, which burned; vic-
tim’s body found in ashes. General
alarm broadcast for McCormick, parol-
ed convict, who was employed at inn.
Arrested as he left bus in Cleveland,
he protested innocence, said fire origi-
nated in manner unknown to him; says
he fled because of record.
* Victim — Mrs. Minnie Bianconi,
Chicago, Illinois. . Method—Throat-
cutting, razor. Held. for trial—Angelo
Audi. Remarkable features—Victim’s
body found near roadside, . Audi, seri-
ously wounded, found in his home later,
throat also slashed with razor. Motive
believed jealousy.
Victim—Fred Sidall, ‘Detroit, Michi-
gan. Method—Shooting, .22 rifle. Held
for investigation—Mrs. Helen Sidall,
wife. Remarkable features—Confession ;
Mrs. Sidall says “I’m glad I did it,”
adding her husband, always drunk and
abusive, was beating her 13-year-old
son.
* Victim — Mrs. Florence Jackson,
Whitestone, Long Island. Method—
Strangling, leather belt. Held for trial
—Stanley Martin. Remarkable fea-
tures—Martin and Mrs. Jackson, both
married, were lovers; in confession
Martin says victim asked him to kill
her. Killing took place at 4:00 a.m.
in car, which met police radio car. Mar-
tin stoppéd police car and asked “help”
for victim.
Victim—Mrs. Peter Poznaik, Interna-
tional Falls, Minnesota. Method—By
hatchet, while she slept on davenport.
Alleged attack-murder. Held for trial,
and charged with first degree murder—
Paul Poznaik, her brother-in-law.
Surrendered voluntarily, after being
absent for fortnight.
Victims—Henry Boyachuk, 24, and his
sweetheart, Mary Presilowski, 20. Cou-
ple drove to cemetery and Boyachuk
put bullet through lover’s heart and
then one through own temple. Near
Sifton, Manitoba, Canada. Left note
to Mrs. Jessie Lupchak, Mary’s sister
and her husband, Fred, telling of pact.
They arrived at graveyard few minutes
too late. Said. Mary in note: “I’m
leaving for good. Please say something
nice at my funeral.”
\RREN
2 her in another's
lin’ whirling for-
fortex of murder,
- blood=clotted hair.
THE HUSBAND
Callon H. Morgan, could give no clue
to identity of person who strangled
his wife-as she played at solitaire.
T looked like a lovers’ tryst—a tryst
that had turned out fo be a ren-
dezvous with death.
There, sprawled out in an aban-
doned pose on the floor of the
apartment living room, was the
young wife’s body. The head was
bent—the death-masque of the face
mercifully concealed by strands of
There was blood
on the thin blue silk of the woman’s
single garment, and a spot on the
cushion half under her body.
There were playing cards spread
out on the floor—half of them loosely
scattered, but the remainder lined up
in the rows of a solitaire game.
When the police turned the wo-
man’s body over, they found the
fingers of ‘her right hand clutched
around a card. The Ace of Spades.
The card of Death... .
And twisted tightly atound the
woman’s neck was a silken cord.
Roy Chitwood, investigator from the
El Paso district attorney’s office, eyed
the garrote thoughtfully, then glanced
at the ugly wound on the dead wo-
man’s forehead. The weapon that
had inflicted that blow was nearby on
the floor. A broken soda bottle.
“She was struck down first,” he
noted aloud. “Then strangled. And
it was by some one she knew . , .”
“How you figure that?” one of the
THIS ARROW—— ee
points to window of modest apartment
where faithful wife waited alone for
her husband to return from his work.
, detectives queried. - “Could have been
‘ a burglar or a tramp, couldn’t it?” ‘
Chitwood shook his head. “Not
likely.” He pointed to the cards on
the floor, the blood stains on the
front of the blue silk. garment. “She
was struck from in front,” he said.
“Struck while she was still playing
at her solitaire game. See where the
blood spattered her robe? And then,
there’s the card—the ace of spades—
she’s still holding in her hand. No—
it was some one she’knew well enough
not to interrupt her game. Some one
who sat in front of her, on the floor
here, and then struck her down with-
out warning.” He sighed, turned
away from the body for a moment,
and asked: :
“Who discovered the body?”
It was Detective J. C. Fuller who
answered. “The landlady of the house
called the station. Seems the wo-
man’s son—or step-son, to be exact—
discovered the body when he came
home from the movies tonight.”
Chitwood’s eyes narrowed medita-
tively. “Where's the son now?”
“Downstairs with the landlady.
She’s trying to comfort him. .He’s only
a little tyke—no more than about ten
years old.”
“And the-husband. What about
him?”
“He’s been notified,” Fuller said.
“He works at the railway.shops, about
a mile away on the night shift. He
ought to be here any minute now.”
The coroner and his crew had ar-
rived by then, and Chitwood stood by
while the man made his brief exami-
nation.
“Been dead between two and three
hours, I’d say,” the coroner hazarded
finally, in answer to a question from
Chitwood. -‘She might have suffered
a concussion from the blow on her
head, but death was due to strangu-
lation.” :
Chitwood nodded, and took the silk-
en garrote from the coroner’s hand.
He stared down at it thoughtfully, and
then addressed the two detectives,
Fuller and Haynes.
“Another reason for my suggesting
that Mrs. Morgan, here, must have
BEAUTIFUL———
Eleanor Morgan was beaten about the
head and strangled with silken cord
as she drew unlucky Ace of Spades.
}
known her murderer—and known him
fairly well.” He held the cord up.
“Off-hand, I’d say that this came from
a bathrobe or dressing gown. If it
belongs to such a garment here in the
apartment, it means that the murderer
was familiar enough with the place to
lay his hands on it when he wanted
it. And if it doesn’t belong here, that
means the murderer brought it with
him, intending to use it as he did.
Unless...”
tive Haynes prompted, “Unless
what?”’
“We'll search the place first,” Chit-
wood evaded a direct answer. ‘No
use cluttering our minds up with idle
theories until we need them.”
But before the officers could start
on the apartment there was an in-
H' broke off, and shrugged. Detec-
.terruption, the sudden arrival of Cal-
lon Morgan, husband of the dead wo-
man.
Evidently he had been prepared
for a shock, but nevertheless he
swayed slightly, and closed his eyes at
the sight of the shrouded figure at that
moment being placed on the coroner’s
stretcher. He wet his lips with the
tip of his tongue, and demanded
hoarsely:
“It’s—it’s Eleanor? She's dead?”
When Chitwood nodded wordlessly,
Morgan cried out. ‘“Where’s Callon?
Where’s my boy? Is he—nothing hap-
pened to him, did it?”
“He’s safe,’ Chitwood assured the
stricken man. He’s with the landlady
downstairs. It was a shock to the
youngster—he discovered the body,
you see.”
Then followed routine questions—
an attempt by the official to fill in the
immediate background to the crime.
The murdered woman had been his
second wife, Callon Morgan told Chit-
wood. They had been married about
eight months. His son, Callon, Jr.,
had been visiting them for the first
weeks of his summer vacation from
school. The rest of the time he lived
with his mother in Albuquerque.
Chitwood dangled the silken bath-
robe. “Do you recognize this?”
THE CARD OF DEATH WAS CLUTCHED IN HER
~ RUeTE GAA SAA SUMED EMI BEAL feba e ad.\ ee ae |
ASE he RRA OA oe All
HAND .WHEN THE GRIM REAPER MADE A CALL
Murder Came In Spades
(continued from page 12)
been long enough for me to get out
here and return,’’ he went on. ‘‘So I
arranged to take off during the second
half of my shift. I got here half an
hour later, just in time to see her
leaving the house with a tall dark guy
I had never seen before.’’
Morgan said he had followed the
pair on foot to a corner where they
caught a south-bound bus. He had
been fortunate in hailing a passing taxi,
and managed to keep the bus in view
until it reached the end of the line,
the International Bridge spanning the
Rio Grande River between the United
States and Mexico.
Twenty minutes later, in the border
town of Ciudad Juarez, just across the
river, the couple had entered a
gambling casino and stood about the
tables placing small bets for nearly an
hour. After they left, still unaware that
the husband had followed and was
watching, Morgan had made discreet
inquiries of the management.
Yes, he had been told, the pretty
American woman and her handsome,
flashing-eyed Mexican escort fre-
quently visited the establishment.
Always at night, and always, the
husband realized, on one of those
nights when he was at work in the El
Paso railroad shops.
“*] learned that the man’s name was
Bernardo Fernandez, that he’s a
professional tourist guide and that he
concentrates on wealthy American
women who travel south of the border
looking for romance and excitement,”
Morgan concluded.
“Was your wife a wealthy woman?”
inquired Chitwood, noting the expen-
sively furnished apartment, but aware
that Morgan must earn only a modest
salary at his job in the railroad shops.
“‘No,’’ answered the other, ‘‘but
she’s very attractive and a guy like this
Mexican gigolo must want something
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young and pretty when he isn’t playing
footsy with those wealthy old dames
from whom he makes his living.”’
Morgan added that his dark-eyed
wife had arrived in El Paso less than a
year earlier after divorcing her first
husband who still lived in New York.
After ordering the removal of the
body to the El Paso County morgue,
Chitwood asked Morgan’s permission
to close and lock the apartment
pending further investigation.
“We'll never return to this house,”’
Morgan answered. “‘I’ll send the kid
to his mother in New Mexico tomor-
row, and get a room near the shops
on the other side of town until I decide
what to do.”’
“Don’t you think we had better talk
with the boy before you send him
off?’’ suggested Chitwood easily.
Morgan replied that he had already
questioned his son on finding him
waiting at Mrs. McAllister’s apartment
downstairs after returning from work
at 1 a.m. ‘‘Junior told me his stepmo-
ther gave him money to go to the
movies again,”’ he related. ‘‘She told
him not to leave until time for the last
show, but to be sure to be home before
I got back from work.”’
The husband was unable to remem-
ber the exact dates on which he had
not reported for work because of
feigned illness. But a check with his
employers would confirm those
absences — and the fact that he had
been on duty from 4 o’clock the
previous afternoon until quitting at
12:30 a.m.
Early Monday the two investigators
from the district attorney’s office left
for the resort town across the Rio
Grande to confer with Mexican police
while Detective Chitwood visited the
Southern Pacific Railroad shops. The
latter learned that Morgan had taken
off on the night of May 22 because of
sickness. A week later he had reported
sick again, after working half his shift.
The bus which took him from his
home to his place of employment
usually made the trip in 28 minutes,
so that it would have been impossible
for him to have taken that to his home
and back during the half hour he was
allowed for supper, Chitwood deter-
mined. Morgan’s fellow employes said
that he had been on the job continually
from 4 to 8 p.m. and from 8:30 p.m.
until 12:20 a.m. the night before.”
In Ciudad Juarez, Officers Haynes
and Fuller learned from the American
manager of a Mexican gambling
establishment that the slain girl’s
husband apparently had been telling
the truth when he told of following
his bride of six months and her
companion to the establishment the
month before.
“*Yes,’? the casino manager replied
in answer to Hayne’s questions, ‘‘I
remember the man you describe. He
came here about a month ago and
pointed out Bernardo and the pretty
brunette he’s been chasing around with
lately. I suspected at the time he might
be the girl’s husband — and I’d
warned Bernardo about these young
married American women. So I let him
have it — told him the dame had been
spending quite a few evenings at the
casino with the gigolo.’’
“This Bernardo, he’s a professional
_escort?’’ inquired Officer Fuller.
“‘That’s right. A sort of free-lancer.
Makes his living from wealthy Ameri-
cans who slip down here for a good
time while their husbands are working
back in the States. But he’s also pretty
fond of younger girls.”’
The casino manager added that the
local police should have no difficulty
in locating the Latin Lothario. He had
already been involved in several
escapades.
Meanwhile, back in El Paso the
police asked local newspapers to
publish a description and photographs
of the silken robe cord with which
Eleanor Morgan had been bound and
strangled. A canvass of local haber-
dashers had already failed to turn up
any leads.
It was Chitwood’s theory that the
killer would have quickly disposed of
the robe from which he had taken the
cord, whether or not it was his own.
Within 24 hours both the robe and
its last owner were traced. A city trash
collector discovered the former, an
expensive but well worn garment, at
the edge of the city dump on the banks
of the Rio Grande south of the city.
Even as the collector was making his
report to police a call came from the
residence of a prominent businessman
who lived not far from Mrs. McAllis-
ter’s home on the fashionable north
side. The businessman’s wife said that
she had given a blue silk robe to a maid
to throw away three days before. She
recognized the newspaper description
of the tasselled cord, for her husband
had refused to wear it with the robe
because he objected to the fancy
tassels.
‘*And of course the unworn cord
(continued on page 54)
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Murder Came In Spades
(continued from page 52)
was no good,”’ the woman explained
to the police. ‘So the maid threw both
in the trash can.”’
Their one tangible clue having
proved worthless, the detectives
returned to headquarters where they
conferred with fingerprint and
laboratory technicians who had
combed the house thoroughly.
‘*We didn’t uncover a thing,’’
reported the latter. ‘‘The cards with
which Eleanor Morgan was looking
into the future when she died bear only
her own fingerprints. The pop bottle
found beside the body was so badly
shattered that even if it bore prints,
we couldn’t piece them together. And
there were no prints on doors or
windows, except of course those of the
three occupants of the place.”’
Identification Bureau men added
that they had checked over corres-
pondence found in the slain woman’s
bedroom, but found nothing suspi-
cious. If Eleanor had received letters
from her suspected paramour, she had
destroyed or hid them before her
death.
The coroner reported that death had
resulted from strangulation, probably
after the victim had been knocked
unconscious from behind by a strong
man who dealt a crushing blow to the
back of her head with the pop bottle
found near the body. There was no
indication of rape, and it was apparent
the girl had been sitting before the card
table when she was struck from
behind.
An hour after the coroner’s report
was received, Mexican State Police
reported the arrest of Fernandez in a
tourist hotel.
‘We're bringing him right\over,
although we’ve advised him that he
can refuse to be extradited until after
a hearing before a Mexican judge,’’
Capt. Ricardo Gonzalez informed
Chitwood.
But Bernardo Fernandez was ready
and willing enough to talk. Taken
directly to the district attorney’s office
upon his arrival in El] Paso, he told
the American investigators he had
known Eleanor Morgan for the past
three months and had had numerous’
dates with her during the hours her
husband, nearly ten years older than
the auburn-haired girl, had worked at
his job in the railroad repair shops.
‘She was a relief after all those fat
old tourists,’’ Bernardo explained
lightly, ‘‘a relief and fun to be with,
although she never spent money on me
like the rich old ladies. And what could
be wrong about my making her happy?
Her husband had no tithe for her, and
she was sad for the little daughter from
whom she was separated, although she
said the girl was to come to her soon.”’
‘‘Her little daughter?’’ repeated
Chitwood thoughtfully. Neither
Morgan nor the landlady had men-
tioned a second child.
“Oh, yes. The little girl, Bernice,
whom she had left in New York. She
could hardly wait until the day when
they could be together again.’’
The tourist guide’s final words
struck a chord in Detective Chitwood’s
memory, but he was unable at the
moment to recall where he had heard,
or read, those same words recently.
While he sat trying to jog his memory,
he asked idly, ‘‘Then you weren’t
aware that she used to send her
husband’s little boy out so she could
be alone with you? That she had given
him money with which to go to the
movies on the nights you came over
there to take her out?”’
“‘Oh, no Senor,’’ answered the other
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quickly. ‘‘She could not have given any
little boy money for the movies. The
senora never had any money. Her
husband wouldn’t even trust her with
money for the groceries. She told me
herself.
*‘He was afraid she might go out
while he was at work. He would buy
supplies himself and dole them out day
by day. He even put up his own
lunches each day so as not to have to
spend money for them. The senora
told me that. Everything he earned
went into their home and he tried to
keep his pretty wife a prisoner there.”’
‘*When was that last time you were
in El Paso?’’ demanded Chitwood.
‘‘Why, more than a week ago,
Senor.”’ :
“*You didn’t come across the river
and stroll by the city dump on your
way into the city during the last three
days?”’
“‘The El Paso city dump? Oh no,
Senor! That is much too close to the
railroad shops where the pretty
senora’s husband spent his nights
working while his wife remained alone
with her cards!”’
Whether there was more than
coincidence behind the other’s bland
words was something that Chitwood
never had a chance to determine. For
suddenly he remembered where he had
heard, less than 72 hours ago, the
words that had struck a chord in his
memory a few moments before.
Those words, “‘hardly wait until the
day they could be together,’’ had been
almost identical to the last that Eleanor
Morgan had written. They were the
words she had penned in her diary,
after ‘‘having a long talk with ‘B’ from
whom she had been separated.”’
“‘So ‘B’ could stand for Bernice, the
little girl she was expecting to join her
here in El Paso,’’ Chitwood explained
to the others after Bernardo Fernandez
was dismissed. ‘‘It’s no wonder that
Callon Morgan stood there stunned for
several moments after we suddenly
confronted him with that entry in his
wife’s diary. No wonder that it took
him that long to evolve the clever
scheme that sent us off looking for a
gigolo who by sheer coincidence had
that same first initial.’’
But before questioning the slain
girl’s husband about his failure to
identify correctly the ‘‘B’’ mentioned
in the diary, Chitwood knew there was
one more thing he must do. That was
to talk with the little boy whom
Morgan had so obviously tried to keep
them from questioning on the night
(continued on page 56)
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astral wings, as Witches do . . . go wherever you wish . . . y
ever you wish . . . without being detected . . . watch. the antics of
others behind closed doors . . . hear private conversations .. . make
time run forward or backward . . . read tomorrow's newspaper in
a “black mirror” . . . find out what really happened in history .. .
make your face old or young at will!
BRINGS AUTOMATIC ASSURED SUCCESS!
ice, ON
Witchcraft can bring your heart's desire! You can use it to heal
someone, influence the boss to give you that raise, or make some-
‘one stop bothering you! It’s easy! The easiest thing in the world!
You don't have to be wealthy or super-intelligent to get started!
Thousands of ordinary people all over the world are using Witch-
craft Power right now!
Witches have known for centuries that pepe are scared of them
and their powers! And rightly so! NOW YOU CAN SHARE THE
SAME WER that gives you~literally—life and death control
over other persons! Is someone bothering you? No problem at all,
with Magic Witchcraft. For example, there Is a spell called the
“Cross Not My Path” ritual, for people who are having neighbor
trouble. When you use it, you know you will never again have
trouble with this neighbor!
With these amazing Witchcraft secrets, other people will look up
to you—in awe—you'll automatically dazzle others with your power
.o make things happen at your will, you'll be Master of your des-
tiny, and never have to apologize to anyone for anything!
Whatever you want or need, whatever frustration is bothering
you, Witchcraft will help you. It is not evil—nor is it Black Magic.
Like electricity, it is simply a power given by nature for the use of
men, to make life easier.
You'll see how to fo paid without working . . . how to get ex-
pensive clothes and furs FREE . . . how to get a first-class plane
seat FREE .. . how to vacation at the finest hotels, motels, pools
and pleasure palaces, start living like a millionaire as Witches do!
AMAZING TECHNIQUE HAS HELPED THOUSANDS!
. Witchcraft secrets like these can make you rich faster than any-
thing else in the world! Here's how others have used them to make
what. ,
IN THIS WITCH BOOK YOU'LL DISCOVER...
© How to Cast Spells that Really Work!
© Your Magic Window on the Worid!
© Personal Protection!
© Telepathy Made Easy!
® infiuencing Others to Do Your Bidding!
© Controlling a Conversation!
© The Technique of Silent Persuasion!
© Using Witchcraft to Find Friends!
© How to Find the Lover You Want!
@ How to Bring Your Perfect Mate to You!
®@ How to Dominate Others!
© Witchcraft Power for Money!
© Withcraft Power to Make You Irresistible to Others!
® Spells for Finding Lost Objects!
@ How to Always Win with Luck Spetis!
© More Power for Bigger Goals!
@ inhaling Cosmic Energy!
© Recharging Your Cosmic Batteries!
© Raising Your Vital Energy Level!
® How to Keep Evil Forces Away!
Now! Let This Amazing Witch Book Bring You
INFINITE WEALTH, FINE POSSESSIONS,
A COMFORTABLE NEW HOME, FINANCIAL
SECURITY, LOVE, CONTROL OVER OTHERS,
And More—Easily And Automatically!
For centuries, these Witchcraft secrets were hushed up, so
that those in power could stay in power! Feudal lords kept
their bondsmen as slaves. Factory owners kept their em-
ployces in dreaded sweatshops, because these masters knew
they must not allow their workers to realize that they need
not labor their lives away. Witchcraft was suppressed be-
cause it works! Not because of any “evil” in it. If it hadn't
worked, no one would have worried about it. If you want to
gain power, all you necd is this amazing Witch Book!
By using these Witchcraft secrets, you too can change
your life and gain health, wealth, someone to love+or any-
thing else—surely, swiftly and automatically!
«© THE WITCH'S MONEY JAR!—You'll discover the
secret of the Witch’s Money Jar, a mysterious jar that fills
with money—whenever you want or need it! All you need is
some water, pennies, and un beget jar or bowl! You'll be
amazed at the speed with which it fills with money—a seem-
ingly endless supply of needed cash!
¢ THE WITCH'S MONEY MAGNET!—You'll see how
to magnetize a dollar bill so that it multiples! All you need
to make your own Witch's Money Magnet is a dollar bill, a
green candle, and the words on page 8. Once you do this,
your dollar will double and keep doubling! You'll enjoy
glittering luxuries, and start living like a millionaire, as
Witches do!
© THE WITCH'S BLACK MIRROR!—Just as your TV
set has been called your “window on the world,” so the
Black Mirror is your “window on the psychic world” —the
world of the unknown. Making your own personal Black
Mirror takes only a few moments and can open the way to
unguessable visions. All you need is a bow! of watcr, some
ink, and the chant on page 23. Suddenly you will see scenes
from other places and times, of any scene you wish to sec!
miracles happen in their daily lives!
You'll see how Vern, a man who likes to give a lot of expensive
[ae was always short of cash until he discovered the amazing
ITCH'S MONEY JAR-—now all he has to do is dip in, for it
brings him an endless flow of cash! Evelyn, a waitress, was always
lending money to friends, and was always broke. Finally, she placed
her last dollar on the table, and worked the MONEY MAGNET
SPELL over it. All at once, dozens of people who had borrowed
money from her, rushed to pay her back!
tually broke. One night he got together with
Hank was per;
ELL. The
some friends, and they decided to cast the MONEY S!
very next day, Hank received in the mail a check for some $250
worth of insurance. (He had never heard of the company that sent
the check, he was not insured with them, and had never even made
a claim—but he accepted the money.) Another member of the
group that used the eet a 40-year-old secretary, received an auto-
mobile as a gift! All the other members of the group received amaz-
ing windfalls of money, as well! You'll see how Dexter, a retiree,
lives RENT FREE and receives $200 a week at the age of 78, with
a secret you'll find in this Witch Book! You'll see how Claudine, a
secretary, was able to wear the finest, most expensive furs-FREE—
and spend weekends at an expensive ski lodge in the mountains,
where she met a wonderful man! How Ruth L., a widow—with noth-
ing but a small pension, and a little savings—received her dream
house, by using a simple 5-minute ritual on page 38 of this book!
Using the same Witchcraft secrets, YOU can achieve peace of
mind and freedom from money worries for the rest of your life!
YOU CAN HEAL YOURSELF AS WITCHES DO!
Feeling sick today? Plagued by a lot of troublesome illnesses?
Perhaps some relative is sick and constantly demanding your atten-
tion? Or perhaps it is even a pet that needs help? With the MAGIC
POWER OF WITCHCRA!
Gavin and Yvonne Frost: “In our experience . . .
found a single incurable disease!”
*® ANDY DISSOLVES A GALLSTONE!—Andy M. developed
gallstones. When his illness became too troublesome to ignore, he
went to a doctor. Urine tests revealed that he was chronically alka-
line. His body was badly out balance. Using this Witchcraft
method to restore balance to thétmnind and body—in a short while,
X-rays showed that he had no more gallstones! Andy never again
suffered the excruciating pain of passing stones! :
In the same way, say Gave and Yvonne Frost, almost all illness
can be prevented. You are actually employing an ancient Witch-
craft method to remove diseased tissue! Even if you do not have
any belief in the results, the power will work for you!
One woman, who had been in a wheelchair for 26 ery due to
polio and arthritis, used the Witchcraft healing method, and re-
ported that she had no pain and could walk and garden again! A
man reported that his son's deep 3rd degree burns miraculously
healed overnight!
eso SIMPLE A CHILD USES IT!—A 4-year-old girl asked if
she could try to heal a man who was limping—due to a torn liga-
ment—with this simple Witchcraft healing method. In a matter of
moments, she started her chant, bree her hands on the weak
ankle. The man was miraculously cured! To skeptics, this should
-be convincing PROOF that anyone can use it!
AMAZING POWER CAN BE YOURS!
Whether you want infinite wealth, or just a comfortable new
home, financial security, fine possessions, love, companionship, new
health and vigor, power to control others, secret knowledge, pro-
tection from evil, or anything else, the magic power of Witchcraft
can bring it to you quickly, easily and automatically! It's the easiest
thing in the world!
© HOW TO SEE INTO THE FUTURE!—Would you like to be
, you can cure anything, say authors
i we have not
able to see the future? You CAN with the magic Black Mirror you'll
see how to make on page 23. All you need is some ink and a bow! of
water. Then use the chant on this page, and you will be able to see
many things. One man uses it to read tomorrow's newspaper. YOU
can use it to check the stock market or that important horse race!
¢ MAKE TIME RUN BACKWARD OR FORWARD!—A
PROGRESS BOOKS, LTD.
3200 Lawson Bivd., P.O. Box 903, Oceanside, N.Y. 11572
© P.B., LTD., 1962
MEET THE AUTHORS
GAVIN FROST, BSc., Ph.D., D.D., is Archbishop of the
Church of Wicca, New Bern, North Carolina with national
headquarters in Salem, Missouri, branches in several states
and worldwide membership. He is Marshal of the Gold Star
of his ry with the right to wear the Saffron Robe and
one of the very few Witches in the Western Hemisphere
privileged to wear the authentic mark of initiation on his
wrist. Although descended from a long line of mystics and
scholars, and formerly a Vice-President and Director of
International O; for major jes, he
prefers to be thought of as a humble teacher.
Mrs. YVONNE FROST, A.A., D.D., with her husband
Gavin Frost, devotes her time to giving private instruction
and publishing Swrvival, the newsletter of the Church of
Wicca, of which she is a Bishop.
Articles by or about Gavin and Yvonne Frost have ap-
| ees in such national publications as Midnight and the
ational Enquirer.
FREE . .. The Witches Protection Amulet
For Just Examining The Witch Book . . a
When you receive your copy of THE
MAGIC POWER OF WITCH-
CRAFT, we will send you the witches
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Whether you keep the book or not, this
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% inch dia.
Witch uses ancient methads to make time stand still or to run it
backward or forward! To make your face look young or old at
will, all you need is some morning dew, and the instructions on
page 27. You can fly through time and space, on astral wings. go
anywhere, do anything, with the simple method on page 126. You
can visit a friend, look in on an acquaintance and see what he is
doing—even appear in someone's dreams, and convince that person
to do whatever you wish!
© SECRETS OF SILENT PERSUASION!—There is a magi
handshake that Witches often use, revealed on page 62. With this
secret, you can implant a thought in someone's mind! You can use
this Witchcraft power to dominate others! Control your boss! Make
someone love you! Leave your enemies groveling in the dust! There
is even a gazing technique Witches use on page 45, for identical
thoughts With this secret, you can read your friend’s mind and
share his or her identical thoughts!
SEND TODAY FOR YOUR NO-RISK COPY!
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55
TRA Gan en oS i
Murder Came In Spades
(continued from page 54)
his wife’s strangled body was found.
Half an hour later the El Paso
detective got through by long distance
telephone to the youngster’s mother
in Raton, N.M. ‘‘I have two important
questions for your son to answer,”’ he
explained to the woman from whom
Callon Morgan had been divorced the
year before. ‘‘They are: Who gave him
the money to go to the movies on the
night his stepmother was murdered?
And, does he remember what his
father prepared for his mid-shift
supper on that same night before
leaving for work?”’
Five minutes later the youngster’s
mother was back at the telephone.
“‘My boy tells me,’’ she said, ‘‘that it
was his father who gave him the money
and told him to go to the movies that
night. He is not sure about the kind
of sandwiches his father made to take
to work, but he knows that he always
prepared a thermos of hot coffee.”’
Ten minutes after hanging up the
receiver, Chitwood told Officers
Haynes and Fuller, ‘‘The whole thing
is clear now — exactly how Callon
Morgan laid his plans to murder the ~
pretty young. wife he had caught
playing around with the handsome
Mexican gigolo.
“Question every man who leaves his
car at the railroad yard during the
night lunch period. If Morgan bor-
rowed a car, it will be easy. If he took
one without the owner’s permission,
it may be more difficult. But it’s our
only chance of proving exactly how
he could have done it.”’
Chitwood was still questioning the
slain woman’s husband when Haynes
and Fuller returned to headquarters
two hours later. Asked about his
failure to immediately and correctly
identify the ‘‘B’’ mentioned in his
wife’s diary, Morgan said flatly that
it had never occurred to him that
Eleanor had been referring to her little
. daughter.
“‘] knew she wanted the kid to come
out here and live with us, but I also
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knew she had been chasing around
with this gigolo whose first name also
begins with B,’’ he argued. ‘“‘How was
I to know to which she was referring?
If you’d asked about her daughter, I’d
have told you.”’
“Just as you told us about giving
your boy money for the movies, so
that he’d be out of the house when
you returned to murder your wife?”’
interjected Chitwood coldly.
“‘T gave the boy no money. If he
told you that, he is mistaken.”
“‘But you did forget your lunch and
had to return for it soon after the boy
was gone from the apartment?”
“No, I did not forget my lunch. I
was ill that night and simply did not
eat it. When I got back to the apart-
ment, and found you there, I had it
with me.”’
Chitwood bent forward, staring the
other straight in the eyes as he spoke.
“‘That won’t do at all, Morgan,’’ he
said. ‘‘The district attorney’s investi-
gators came into the room where we
stood talking and told of finding the
thermos of coffee and two sandwiches ’
wrapped in wax paper in the kitchen.”
Morgan did not bat an eye. ‘‘That
is right, but you must remember that
I had already returned to the house
before those men. went into the
kitchen. If you didn’t see me go out
there and put my uneaten lunch back
on the refrigerator, that is your fault.”
‘‘Morgan, you’re a liar! You had
fainted, or pretended to have fainted,
the moment you stepped into the room
and saw your wife’s body!”’
The bushy-haired man allowed a
slight smile to cross his face, but made
no answer. Ten minutes later Fuller
and Haynes called Chitwood outside
to report that they had found a fellow
worker of Morgan’s who remembered
having discovered his car in gear when
he went to get it to drive home shortly
after midnight on the night of the 20th.
“This fellow,” reported Fuller, ‘told
us he always put his car into neutral
when parking. He is friendly with
Morgan, who knows that he was one
of the few men with cars who did not
leave the shop during the lunch period.
And he tells us he leaves his car near
the spot where Morgan always eats
alone in the parking lot. He’s willing
to swear that someone — and only
Morgan and the other employes have
access to the lot — drove his car on
the night Eleanor Morgan was mur-
dered.”’
Chitwood decided to wait until
Morgan had had an opportunity to
(continued on next page)
ponder upon the mounting pile of
circumstantial evidence before deli-
vering what he hoped would prove to
be the final blow. Less than an hour
later, however, as Chitwood was
preparing to return to his home for a
full night’s sleep before confronting
Morgan with what he expected to be
the final crushing piece of evidence,
Morgan himself asked for an inter-
view.
Ten minutes later, in Chitwood’s
office, Morgan commenced: ‘‘I’ve
been thinking things over and I’ve
decided to talk. Sooner or later you’re
bound to learn how I was able to get
to the house and back in half an hour.
And with the other things you’ve
managed to dig up, I know you'll have
enough to send me to the chair. So
I’m ready to talk. I’m ready to tell you
why I decided to do away with my
wife. I couldn’t tolerate the thought
of her being with any other man. I’m
ready...”
Morgan glanced toward the shaft of
hot sunlight that came through the
open window at the far side of the
room. Chitwood raised a hand and
said tiredly, ‘All right, Morgan, just
hold it until I get a police stenographer”
in here.’? He turned to the phone at
his side.
In that moment the chair in which
the muscular suspect had been sitting
crashed to the floor and a.heavy body
went through the opened window
behind Chitwood’s desk.
It was exactly 5:28 p.m. on the night
of June 28 when Morgan leaped
through. the window. of Chitwood’s
office on the first floor of police
headquarters. Standing in the shade
outside, smoking a cigaret before he
went on duty at 5:30, was Sgt. Ray
Smithers of the Traffic Bureau, a
heavyset officer whose stocky form
belied the agility with which he could
move in an emergency.
Callon Morgan landed on the
sidewalk less than two feet from the
big traffic officer. Smithers didn’t even
bother to reach for the gun in the
holster at his side. Hearing Chitwood’s
shout from behind the opened win-
dow, he calmly reached out a heavy
hand and grasped the escaping
prisoner by the collar. A moment later
Morgan was dragged back inside
where District Attorney George
Andress and a police stenographer
were ready to listen to his statement.
But the prisoner no longer felt
inclined to confide in the men who for
days had been working to explode his
carefully prepared alibi. By this time,
however, Chitwood and the two
«
officers from the district attorney’s
office were confident they no longer ©
needed a confession to procure a
conviction for first degree murder.
Their confidence was justified when,
less than a month later, Morgan
appeared before a jury of 12 men in
Criminal Court. After a trial that
lasted less than a week he was found
guilty as charged and sentenced to
forfeit his life in the electric chair. Only
by one his appeals to higher court were
denied, and on August 18, 1938, he
paid with his life for the cleverly
conceived crime of passion that his
young wife may have foreseen in the
cards when she picked up an ace of
spades. *
Never Do Business With Axe-Killers
(continued from page 9)
He told the detectives that he and
his brother, John, owned the Atlas
Gear Company and that he had
worked there Tuesday, Wednesay, and
Thursday — the period during which
Malloy was to have flown in from
California and returned.
As a matter of fact, Skozen told the
questioners, he was alone at the plant
much of that time. He said he had sent
his employes home on Tuesday, the
11th, and told them not to come back
until Thursday.
He disposed of the weapons quest-
ion quickly. He no longer owned any
handguns, he said. All of his guns,
including one he had kept in his office,
had been stolen in various thefts.
Questioned about the missing Cali-
fornia businessman, Skozen admitted
that he knew Malloy — claimed
Malloy owed him $30,000 — but said
he had not seen him recently, and had
not been expecting him.
During the interrogation, Sappanos
and Keane noticed red flecks on
Skozen’s black leather loafers.
‘“‘Would you mind taking off your
shoes and letting us have a look at
them?’’ he was asked.
Skozen didn’t mind. He handed the
detectives his shoes.
“For that matter, how about taking
off all your clothing so we can examine
(continued on next page)
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57
MORGAN, Callem H., wh, elec. TX (El Pag
a
vin
DARING DETECTIVE MAGAZINE,
May, 1951
days. Its edges were frayed, the seam was split
and it was dotted with mothholes. Mrs. Wallen-
der took it from the closet, regarded it with a
disapproving eye and called her maid.
“Ada,” she said, “it’s high time Mr. Wallen-
der bought a new robe. IP this is any good to
you, you may have it. Otherwise throw it away.”
Ada took the robe, examined it without en-
thusiasm. “It’s pretty well shot,” she said. “I
guess it ain’t any good to anybody. The cord’s
in pretty good condition but I don’t imagine
anyone could find any use for an old bathrobe
cord. I’ll put it in the trash.”
As a matter of cold, hard fact there was one
man in the city of El Paso, Texas, at that mo-
ment who could find some use for an old bath-
robe cord. Right now it reposed innocuously
enough in the Wallender trash can but within
forty-eight hours it was destined to encircle the
white throat of a lovely young woman, to
squceze the very life from her body. :
It was 9 o'clock of a Sunday night—that of
June 20, 1937. In the Soa story of a two
family house in the residential’ section of El
Paso, Mrs. Eleanor Morgan sat at a card table,
idly distributing the cards.
She was a young woman, in her early 20s,
possessed of fine, dark hair and darker eyes.
She was pretty. Her figure was attractive. She
had excellent taste in clothes and a gift of
laughter.
She also had a minor vice. She was supersti-
tious. She believed firmly. that in a pack of or-
dinary playing cards lay the key to the future.
Several times a day she laid the pasteboards
(iw Wallender’s bathrobe had seen better
out on the table to read her own fortune.
Now she turned a card face up, glanced cas-
ually at the man who sat on the other side of
the room, watching her with hot eyes.
She said, “I didn’t expect you here tonight.”
The man shifted uneasily in his seat. He
said, ‘I hardly expected you to be here, either.
You go out quite a lot, don’t you?”
Eleanor Morgan shrugged her ri ae
shoulders. “What do you expect when my hus-
band works all night?”
Mechanically she turned over another card.
It appeared that she was far more interested in
what she was doing than in the man opposite.
He said with some bitterness in his tone,
“You could never be true to a husband. Nor
even to a lover. You're just not the type, are
you?”
Eleanor Morgan said wearily, “Why don’t
you let me alone? Go away. You have no busi-
ness here at this hour of the night.”
She sighed heavily. Again she turned a card.
It was the ace of spades, the symbol of death.
Ty she looked up again and saw Death, it-
self.
The man had stood up. In his left hand was
a silken cord; in his right, an empty soda pop
bottle he had snatched up from the end. table.
He advanced upon Eleanor Morgan, the bottle
held high like a club and murder shining bright
in his eyes.
Eleanor Morgan pushed back her chair, half
rose. She opened her mouth to scream but at
that moment the heavy bottle cracked against
her left temple.
She reeled and fell to the floor. The man
By
THOMAS P. CAFFREY
She was holding
the ace of spades—so
murder had to come.
VERYONE called her Ellie though
her real name was Eleanor—Eleanor
Morgan. She was a lovely young
woman in her late 20s, her winsome
face framed in a mass of soft, brown,
wavy hair. Three months before, she had
come as a bride to the big red brick house
at 642 L Avenue on the south side of El
Paso, Texas. And now, on the night of
June 20th, she sat cross-legged on the
living-room floor of her second floor apart-
ment, playing a game of solitaire.
It was a little after eight o’clock and
Ellie was lonesome. Her husband, Callon,
was off to work in the shops of the Santa
Fe Railroad and her stepson, Callon, Jr.,
had left for the movies an hour before.
She was alone in the apartment—or at
least she thought she was. Meticulously
she laid out the seven stacks of her game
of Canfield and the man in the shadows
behind her stirred. He was a hulking,
menacing figure. In his gloved right hand
was an empty whiskey bottle. In his
gloved left hand, a twisted cord from a
bathrobe. His eyes were insane with
jealousy. .
Ellie went through the deck slowly,
making an occasional play. She was in-
tent on the game and the creeping foot-
steps behind her made no noise across the
thick rug. The ace of spades turned up.
She leaned forward to place it beside the
ace of hearts but never quite succeeded in
making the move. For in that instant the
killer struck.
Like a jungle cat he leaped forward,
the bottle swinging. It crashed against
Ellie’s head. The ace of spades. still
clutched in her hand, she slumped for-
ward. But before her bloody head had
touched the floor the killer was upon her.
Three times he circled her throat with
the cord, pulled the noose tight with
savage strength and knotted it.
He left her there, dead, on the floor,
vanished into the night as silently as he
had come.
It was young Callon, Jr., returning from
the movies at nine o'clock, who found the
body. He didn’t just know what had hap-
pened to his pretty stepmother but with
wide eyes he saw the shattered bottle, the
bloody head and the knotted rope at the
nape of Ellie’s neck. He ran screaming
down to: the landlady who occupied the
first floor apartment.
When the woman finally made sense
out of the boy’s wild babble, she hurried
up the stairs and took a look for herself.
Then in a trembling voice she called the
police.
El Paso’s ace detective, Lt. Roy Chit-
wood, was in charge of the case. Along
with Detectives James Fuller and Dave
Hayes he arrived at the Morgan apart-
ment while Ellie’s body was still faintly
warm. Dr. Carl Heleig, the coroner, hur-
ried in a few minutes later.
21
teresting,” sug-
nother man in
m her present
‘Open them up.
zd that all the
man—a Ralph
The tenor of
me. Perry still
er. He wanted
laughter Marie
nt from a half
suntry, the last
Ellie’s marriage
sent from New
er, obviously a
rent of her sec-
| in bitter terms.
still nuts about
MORGAN HOME ss —t
Pde
The scene of the mysterious killing. pe a
aA
“Yes,” said Chitwood drily. “It would
make things damn interesting if Mr. Perry
happens to be here in El Paso.”
There was a sudden commotion in the
livingroom as Callon Morgan entered and
breaking away from the restraining arms
of the detective, threw himself.down on
the floor beside his wife. His broken sobs
filled the room.
Hurrying from the bedroom, Chitwood
pulled the bewildered husband up from.
the floor.
said sympathetically.
Morgan looked at him wildly, shocked
disbelief in his eyes. ‘“She’s dead?” he
asked brokenly.
Chitwood nodded.
Morgan’s lips trembled. “But how?
‘Why? Who did it?”
“We don’t know yet. That’s why we
want to talk to you.”
Chitwood led Morgan away from the
“Take it easy, old man,” he
body and guided him into a chair. He
noticed curiously that Morgan’s left eye
was faintly black and blue, as if from an
old blow. “Tell me,” he began. “Have
you any, suspicions as to who might, have
done this thing?”
Morgan shook his head, buried his ©
face in his hands. “No. Who could have
done a thing like that to Ellie?”
-“Well, someone did,” said Chitwood.
“That’s the brutal fact, no matter what
we think. How about her ex-husband?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is he in El Paso?” ;
“I don’t know. Ellie didn’t speak about
him much.” ,
“What about the other men in her life?
Someone who was jealous when you mar-
ried her? She was a good-looking woman.
She must have had other admirers.”
Morgan admitted that this was so but
was reluctant to name any one man who
had been particularly interested in his
wife. Chitwood dropped this line of ques-
tioning for a moment and showed Morgan
the knotted bathrobe cord. “Do you
recognize this?” he asked. “Does it come
from the apartment here?”
Morgan glanced at the noose, then
turned away with a shudder. “I never
saw it before. Is—is that what... ?”
Chitwood ignored the question. “There’s
a full dinner pail on the kitchen table.
Does it belong to you?”
Morgan nodded. “Yes. Ellie packed it
for me tonight before I went off to work
but I forgot to take it.”
With a sigh, Chitwood wrote off that
promising clue and continued his ques-
tioning. He learned that Morgan had
left for work at 5:30 that evening and
that his wife had expected no friends ‘or
callers. He learned also that the door to
the apartment was only locked by him
when he returned from work at four in
the morning. Anyone could have—and
the killer obviously had—entered the
apartment by simply turning the knob of
the door.
Chitwood frowned. The crime was
clearly a deed of passion, for nothing had
been disturbed in the house and there
wasn’t the slightest indication that a rob-
bery had been attempted. Yet the hus-
band seemed unable to come up with any
lead that might point to another man.
“Where did you get that shiner?” asked
the detective suddenly.
Involuntarily Morgan’s hand went up
to his eye. Taken off guard by the abrupt
question he became nervous, mumbled un-
convincingly that he had been struck by
a hoist chain a week before while work-
ing at the shops. Chitwood did not press
the matter but made a mental note to look
into it further at some later time.
The questioning petered out. When the
body had been removed to the funeral
home, Chitwood directed his men to can-
vass the district and the neighbors in the
usual routine search for a clue, then
hurried back to headquarters. There he
turned over the pieces of the broken
whiskey bottle and the noose to the crime
laboratory. for analysis. This done he
contacted the police officials of New York
City by long distance, asking them for a
line on the movements of the dead
woman’s ex-husband. If Perry wasn’t in
New York, when had he left? And where
was he?
Without waiting for an answer from
New York, Chitwood now assigned a de-
tail of men to canvass the local hotels
and rooming houses on the possibility that
Perry was indeed in E] Paso.
The wheels of the investigation were be-
ginning to turn but Chitwood was im-
patient for action. Uppermost in his mind
was Morgan’s strange behavior when asked
about his black eye, and he decided it
was time to find out the real truth of the
matter. Slapping on his hat he drove
swiftly to the railroad shops and there he
learned that Morgan had not only lied,
but lied badly.
“No,” said the foreman. “He didn’t get
that black eye here. He turned up with it
when he punched in for work on Monday
night. We all kidded him about it.”
“Well, who did give him the shiner?”
asked Chitwood. (Continued on page 46)
23
It was easy to see how Ellie had died.
She had first been knocked unconscious
by the bottle, then her life snuffed out
by the noose. “When did it happen, doc?”
asked Chitwood impatiently as the coroner
bent over the body. —
“Two hours ago at the most. Around
eight o'clock.”
“Okay. It’s just ten now,” said Chit-
wood. “We're not, too far behind the
killer. Let’s have the noose, doc. Cut it
but don’t disturb the knots.”
While the coroner bent over the body
again, Chitwood made a swift inspection
of the apartment. The windows and the
door were open but there was no signifi-
cance in that as the weather was unsea-
sonably warm. Ninety percent of all doors
and windows were open in El Paso that
night, to catch whatever breeze might be
stirring. There were 00 signs of a forced
entry anyplace, no sign at all that a ruth-
less killer had come and gone.
Not counting the dead woman, the only
obvious item of interest in the apartment
was the dinner pail standing on the kitchen
table. Chitwood pounced on it. It had
recently been packed with fresh sand-
wiches and fruit. Had the, killer left if
behind? Chitwood hoped so, for even
though there was no name, initials or
other identifying marks on the pail, he
felt sure that he would have little dif-
ficulty in tracking down its owner.
Back in the livingroom Fuller reported
that an examination of the shattered glass
had failed to reveal any fingerprints. The
killer had worn gloves.
“What kind of a bottle was. it?” asked
Chitwood. ™
“It shapes up as a whiskey bottle.”
Dr. Heleig now straightened up from
the body and handed the noose to Chit-
wood, who examined it carefully. It was
made of twisted strands of cotton and had
obviously once been used as the belt of
a bathrobe. It was limp from much
usage, faintly damp and a peculiar, inde-
finable odor emanated from it. Ground
into its strands were fine particles of a
substance that appeared to be sand or
ashes.
Chitwood gave these details but passing
attention and concentrated on the knots.
But in these he was disappointed. They
were simple granny knots, the kind that
would be tied by 999 men out of 1,000—
or by a woman, for that matter.
He stared moodily down at the body
for a long moment, bent down suddenly
and retrieved the ace of. spades from
Ellie’s dead fingers. ‘“That’s irony for
you,” he said. “The death card. What
we need in this case is motive, though on
the surface it has all the earmarks of a
crime of passion.”
After instructing Fuller and Hayes to
go over the apartment for a possible lead,
Chitwood hurried downstairs and spoke
with the landlady and Callon, Jr. From
them he filled in a little background on
the dead woman. A divorcee, she had
been married to her present husband but
three months. She had been a happy,
friendly soul and though she had had her
share of visitors, the landlady knew of no
man in her life besides her present hus-
band. Nor as far as she knew had Mrs.
Morgan had any enemies.
“About her ex-husband,” said Chitwood.
ELEANOR MORGAN—
was brutally clubbed and strangled.
“What is his name? Where does he live?”
“I don’t know.”
“And. you heard no disturbance tonight
—no outcry?”
“Not a thing.”.
“Did anyone call on her?”
“I didn’t see a soul.” ”
The young boy could add little to the
investigation except to state that’ he had ~
come to live with his father and step-
mother several days before. His mother—
Morgan’s first wife—had also remarried
and was then living in Los Angeles.
Back in the second floor apartment,
Chitwood dispatched Hayes to the rail-
road shops to bring in the dead woman’s
husband, then at a call from Fuller hur-
ried into the bedroom. Fuller was stand-
ing before the open drawer of a bureau,
holding a packet of letters tied with a
pink ribbon. They were addressed to Mrs.
Morgan in a bold, masculine hand.
.
“Might be something interesting,” sug-
gested Fuller. “Perhaps another man in
her life.”
“Or they could be from her present
husband,” said Chitwood. “Open them up.
Let’s see.”
It was swiftly determined that all the
letters were from the same man—a Ralph
Perry, Ellie’s ex-husband. The tenor of
all the missives was the same. Perry still
loved Ellie. He missed her. He wanted
her back again. Their daughter Marie
wanted her back, too.
The letters had been sent from a half
dozen cities across the country, the last
one, dated shortly after Ellie’s marriage
to Morgan, having been sent from New
York City. This last letter, obviously a
reply to Ellie’s announcement of her sec-
ond marriage, was couched in bitter terms.
“Seems the guy was still nuts about
her,” said Fuller.
“Yes,” s
make thing
happens to
There w
livingroom
breaking a
of the det
the floor b
filled the :
Hurryint
pulled the
the floor.
said symp:
Morgan
disbelief i:
‘asked brok
Chitwoo:
Morgan’:
“Why? Wh
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when Latour returned to the house to
bring back her brother’s coat.
It was a flimsy execuse for what the Sud-
bury police consider one of the most
vicious and unprovoked slayings in their
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the jury returned its verdict of “guilty as
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the gallows for Cecil Rainville’s murder.
Two months later, the man whose
jealousy or desire (the police are the first
to confess inability to fathom the strange
and twisted workings of the killer’s mind)
led him to slay his old friend’s pretty
’ bride, paid with his life for the crime he’
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23
ny
The foreman looked uncomfortable. “I
don’t know for sure. Morgan wouldn't say.
And after what’s happened I'd hate to put
suspicion on anyone.”
“This is a murder investigation,” said
“Chitwood sharply. Come clean.”
“Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if he got
that shiner from Pete Henry.”
“Does Henry work here?”
“No, but he used to.”
“Why would Henry give him a black
eye?”
“Well, from what I gather Henry was
mighty sweet on Mrs. Morgan. And
Morgan was jealous as hell.”
“Was Mrs. Morgan sweet on Henry?”
“I wouldn’t know about. that.”
“Where does this Henry live?”
“Out on Amarillo Avenue.”
Back at headquarters, Chitwood had
a sudden hunch. He contacted the district
station houses and inquired whether any
disturbance had been reported on the
blotters for the. preceding Sunday, involv-
ing Callon Morgan and Peter Henry. The
hunch paid off. The officer in charge of
the 4th Ward reported that on the pre-
vious Sunday afternoon Morgan and Henry
had engaged in a fist fight in the lobby of
a local motion picture theater. No ar-
rests had been made.
Chitwood now determined to ‘find out
why Morgan had lied about the black eye.
A half hour later he located: him in the
funeral ‘home. “Why are you covering
up for Henry?” he demanded.
Morgan shifted from foot to foot, hesi-
tated for a moment, then decided to make
a clean breast of things. “I guess you
found out about the fight,” he said sheep-
ishly. “Well, I didn’t tell you about that
because I don’t think Henry killed Ellie.
Dp de Deve te .
“He was nuts about her, wasn’t he?”
“Yes, I guess he was.”
“What do you mean by ‘guess’? That’s -
what you fought about, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I told him to keep away from
Ellie and he got sore.” ‘
“How. did she feel about him?”
“She didn’t like him but he wouldn’t .
let her alone.”
. Things were beginning to look up. Here
was motive .with a vengeance. A lovely
woman happily married. A scorned ad-
mirer. Frustrated, torn with. jealousy, to
keep her out of the arms of another man
he had brutally murdered her.
Chitwood immediately" sent out an
alarm for Peter Henry.
Early the following morning the dis-
appointments started to pile up. First and
most important, Henry had not been ap-
prehended. He had been missing from his
home and from his usual haunts for the
past several days. Secondly, the New
York police reported back that Ralph
Perry had been located in the apartment
he shared with his daughter on Morning-
side Heights and that he had not been
out of the city during the past two months.
With Perry thus apparently eliminated,
Chitwood stepped up the search for Henry
and glanced hurriedly through the reports
that Fuller and Hayes had turned in the
night before. Their canvass of the neigh-
borhood around the Morgan home had
been fruitless.
At ten o’clock the lab report came in.
Chitwood read it eagerly. No fingerprints
had been found on the broken glass but it
had been definitely determined that the
flask had been a container for Old Pioneer
whiskey. As to the bathrobe cord, it was
made of ‘cotton, it was much worn and
embedded in the strands were fine particles
of ashes. The peculiar and characteristic
odor emanating from_ it, plus the ash
particles, led the lab men to the conclusion
that it had recently lain in a dump.
“By God, they’re right,” muttered Chit-
wood. “That’s what that smell was.
Rotting refuse and garbage. The ‘bottle
probably came from the same dump.”
Calling in Fuller and Hayes, he showed
them the lab report. -“It’s unlikely that the
killer would have carried the bottle and
rope around in his pocket for long,” he
said. “He probably snatched them up on
his way to the Morgan home last night.
There must be a dump somewhere near
L Avenue.”
“There is,” said Hayes. “Almost di-
rectly behind the Morgan place. There’s
a deep hollow about half-filled with
cinders and junk. That old abandoned
road runs through it . . . used to be called
Railroad Avenue but nobody uses ‘it any
more.’
Chitwood rose hastily from his chair.
“No?” he challenged. “I'll lay you ten-to-
one the killer used it last night.” He had
no takers for the bet.
A half hour later Chitwood and his two
men proceeded cautiously on foot down
abandoned Railroad Avenue into the heart
of the dump that sprawled in the deep
hollow behind L Avenue. On all sides of
them were smouldering piles of rotting
junk and refuse; mounds of ashes, .broken
crates, smashed bottles. Approaching the
bottom of the hollow, the narrow road
became muddy and suddenly the men
stopped. For there in the sticky clay of
the abandoned road were the distinct im-
prints of automobile tires. They were
clean and :
been made
“Look,”
are footpri:
stopped the
where he s
skidded.”
“Yes,” s
excitement
what I see
lead to.”
Chitwooc
ing finger.
edge of tt
where the
refuse that
on top of tl
bathrobe.
not to distu
Chitwood :
amined it :
material a:
“We're in |
here and he
only his f
tracks as v
Lab mer
about mak:
prints. Th:
follow the
.climbed ou
clay vanish
marks. Th
proceeding
toward L /
“Where «
Hayes.
“Find He
his shoes fi
his car ma
solved.”
A pleasa
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Chitwood c:
with the cas
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shoes being
Nor did the
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4
ee
Texas killer
put to death
™=Wed., March 13, 1985
The Birmingham News— 1B
~
by injection
_ . HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP)..—
- phen Peter Morin, convicted of mur-
dering three women and accused of ~
. two other slayings, “died very calmly”
today after an orderly spent 40 minutes
searching the drug user’s limbs for a
» vein in which to insert the lethal nee-
- . dle.
- Morin, 37, once one of the FBI’s 10
’ most wanted criminals and sentenced
to die in two states, had asked attor-
neys not to appeal.
After unsuccessful attempts to insert
“a needle in both arms and one leg, a -
medical technician finally slipped the
-needle into a vein in Morin’s right arm
_at 12:44 a.m. He was pronounced dead
11 minutes later.
~ Morin told the technician. that the
: trouble came from drug abuse, an offi-
- ial said. “The guy’s veins are shot,”
* “prison spokesman Phil Guthrie said.
~ + As the lethal injection of sodium
thiopental, potassium chloride and
Pavulon flowed into his veins, Morin
took a deep breath and said “Lord
Jesus, I commit my soul to you.”
Morin — who turned to Christianity
7 after a victim read to him from the
Bible — made a kissing gesture to one
witness, closed his eyes, took another
deep breath and died.
“He died very calmly,” state Attor-
_ney General Jim Mattox said.
Morin was only the second person in
Texas to plead guilty to a capital mur-
Morin 4
der charge when he admitted shooting’
. Carrie Marie Scott, 21, outside a San
Antonio restaurant on Dec. 11, 1981. «+ £
-The conviction was upheld by the’
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Morin never had a stay and his case,
never was reviewed by a federal court. , .
Morin, awaiting execution calmly,’
spent his last day “in a religiously 7
motivated fast,” visiting with a few
religious friends. He had a soft drink or
“coffee for lunch and requested a final
evening meal of unleavened bread.
Morin also faced death sentences for
killing Janna Bruce, 21, of Corpus
Christi, and Sheila Whalen, 23, whose
body was found in the Denver area.
Those two slayings and Ms. Scott’s all
occurred within a five-week period in
1981. He also was accused of killing
two women whose bodies were found in
- a Utah desert after their abductions
from Las Vegas.
Morin was the second Texas inmate |
executed this year, the sixth since the.
state resumed the practice in 1982..."
Seowenstnt <t i
EEE BER AY Sth Cart canes,
se Reh 5 aC
‘Around
TRAtHe
Nation —
Judge in Texas Refuses
To Postpone Execution
HUNSTVILLE, Tex., March 12
(UPI) — A judge refused today to halt
young women and is suspected of slay-
ings and rapes in in several states.
Mr. Morin, 34 years old, was sen-
tenced to die by lethal injection after
12:01 A.M. Wednesday, central stand-
ard timé, for the Dec. 11, 1981, shooting
death of Carrie Marie Scott, 21, outside
a San Antonio restaurant. “
Mr. Morin had asked that no appeals
be made to stop his execution, but Ger-
ald Goldstein, general counsel for the
, | Texas Civil Liberties Union, filed a mo-
tion to postpone the execution.
The request was denied by State Dis-
trict Judge David Berchelmann. —
Mr. Morin, a drifter from Provi-
dence, R.I., who says he converted to
Christianity and had been studying to-
ward a degree in biblical studies, has
not appealed to a Federal court.
Mr. Morin pleaded guilty to killing
‘Miss Scott and later received death
sentences for killing women in Corpus
Christi, Tex., and Denver.
~™
the execution of Stephen Peter Morin, —_
_|who was convicted of killing three ~
THE NEW YORK TIMES, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13 1985
\
PE Rey
*
aes
f
3
=
v
S
£
ca
£
/
THE NEW YORK TIMES, THURSDAY, MARCH -14, 1985
I AN NO
Marieter of Three Women Is Excited: in Texas
’ HUNTSVILLE, Tex., March 13 (AP)
— Stephen Peter Morin, convicted of
murdering three women and accused
of two other slayings, was executed to-
day after technicians took more than 40
minutes searching the drug user’s
limbs for a vein in which to insert the
lethal needle.
Mr. Morin, 37 years old, once one of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s
10 most wanted criminals .and sen-
tenced to die in two states, had asked
lawyers not to appeal, although several
ignored his requests.
After unsuccessful attempts to insert
a needle in both arms and one leg, a
medical technician finally slipped the
OMAR png ct tae Seer
| coodhia into a vein in Mr. Morin’s right
arm at 12:44 A.M. He was agony:
dead 11 minutes later.
Mr. Morin, a drifter from Rhode Is-
land, told the technician that the trou-
ble came from drug abuse, an official
said. : ‘
‘The Guy’s Veins Are Shot’
“The guy’s veins are shot,’’ said a
prison spokesman, Phil Guthrie.; -
The lethal injection consisted of
three chemicals in a salt solution that.
produced death almost instanta-
neously, according to a spokesman for
the Texas Department of Corrections.
The three active chemicals were
sodium thiopental, described as having
a quick-acting lethal effect in the dose
used; pavulon, a muscle relaxant, and
potassium chloride, used for the pur-
pose of halting the heartbeat.
. The problem in the execution, how-
ever, was not in the choice of drugs, but
the mechanical problem of finding a
blood vessel free of scars or other dam-
age into which to pass the deadly solu-
tion. Mr. Morin’s long-term -use of
drugs had caused extensive damage to
blood vessels.
As the lethal injection flowed into his
veins, Mr. Morin took a deep breath
and then uttered his final words, ‘‘Lord
Jesus, I commit my soul to you.” °,
Beep
<r
Bs Bey CREE RI ST
~
=P IE RSE RR Rp re
Ae AEN pga AC
' The State Attorney General, ‘Jim
Mattox, said Mr. Morin ‘‘died. very
calmly.”
Another prison spokesman, Charlie
Brown, said, ‘‘I don’t know if it was the
longest, but it was the toughest.’”’ In
five previous executions by injection,
the longest it took to insert a needle was
10 minutes.
Mr. Brown said the difficulty in in-
serting the needles would probably
prompt the Texas Department of Cor-
rections to review its procedures for
administering the drugs when the con-
— person has a history of drug
abuse
Twenty capital punishment oppo-
nents held a vigil outside the death
chamber and 20 others held a candle-
mF vigil on the steps of the State Capi-
tol.
4
Mr. Morin admitted shooting Carrie
Marie Scott, 21, outside a San Antonio
restaurant on Dec. 11, 1981.
The conviction was upheld by the
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Mr.
Morin never had a stay of execution
and his case was never reviewed by a
Federal court.
‘ Governor Bars Intervention
Gov. Mark White, in a brief state-
ment just after 9 P.M. Tuesday, said he
would not interfere in the case. District
Judge David Berchelmann of San Anto-
nio refused earlier Tuesday to block the
execution.
Mr. Morin also faced death sentences
for killing Janna Bruce, 21, of Corpus
Christi, and Sheila Whalen, 23, whose
body was found in the Denver area.
Those two slayings and Miss Scott’s oc-
curred within a five-week period in
Y. 9
1981. He also was accused of killing two
women whose bodies were found in a
Utah desert after their. abductions
from Las Vegas, Nev.
Mr. Morin was the second Texas in-
mate executed this year, the sixth since
the state resumed capital punishment
in 1982 and the 40th in the United States
since the Supreme Court allowed ex-
ecutions to resume in 1976. uv
av
wy?
to
Bridge Named for Hero **
WASHINGTON, March 13 (AP) =
The bridge hit by an Air Florida plane
three years ago officially becomes the
Arland D. Williams Memorial Bridge
on Thursday in honor of the man who
sacrificed his life saving victims of the
crash. : od
re
LEIA FLORALS MS
TRA aes
1A dobegy 0 Gh
~siveae
Tr > oh % :
bs ite taped, i PPM ag iq. as r
4. Huntsville, Texas! am it | oS “ie haart ie
Morin had been sentenced to.)
-t” Stephen Peter Morin, whe + death for the Deci 11, 1981, murder’:
was sentenced (o death in two
states for three murders, was
“! execuled early today by lethal f
* injection after repeated unsue-
‘ ecssful attempts to insert the
{ fatravenous needle. 044% fr,
Sy den orl ae : ' V3.0
cv, Morin, 34, wha had requested
Ki tae Be legal atjempts Ae aunts to
m, was pronounced d
| 1288. am, officials aid nee
Killer executed in Texas
3-13-85
ive k
HUNTSVILLE, Texns — Stephes Peter Morin, 34
convicted of killing three seculed
today at 12:55 a. EST soem Dgneeeiperdoryo padi
m.
appeals be made to stop his death, but the sta chapt
, the American Civil Liberties Union msuccenely tried .
. Stop the execution. Ten other state inmates have asked the
state courts to either commute their sentences or halt
43-14-95
" HUNTSYI eet
r Bey
reblon dee orin, 37 — ex
; d :
i young wor
j eS 3 wu — The
of Carrie Marte. Sc , rig
Antonto, Texas.’ « ‘peste a AY
S_, Morin, who had a léngthy an”
~ Fest record from coast to coast, also’
- faced death sentences for the muré
. ders of. Janna Bruce, 21, of Corpus 3
Christi, and Sheila Whalen, : 234°;
' ee was found near Denver, ;."
eat Morin also was accused of slay.” !
Ing two women whose bodies were, |
~~
anna was one of Stephen.
pote victims in 1961, asked .
‘Gov. White for permission to
‘see Morin executed March 13.
He's to die for the murder of
another; woman, Carrie M.
so empress, T
ant eat * “4 : ;
FMurderer halts 3 N-G5 '
death row appeals
, - HUNTSVILLE, Texas — ‘Thrice;
condemned murderer Stephen Peter |
Morin appears ready to die, having 2)
a halt to appeais of his sentence. ™~
n is sentenced to die by injection .
before dawn Wednesday for the Dec. +
#44, 2861, murder of Carrie Marte Scott,
¢B1,-who was shot outside & San Anto-
testaurant. Morin asked for @ halt
atl appeals to stop his execution, and
-ptate district Judge David -
* mann in San Antonio last Friday turn,
~ ed aside an attempt by Morin's ssn 4
i appointed lawyer to overrule Morin’ {
jrequest | flee rrrrn we
CC COLL San fd
" HUNTSVILLE — Interven-
‘tion sought in death row case: ~
‘The Texas Civil Liberties.
‘Union searched for a relative
tor friend willing to ask a courts
to stop the scheduled Wednes-
bday execution of Stephen Peter °
Yyqee a>
{ Morin. The killer says he's %
j Feady to die; his attorney has
“ended appeal efforts. ...
i contished aqpiies tana tiuiee ——— . }
i
4
fudge in Texak Refuses -*
‘\To Postpone Exectition =.”
“AUNSTVILLE, Tex., “March 12 -.
(UPI) — A judge refused today to halt
the execution of S Moria,
who was Scavicted of Killing three,
Re oe ee
Ue me ae
EVE
a
f
266 Tex.
rights with regard thereto, on three sepa-
rate occasions during trial.
10. Criminal Law <1169.2(2)
Any error committed by admission of
identification evidence elicited from two
witnesses, objected to by defendant, was
rendered harmless when a third witness
identified defendant without objection.
11. Criminal Law ¢=770(3)
Jury charge which indicated that de-
fendant had pled guilty to the charge
against him, that he was mentally compe-
tent, that the plea had been made freely
and voluntarily, that the court had received
the plea and which contained the statement
“You are bound to receive the law from the
Court which is herein given to you and be
governed thereby” complied with require-
ment that jury be instructed on the law
applicable to the case, without comment on
the weight of evidence. Vernon’s Ann.Tex-
as C.C.P. art. 36.14.
12. Criminal Law 753.3
A directed verdict of guilty was per-
missible in capital case in which defendant
pled guilty. Vernon’s Ann.Texas C.C.P.
art. 1.13.
13. Jury ¢34(3)
"Defendant was not deprived of a trial
by jury when verdict was directed pursuant
to a guilty plea. Vernon’s Ann. Texas
C.C.P. art. 1.13.
14. Constitutional Law 250.2(3)
In capital case, introduction of extrane-
ous offenses for which defendant had not
been convicted did not violate equal protec-
tion guarantees, absent a claim of unfair
surprise. Vernon’s Ann.Texas C.C.P. art.
37.07; U.S.C.A. Const.Amend. 14; Ver-
non’s Ann.Texas Const. Art. 1, § 3. |
15. Criminal Law ¢=438(1)
In general, if a verbal description of an
item portrayed in a photograph is admissi-
ble, then so is the photograph which re-
flects the verbal testimony; only where the
probative value of the photograph is very
slight and the inflammatory aspects very
682 SOUTH WESTERN REPORTER, 2d SERIES
great will it be an abuse of discretion to
admit the photograph.
16. Criminal Law ¢=438(4)
Where verbal description of scene of
death which occurred a few days prior to
capital murder with which defendant was
charged was admissible, photographs de-
picting the scene of the earlier death were
also admissible. °
17. Criminal Law <800(2)
In capital murder prosecution, defend-
ant was not entitled to jury instruction at
punishment stage of trial regarding defini-
tion of the term “deliberate.”
18. Criminal Law @986.6(1)
The jury, as trier of fact during pun-
ishment stage of trial, was entitled to as-
sess credibility of all witnesses.
19. Criminal Law <986.6(3)
In capital murder prosecution, evidence .
regarding the offense at bar and prior felo-
nies and acts of violence committed by de-
fendant was sufficient to support finding
that defendant would commit criminal acts
of violence that would constitute a continu-
ing threat to society, notwithstanding evi-
dence that defendant had undergone a
Christian conversion. .
|
i
Peter Torres, Jr., John Keith Alaniz, San
Antonio, for appellant.
Sam D. Millsap, Jr., Dist. Atty. & Susan
D. Reed, Steve Vacek and Alan E. Battag-
lia, Asst. Dist. Attys., San Antonio, Robert
Huttash, State’s Atty. and Alfred Walker,
Asst. State’s Atty., Austin, for. the State.
Before the court en banc.
OPINION
MILLER, Judge.
Appellant was indicted in Bexar County
for the offense of capital murder. He was
charged with the murder of Carrie Scott
while in the course of committing robbery.
After appellant’s request for a change of
venue was granted, the cause was transfer-
red to Jefferson County. Appellant pled
MORIN v. STATE ~ | Tex. 267
Cite as 682 S.W.2d 265 (Tex.Cr.App. 1983)
guilty. The trial judge instructed the jury
to return a verdict of guilty. After the
jury complied, evidence was heard at the
punishment state of trial. The jury an-
swered the special issued affirmatively and
appellant was sentenced to death. Appel-
lant appeals on nine grounds of error. The
sufficiency of the evidence is not chal-
lenged.
First, appellant contends that the trial
court erred in overruling his motion to dis-
"miss the indictment because: the grand
jury failed to inquire into all offenses liable
to indictment, acting instead as a rubber-
stamp for the District Attorney’s office;
appellant was denied an opportunity to ap-
pear before the grand jury; the indictment
is vague and contradictory; and the indict-
ment calls for a punishment that is con-
trary to the Eighth and Fourteenth Amend-
ments to the United States Constitution
because the punishment mandated is cruel
and unusual.
Bodiford v.
State, 630 S.W.2d 847 (Tex.App.1982); Wil-
son v. State, 581 S.W.2d 661 (Tex.Cr.App.
1979); Ely v. State, 582 S.W.2d 416 (Tex.
Cr.App.1979); Wells v, State, 576 S.W.2d
857 (Tex.Cr.App.1979).- Given*the gravity
of the sentence, however, we shall deal
with each of appellant’s claims under his
first ground of error. ° :
[1] Appellant’s claim that the grand
jury failed to inquire into all offenses liable
but acted only as “a rubberstamp for the
District Attorney’s office” is without merit
Since the allegation is unsubstantiated by
any reference to a transcription of the
grand jury proceedings. Moreover, no evi-
dence was offered at trial on the issue.
We cannot accept as fact allegations. in
briefs or motions that are not supported by
the record. Art. 40.09, V.A.C.C.P,; Haw-
kins v. State, 628 S.W.2d 71 (Tex.Cr.App.
1982), citing Beck v, State, 573 S.W.2d 786
(Tex.Cr.App.1978).
[2] Appellant also complains that the
court improperly denied him an opportunity
to. appear before the grand jury. An ac-
cused does not have the constitutional right
to appear in person or by counsel before
the grand jury. Moczygemba v. State, 532
S.W.2d 636, 638 (Tex.Cr.App.1976), and
cases cited therein. Since appellant has no
right to appear before the grand jury, the
trial judge did not err in denying his re-
quest. a a
[3,4] Next, appellant challenges the in-
dictment as being vague and contradictory.
He contends that the indictment is duplici-
tous since it alleges that the murder oc-
curred while appellant was “committing
and attempting to commit robbery.” Faced
with a similar indictment, we have previ-
ously resolved this issue adverse to appel-
lant’s claim. Burns v, State, 556 S.W.2d
270 (Tex.Cr.App.1977), cert. denied, 434
U.S. 935, 98 S.Ct. 422, 54 L.Ed.2d 294
(1977). Appellant also attacks the indict-
ment because it fails to allege all of the
elements of robbery. In Livingston v.
State, 542 S.W.2d 655 (Tex.Cr.App.1976),
cert. denied, 431 U.S. 933, 97 S.Ct. 2642, 53
L.Ed.2d 250 (1977), we held that under the
new Penal Code, an indictment charging
one offense during the commission of an-
other crime need not allege the elements of
the latter offense. Id., 542 S.W.2d at 658,
and cases cited therein.
[5] Appellant’s last attack on the indict-
ment under his first ground of error is
directed at the death penalty: he contends
that the death penalty is cruel and unusual
and is, therefore, contrary to the Eighth
and Fourteenth Amendments to the United
States Constitution. We rejected this con-
tention in Burns, supra, and Livingston,
Supra, 542 S.W.2d at 662. The United
States Supreme Court also rejected this
contention in Gregg v. Georgia, 428 US.
153, 96 S.Ct. 2909, 49 L.Ed.2d 859 (1976),
reh. denied, 429 U.S. 875, 97 S.Ct. 197, 50
L.Ed.2d 158 (1976). Accordingly, we over-
rule appellant’s first ground of error.
[6-9] In his second and third grounds of
error, appellant alleges that the trial court
erred in overruling his Motion to Suppress
‘and in admitting the identification testimo-
ny of two witnesses because their testimo-
ny was tainted and based upon Suggestive
Case Of The Irresistible Rape-Slayer
(continued from page 37)
into isolation for safekeeping until his
trial date. Morin, who nursed a broken
nose and other injuries, refused to iden-
tify his assailant.
Morin proved to be a troublemaker to
jail officials who twice caught him trying
to telephone news agencies when he was-
supposed to be calling his court-
appointed attorney. When they restricted
his use of the phone he alleged that he
was being **muzzled.’’ He was subjected
to the usual psychiatric and mental ex-
aminations and found to be competent to
stand trial. Another indictment was
handed down by the grand jury in the
slaying of Janna Bruce whose body was
found on Padre Island on December 2.
Morin’s trial commenced as scheduled
in Beaumont in what was described as a
maximum security courtroom equipped
with a bulletproof shield between the
spectators and the participants. Morin
came into the courtroom with a Bible in
his hand spouting religion and prepared
to act as one of his own attorneys. Now
formally charged with having murdered
five pretty, young woman in three states,
Morin told the court, ‘‘It is true that I
have turned my life over to Jesus.’’ It was
known that he had been visited by both
Candice Deets and Reverend Copeland,
the evangelist from Ft. Worth, subse-
quent to his arrest. Copeland had bap-
tized Morin in the Bexar County Jail.
The next ten days were taken up with
the task of selecting a jury. This was
completed on April 6 after which District
Judge David Berchelmann read the in-
dictment to the seven-woman, five-man
jury and then summoned the defendant
before him and asked him how he
pleaded to the charges.
What happened next set a precedent in
the city of Beaumont. As astounding as it
might sound, the three words spoken by
Morin literally created chaos within the
courtroom. He said, *‘I plead guilty.’’
It was that simple. After all the legalis-
tic folderol including a change of venue
and ten days in selecting a jury, Morin,
when asked for his plea, said, I’m guilty
as charged.
Lawyers are taught in law school and
they’ve succeeded in fostering the im-
pression that everything must be proved
beyond all reasonable doubt before it be-
comes acceptable. Otherwise, there’d be
no need for the hordes of lawyers which
populate our halls of justice. The judge
was shocked and confused and it took
four hours before the prosecutor, counsel
for the defense and the judge himself to
8
decide what to do in a case where a man
stands up and says ‘‘I plead guilty.’”
They weren’t even certain that the judge
could accept the plea although he’d asked
for it.
Let it be noted that Morin pleaded guil-
ty only to the shooting death of Carrie
Scott and the wounding of her compan-
ion. The judge finally ruled that the trial
would still proceed and jurors heard testi-
mony from 14 police officers and viewed
30 pieces of evidence intended to con-
vince them of the guilt of the accused |
who'd already told them he was guilty. A
parade of other witnesses mounted the
witness stand during the next six days ina
case where the judge had finally
announced that he was accepting the
guilty pleas. Morin’s lawyer contended
that an accused could not plead guilty
unless Texas law was re-written. One
wag in the courtroom laconically re-
marked, **Whatever, we don’t want any
lawyer drawing unemployment com-
pensation.”’
In any event, through this forum, the
general public learned through the news
media coverage of Morin’s checkered,
multi-faceted career of violence. One of
the many witness to testify was a pale,
auburn-haired woman from California.
She was 14 when Morin allegedly strung
- her from ceiling hooks and sexually tor-
mented and abused her. Alternately sob-
bing and glaring at the defendant, she
graphically described her awful ordeal.
Another witness who had lived to tes-
tify against the man who’d previously
brutalized her was Wanda Tucker, the
woman who had spent almost two weeks
in captivity after she was abducted, sodo-
mized and raped by a man who had twice
handed her his gun and invited her to put
him out of his misery.
An elderly couple spent several days
sitting in the front row of the spectator
seats listened to the testimony. They car-
ried Bibles and prayed for Morin’s soul
while most people who listened to the
descriptions of the unspeakable atrocities
with which he was accused felt he should
be condemned to eternal damnation.
‘*Hang him!’’ was the general con-
sensus.
On April 16, 1982, the jury deliber-
ated for two hours and fifteen minutes
and then returned to the courtroom to
declare that Morin should be put to death
by injection having been found guilty by
his own plea of the wanton murder of
Carrie Scott. Defense Attorney Pete Tor-
res had previously implored, ‘‘Give
Christ a chance. Give Christ a chance,
Amen!”’
The saga of Stephan Peter Morin is far
from over. There will be appeals and
reviews and a host of other jurisdiction
are clamoring for the chance to try him
for crimes committed elsewhere. Fore-
most among these are prosecutors in Col-
orado, Utah and Nevada.
One thing seemed certain — it is high-
ly doubtful that Morin shall ever again be
loosed upon society to continue his de-
predatory ways. One is obliged to won-
der why he was allowed to remain at
large for as long.as he did. Once the
Texas authorities set their minds to it,
they had Morin in the slammer within 36
hours. *
(Editor's note: The names Marva Jay Combs,
Wanda Tucker, Rita Cassidy and Candice C.
Deets are fictitious. Use of the real names would
serve no public interest).
Deen Grave For A High-Roller
(continued from page 21)
the Air Force because the length of his
hair and the style of his beard just did not
fit a military man. ‘‘We were nowhere,”
the sergeant admitted. ‘tWe spent
months on John Doe 15-76 and still
didn’t know who he was.”’
Three years went by. Mike Stodelle
was promoted to sergeant and was trans-
ferred to a different department. Bill
Arthur was promoted to sergeant but re-
mained in the county’s Eastend homicide
department. One morning in April,
1980, Arthur was at his desk in the homi-
cide **bullpen’’ looking through a mur-
der report. It was just an ordinary day in
the life of a San Bernardino detective. He
was busy reading the reports when a
woman appeared at the front desk want-
ing to file a missing person's report.
Sergeant Arthur, not lifting his eyes from
the report, heard Detective Jim Bailey go
to the counter and assist the woman. She
seemed very upset and said her brother
was missing and the San Bernardino city
cops hadn’t lifted a finger to find him. It
had been almost three years. She said she
had kept pestering them but they kept
coming back with the same old line that
her brother was an adult and there wasn’t °
much they could do.
(continued on next page)
264 Tex.
contempt as Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Ann. art.
191la, § 2, the court stated that
.-- it is one thing to hold that depriva-
tion of an individual’s liberty beyond a
six-month term should not be imposed
without the protection of a jury trial, but
it is quite another to suggest that, re-
gardless of the circumstances, a jury is
required where any fine greater than
$500 is contemplated.
Muniz, 422 U.S. at 477, 95 S.Ct. at 2191.
This distinction between punishment by
fine and punishment by imprisonment led
the court to state that the two are “intrinsi-
cally different.” Jd.
Hamdan and its progeny assert that
they properly draw a distinction between
individual contemnors and other entities
based on the facts of Muniz ($10,000 fine
assessed against labor union with 13,000
members). See Hamdan, 552 F.2d at 279.
Muniz does not suggest such a distinction.
_The Muniz court stated that the argument
that a $10,000 fine posed a “serious risk”
to a large union was “untenable.” Muniz
422 US. at 477, 95 S.Ct. at 2191. Indeed,
Muniz seems to require an inquiry by the
court into the financial ability of the con-
temnor to pay the imposed fine before the
court is bound to declare an offense a
“serious” one entitling the contemnor to
the constitutional right to trial by jury.
Muniz, 422 U.S. at 476-8, 95 S.Ct. at 2190-
91. In Werblud, this court acknowledged
Muniz and recognized that a $1,000 total
fine did not necessitate a trial by jury, as it
remained in the category of petty offenses.
Werblud, 536 S.W.2d 542.
In the instant case the trial court im-
posed a fine of $104,000 against Griffin:
$500 for each of the 208 violations of the
injunctive order against him. The court
fails to note that Griffin’s gross revenues
from the prohibited sales totaled over $96,-
000, representing a profit of over $67,000.
When balanced against the amounts Griffin
would not have realized had he not violated
the clear order of the trial court, the $104,-
‘000 fine is reduced to a net fine of just
$8,000. The punitive effect of the fine and
1. Relator was released on bond pending this
682 SOUTH WESTERN REPORTER, 2d SERIES
the ability of the contemnor to pay may be
considered in light of the revenue raised
through a violation of the order of the
court. U.S. v. Troxler Hosiery Co., Inc.,
681 F.2d 934 (4th Cir.1982) (gross revenue
—$60,000; profit—$15,000; fine—$80,000
plus costs); Musidor, B.V. v. Great Ameri-
can Screen, 658 F.2d 60 (2nd Cir.1981),
cert. denied, 455 U.S. 944, 102 S.Ct. 1440,
71 L.Ed.2d 656 (1982) (2 sales in violation of
injunction—gross revenue of $60,000-75,
000 at one of the sales; fine—$10,000 for
each violation).
In light of the net fine imposed, it is
doubtful that Griffin was absolutely enti-
tled to a jury trial as a constitutional right.
It is not clear that such a right even exists
in civil proceedings to assess criminal con-
tempt punishments through fines. The
question was expressly left open by the
Supreme Court in Muniz in such a way as
to indicate that the existence of that right
is as open to question as the extent of that
right. See Muniz, 422 U.S. at 476, 95 S.Ct.
at 2190. fed
Griffin had been ordered not to sell to
these companies; he knew that if he violat-
ed this order he would be held accountable
for his actions; and still, he wilfully af-
fronted the dignity and authority of the
court by engaging in prohibited sales.
Since Griffin did not demand a jury trial,
this court has had to resort to the question-
able doctrine of “fundamental error’ to
reverse the judgment. This court assumes
that the trial court would have denied Grif-
fin a jury trial had he requested one. Grif-
fin has had a fair and impartial hearing. I
would therefore remand him to the Sheriff
of San Patricio County.!
SPEARS, J., joins in this dissenting opin-
ion. f
’ MORIN v. STATE Tex. 265
Cite as 682 S.W.2d 265 (Tex.Cr.App. 1983)
Stephen Peter MORIN, Appellant,
v.
The STATE of Texas, Appellee.
No. 69028.
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas,
En Banc.
Sept. 14, 1983. -
Rehearing Denied Jan. 9, 1985.
Defendant was convicted in the Crimi-
nal District Court, Jefferson County, David
A. Berchlemann, Jr., Special Judge, of capi-
tal murder, and he appealed. The Court of
Criminal Appeals, Miller, J., held that: (1)
defendant had no right to appear before
the grand jury; (2) indictment was suffi-
cient; (3) defendant waived any error com-
mitted regarding identification testimony
by pleading guilty; (4) defendant’s guilty
plea was voluntarily made; (5) jury charge
properly instructed jury on the law applica-
ble to the case without comment on the
weight of evidence; : (6) verdict directed
pursuant to guilty plea was‘permissible and
did not deprive defendant of trial by jury;
(7) introduction of extraneous offenses for
which defendant was not convicted did not
deny defendant equal protection guaran-
tees; (8) photographs depicting scene of
death which occurred a few days prior to
offense at bar were properly admitted; and
(9) evidence was sufficient to support find-
ing that defendant would be a continuing
threat to society. . . .
Affirmed.
Clinton, J., dissented to ground of er-
ror No. 8, and filed opinion dissenting to
denial of defendant’s motion for leave to
file motion for rehearing without written
opinion. ut
‘1. Criminal Law ¢1128(2)
The Court of Criminal Appeals could
not accept as fact defendant’s allegation
that grand jury failed to inquire into all
offenses liable and acted only as a rubber
stamp for the district attorney’s office, ab-
sent substantiation of the allegation by ref-
erence to a transcription of the grand jury
proceedings and absent any evidence of-
fered at trial on the issue. Vernon’s Ann.
Texas C.C.P. art. 40.09.
2. Grand Jury 35
Defendant has no constitutional right
to appear in person or by counsel before
the grand jury.
3. Indictment and Information €=71.4(5)
Fact that indictment alleged that mur-
der occurred while defendant was “commit-
ting and attempting to commit robbery”
did not render the indictment vague and
contradictory.
4. Homicide 138 ;
Indictment charging murder while de-
fendant was committing and attempting to
commit robbery need not have alleged the
elements of the robbery.
5. Constitutional Law €270(1)
Criminal Law €1213.8(8)
Death penalty was not cruel and un-
usual punishment in violation of Eighth
and Fourteenth Amendments. U.S.C.A.
Const.Amends. 8, 14.
6. Criminal Law ¢=273.4(1)
By pleading guilty, defendant waived
any error committed regarding identifica-
tion testimony of two witnesses.
7. Criminal Law €273.4(1)
A plea of guilty, voluntarily and under-
standingly made, waives all nonjurisdiction-
al defects, including deprivations of federal
constitutional due process. U.S.C.A.
Const.Amend. 14.
8. Criminal Law €273.4(1)
Error in admission of identification evi-
dence is not jurisdictional in nature so as to
escape waiver by guilty plea.
9. Criminal Law €273.1(4) t
Defendant’s plea of guilty was made
both voluntarily and‘ understandingly
where trial judge advised defendant out-
side of presence of jury of the conse-
quences of entering a plea and defendant’s
*“SQ6I-ET-E (UoSaeggepr) sexes, UoTZO CuT TeyIeT foqTYM f404eg UsA|gS *NTHOW
268 = Tex. 682 SOUTH WESTERN REPORTER, 2d SERIES"
identification procedures, i.e., appellant’s
picture had been seen on television by the
witnesses prior to identification. Appel-
lant’s claim is without merit for two rea-
sons. First, appellant waived any error
committed regarding the identification tes-
timony of the two witnesses. A plea of
guilty, voluntarily and understandingly
made, waives all nonjurisdictional defects,
including deprivations of federal constitu-
tional due process. Wheeler v. State, 628
S.W.2d 800 (Tex.Cr.App.1982); Velasquez
v. State, 608 S.W.2d 674 (Tex.Cr.App.1980);
McKelvey v. State, 570 S.W.2d 951 (Tex.Cr.
App.1978); Runo v. State, 556 S.W.2d 808
(Tex.Cr.App.1977); Cantu v. State, 546
S.W.2d 621 (Tex.Cr.App.1977); Helms v.
State, 484 S.W.2d 925 (Tex.Cr.App.1972).
Moreover, error in admission of identifica-
tion evidence is not jurisdictional in nature.
Ex Parte McWilliams, 634 S.W.2d 815
(Tex.Cr.App.1982), cert. denied 32 Cr.L.R.
4098. Since appellant entered a plea of
guilty, and the plea was made voluntarily
and understandingly,’ any error committed
by the trial court regarding identification
was waived.
[10] Second, in addition to the identifi-
cation testimony given by the two witness-
es challenged by appellant, a third witness
also identified appellant and placed him at
the scene of the offense. Her testimony
was not challenged. Under our holding in
Williams v. State, 477 S.W.2d 885 (Tex.Cr.
App.1972), any error committed by admis-
sion of the identification evidence elicited
from the two witnesses, objected to by
appellant, was rendered harmless when the
third witness identified appellant without
objection. Accordingly, we overrule appel-
lant’s second and third grounds of error.
In his fourth and fifth grounds of error,
appellant contends that the trial court
erred in directing and instructing the jury
1. Appellant has not challenged the plea entered
before the trial court. We have made an inde-
pendent examination of the record and deter-
mined that appellant's plea of guilty was made
both voluntarily and understandingly. The trial
judge advised appellant outside of the presence
of the jury of the consequences of entering a
plea and appellant's rights with regard thereto,
on three separate occasions during trial. More-
to return a verdict of guilty, and in denying
appellant’s requested instructions to the
jury at the guilt stage of trial. Appellant
claims that a directed verdict is prohibited
in capital cases for three reasons. First,
Art. 36.14, V.A.C.C.P., requires that “in
each felony case ... the judge shall before
the argument begins, deliver to the jury,
except in pleas of guilty where a jury has
been waived, a written charge distinctly
setting forth the law applicable to the case;
not expressing any opinion as to the weight
of the evidence ....”? Since a jury cannot
be waived in a capital case under Art. 1.13,
V.A.C.C.P., the trial judge, according to
appellant, commits fundamental error if he
refuses to instruct the jury on the law and
directs the jury “to find the defendant
guilty. Second, appellant contends that the
trial court deprived appellant of a trial by
jury because the court’s _ instruction
amounted to a jury waiver. Third, appel-
lant contends that there is no procedure
providing for the direction of a guilty ver-
dict in capital cases under Texas laws.
[11] Appellant’s initial contention that
since a jury cannot be waived in a, capital
case, Art. 36.14, V.A.C.C.P., requires that
the judge instruct the jury on the law over-
looks the fact that, in the instant case, the
judge did instruct the jury on the law when
he told them to return a verdict of guilt.
The charge read to the jury indicated that
appellant had pled guilty to the charge,
that appellant was mentally competent,
that the plea had been made freely and
voluntarily, and that the court had received
the plea. The charge also contained the
statement “You are bound to receive the
law from the Court which is herein given to
you and be governed thereby.” The
record, therefore, shows compliance with
Art. 36.14 in that the jury was given in-
struction on the law, applicable to the case,
ppellant’s plea was supported by evidence
ig ae canien. The trial court, therefore, prop-
erly accepted appellant’s plea. See Arts. 26.13,
27.13, V.A.C.C.P.; Wheeler, supra; McKelvey, su-
pra; Runo, supra; Cantu, supra; Helms, supra.
2. Appellant's emphasis.
MORIN v. STATE Tex. 269
Cite as 682 S.W.2d 265 (Tex.Cr-App. 1983) .
without comment on the weight of the evi--
dence. Fairfield v. State, 610 S.W.2d 771,
780 (Tex.Cr.App.1981), and cases cited
therein.
{12,13] Appellant’s claims that the
judge’s instructing action in a verdict de-
prived appellant of trial by jury and that
instructed verdicts are not provided for in
capital cases are also without merit. In
Crawford v. State, 617 S.W.2d 925 (Tex.Cr.
App.1980), cert. denied 452 U.S. 931, 101
S.Ct. 3067, 69 L.Ed.2d 431, reh. denied 453
U.S. 923, 101 S.Ct. 3160, 69 L.Ed.2d 1005
(1981), the defendant pled guilty to the
offense of capital murder, the trial judge
directed a verdict of guilt, and the jury
Subsequently assessed punishment at
death. We noted no fundamental error in
directing the verdict of guilt in the case,
nor do we find such error now. A directed
verdict, therefore, is permissible in capital
cases where the defendant pleads guilty,
and the plea is properly accepted by the
court. Furthermore, the defendant is not
deprived of a trial by jury when a verdict is
directed pursuant to a guilty plea since the
jury receives evidence at the ptinishment
Stage and must determine whether the de-
fendant is to receive life imprisonment or
the death penalty. Accordingly, appel-
lant’s fourth and fifth grounds of error are
overruled.
In his sixth ground of error, appellant
contends that the trial court erred in per- .
mitting the introduction into evidence of
extraneous offenses involving the killing of
Janna Bruce, the attempted killing of an-
other person, and an assault on a third
Person, where appellant had not been con-
victed of any of these offenses. Appellant
claims that the accused in a capital murder
case is treated differently than others ac-
cused of non-capital offenses since Art. 37.-
07, V.A.C.C.P., permits the State in capital
cases to prove offenses not resulting in
final convictions. Such varied treatment,
according to appellant, is violative of equal
| +3. Janna Bruce was not the victim of the instant
offense. Her death, however, occurred a few
protection guarantees provided under both
the State and Federal Constitutions.
[14] In Williams v, State, 622 S.W.2d
116 (Tex.Cr.App.1981), cert. denied 455 U.S.
1008, 102 S.Ct. 1646, 71 L.Ed.2d 876 (1982),
we held that absent a showing of unfair
surprise, proof of an unadjudicated, extra-
neous offense at the sentencing stage of a
trial on a capital offense is admissible and
does not deny a defendant due process and
equal protection under the law. Since ap-
pellant has made no claim of unfair sur-
prise, his sixth ground of error is over-
ruled.
In his seventh ground of error, appellant
contends that the trial court erred in admit-
ting into evidence the photographs of Jan-
na Bruce? in that such photographs were
prejudicial and inflammatory and served no
Purpose except to inflame the minds of the
jurors thus depriving appellant of a fair
trial.
[15] As a general rule, if a verbal de-
Scription of an item portrayed in a photo-
graph would be admissible, then so would
the photograph which reflects the verbal
testimony. Kelly v. State, 621 S.W.2d 176
(Tex.Cr.App.1981); Heckert v. State, 612
S.W.2d 549 (Tex.Cr.App.1981); Luck ».
State, 588 S.W.2d 371 (Tex.Cr.App.1979);
Harrington v. State, 547 S.W.2d 621 (Tex.
Cr.App.1977); Martin v. State, 475 S.W.2d
265 (Tex.Cr.App.1972). Only where the
probative value of the photograph is very
slight and the inflammatory aspects very
great will it be an abuse of discretion to
admit the photograph. Kelly, supra; Har-
rington, supra; Martin, supra.
[16] In the case at bar, evidence relat-
ing to the death of Bruce was admissible
during the punishment Stage of the trial.
See discussion, Supra. Moreover, the po-
lice officer who investigated the scene of
Ms. Bruce’s death testified as to what he
Saw at the scene of her death. He also
stated that the photographs accurately por-
trayed that which he observed. Since the
days prior to the offense in the case before us.
T
|HOW FIVE DIED IN
ELECTRIC CHAIR
Dance of ‘Death at Huntsville Goes On as
Scheduled; Chair Works “Splendidly” ;
Warden Shows Nerve | wie
et Ey gee \
- ' BY H.C, WATERS ae ae,
Huntsville, Tex., Feb. 8.—Huntsville staged its grandest
‘Orgy of death just after the midnight hour this morning.
It had prepared carefully the stage for the legalized trag-
edy it enacted in the innermost recesses-of-the-prison here.
'Everything went off methodically. : -
The little room where the five men died was packed to ca-
pacity with about 40 persons. a es ‘
. “There will be no smoking here,” announced N. L. Speer,
deputy warden. “There are no openings inthis room.” ° |
But there were two openings—one thru which the con-
'demned men came and one to the rear of the death chair,
‘where they dragged them out'to be thrown on a stretcher.
Every one of the five negroes walked to hig death without
~ja tremof.
: Cc
His head as all the others, had
been shaven Clean for the killing.
arden W, M. Miller, wh
deen Selected ag master of Cust
r
@ then
the
8!m
bd palped--the
He ‘viewed it a itly 3
t Pparent}
fn Curlosity, than anything ‘elses
a None_of_You_Know,* ;
“Charles, have you an:
pa Queried the warden = e
e3,"’ @ald the negro, an
aterted>. to speak, “Well, cere
trans said a guard at one bide
o gu
about, -.uards wh
The negr, :
wiles, NeETO spoke ina Clear
. “I have broken the
he law,"
said. “Il am ready to die, I Gave
7religion and I am
meet my Maker. Mob,atrald to
dle but ‘none 6 ; 4
Heath will coma te yaa se™ Ym
© chair, 4 Ww. ned him back
¢ and two or three mone
pre
a
\ -}sent-up-frem the same county on
E/ Koa) a) ( a conviction of murder In comtection
: | C — ~ with the death of @ negro mnn.. The
—f}\—. x ila a charge of having slain « vegro
/ j } wy ] woman in Liberty County. :
TULL TA; te _j_ Reynolds was the firat to he plac: |
LAST MINUTE _
EFFORT FAILS
end
_ Huntsville, Texas, Feb. 8.—Jn-a brightly lighted ‘foom of the
state prison here, with prison and state officials, doctors and news-
paper men present, the lives of five negroes, sentenced to pay the
extreme penalty for their crimes,.were snuffed out in the new
electric chair of the State of Texas, shortly after midnight.
The execution of the five marks-the inauguration of a new Icgal
method for the state to exact. the death penalty of the criminal,
taking the place of hanging.in the county jails of the state, which
method had been.in use since ‘lexas joined the-Union.:
‘At the end of the corridor on which is located the new death cell
of the- prisons the-execution room.—Against-one Awall -sits-a-low
{sturdily built chair of oak, fitted with arm, ankle and head bands,
to‘carry the death charge of 2500 volts-into-the-body -of-the-con-;
denined, and straps to hold the victims to prevent struggles as
Bi they prepare for the last long
journey. At one side is & black
panel with electric gauges, indi-
Gating to the. executioner the
amount of current-available.. .
+ o°o°0
Lant-Minute Attempt Fall, . ..
One of the negroes was granted a}
reprieve of one hour shortly hefore
hia turn came to be placed in’ the
chair, in order to allow his attorney
to make. a lagteminute attempt to
wave bis life. A long Gistance call
to Acting Governor Davidson proved
unavailing and the map wen: to his]
death, =. @ © (
All the negroes were convicted on
murder. charges. Two of thea)
Charles Reynolds and Mwell Morris,
were tried on charges of having alain
white men, the former in Red River
and the Intler in Victoria County.
A third, Mack MaChews, sas tried
for the denth of his wife in Newton
County;anit George Washington won
as
wy
fifth, Melvin Johnson, received the
death penalty folowlng his trial on
ed in the chair. Morris, Wushing-
ton and Mathews came next In the
order named. Johuson was the last
4 Ws an jexeeyted, ° gt
/ 1 ) iJ: Johnaon wae the negre granted an
| hour's reprieve, i.y' 0 ieee f
. Walter fee tec tenk former
- {aherift of ‘Johhbon -County, newly
inatalled.warden at the penitentiary, |
‘|threw the electric awilCh that, sent
the high charge-into the bodies-ofthey
{ five.
' Pa ooo. es
Coleman Girea His Viewpoint, —
Muler takes the. pluce ‘af forivtr
Warden R. FP. Coleman of Hantsville.
who resigned when he Jearfied that
he was to be chief exéculloner of
the state. y Sat
“It juat. coukin't. be done, buys,”
Coleman told newapaper men, in giv-
{Continued on pase 2.) -
pee eae eae | Welk a2
minutes to end his life. The war-
den never blinked.
|HERE'S MORE ABOUT || ‘ Oder Fills Room
But the crowd ‘was sickened by
| the tragedies ‘it was witnessing.
Thp odor of burning flesh f{illod
; ; the room as the current seared
STARTS ON PAGE ‘ONE | the flesh of the last negro and
. i
men walked out of the atifling
: : ; FOom to catch a breath of fresh
CUrrent WAS -OLf~ nm tte ee ed alr. ;
: Then a Lall
“Yes,” nodded the warden, He
4 And then there came a lu!! be-
heart of the man bound in the! fore the execution of-Melvin John-
| chair, -. . son—a whole hour filled with ar-
| “I pronounce Charles oRey-| dent hope and prayer, ending ifn
| Nnolds dead,” he sald. so , slowly death.
like. ’ his age People of Liberty-co, whence
They unstrapped the man.] the hegro was sentenced, were
Guards carried him toa rear dodr/ trying to get Acting Governor T,
| and sort of tossed him on a W. Davidson, who was on ‘a train’
Stretcher which was carried to a | from his home at Marshall to Aus-
morgue that has been established! tin’ ¢o grant a reprieve for the
In’ the prison, His relatives cani doomed man...
have the dead body !f they want - Everybody around the prison,
dt, including the warden, seemed to
eee It Worked Fine a want the negro to win in hig fight
The pew method of killing_peo. fF life. Waited In Vain
‘ple had worked fine. The warden
ward nnounced,'his
sald so. The prison electrician —-89..th¢. warden a
. execution: would be Postponed an
eale st: wae» model Instrument. hour. *But finally a tele ram]
The prison chaplain, Rev. I. L. son. @ sa e
‘Dickey, stood near the chair’and knew nothing of the facts in. the
sald-he thought-{t was-a MOTE) base and would not interfere,
humane_way_to_kill_people_but,. So at 2:05 this morning they
“of course I don’t think {t proper: led the 19-year-old negro to the
for me to be quoted about this! death chair.
matter,” he added guardedly, By this Ume even the few spoc-
| Law's Author There tators had wearied of the carni-
T. K. Irwin, of Dallas, author val of death. They stood about
of the electrocution law was pres-/ the Prison yard telling how ¢ he
ent. He stood up front within a ly the warden -had taken up hfs
few feet of the death chair when|/ new task of being executioner of
the executions started. When the] | Texas.
first execution was over he had “Ho Can Have It":
»| Sot back to the rear of the room. There was nothing but praise
A ABolieh Death Penalty for his nerve but all shook their
|} “Oh,.I-think this ts more hw heads'and many remarked:
-] Mane than hanging,” sald. Irwin. “Well, he can’ have the job. I
“But I am opposed to the death!| don't Want it.”’- . 7
.| Penalty In any shape or form. ]
{thought this-ohange ~from - hang-
‘Ting to killing men by electrocu-
tion would at least attract the at-
tention of tho people to these lex-
‘| alfzed killings,
“ “You may say there will be a
bill before the next legislature to
| abolish capital punishment Yn any
form. That's one reason I] -came
eae here, just to see how fe al
5.°°
Dance of Death ‘Resumes
The first negro had died In just
1 six minutes from the time they
Strapped him jn the chair,
The dance of death went on un-
til the tele handful of men was
sickened. One by one they fed
Words to-say—al] along the same
line. They hWnd all got reliziog.
. The Second :
The second was Ewell Morris,
22, convicted of murder In Vic.
torla-co, It ‘took the 3000 volt
current only two minutes to still
his heart, so the doctors said.
. Then came George: Washington, 1
convicted of murder in Newton-|1
co Four minutes the awful |<
whirring noise went on while the|(
body strained at the strong straps, |!
The doctors then said he was|{
dead, ~ ‘ i : . !
Next came Mack. Matthews, 58,
|| OF Newton -co, convicted of mur. |
dér. It took four and one-half
O08 eee eee ———— —
tor = i RA
Sy
PHOTOGRAPHS show the death cells at the Huntsville prison,
- and the new electric chair which:was: put into-strvice Friday
for the first time, as well as the five negroes who .were serit-to
their death for murders. The five are, reading from top to’ bot-
first to die.
The Electric Chair—And Its Victims
REA aX OX
tom, Melvin Johnson, last to die; Ewel Morris, Mack Matthews,
George Washington and Charles: Reynolds.
rer
Reynolds was the’
owe
; Executions—. | oe
athe (Contihuea ‘from-page 1:)7
by J 2 RRC
:
eye
e
"2 present- and expressed eatisfaction
over the new method, both declaring {
Crane a
Ing his polnt of view. “A warden
can’t be warden and killer too, The
‘| Penitentiary is a place to roform a
-} Man. not to kill him,”
With Miller it-was différent.
. “It's.a caso duty withyne,” he
y’ eald. oy have fisrtec wreral "men
j—while IX .wag sberif{, and to touch
the button or pall the switch on
is .@n elcctric.chair mcans no more to -
“ATOR
‘TT
‘mo than pulling the ‘lever of the
ows, At any rate, it's moro,
Rematesaive chatr.” :
While the executions were in prog-
Tees ‘Coleman wai in bed. soundly
sleeping and did—not-know-—that—the
condemned -men -had- met-thede ‘fate
unti] he awakened late Friday morn-
Ing. He-is now ‘the proprietor of a
Huntsville hotel and had served 10
years as Warden before his retire-
ment... Lae
Representative L. K. Irwin of Dal-
las County, who introduced the elec-
trocution bil, and Prison -Commis-
sioner Walter Bayles, who granted
thatit-ts-more-h . ; P
~ Electrocution became: thea legal
method of execution in the.state fn
August-and-since.that time no one
has been’ executed, Governor Neff
granting’. several reprievosa to the
negroes executed today. in order that
the chafr might be finished: |
The bill was passed at the last reg-
ular seasion of the legisiaturen .',’ «,.
si 3
the hour reprieve to Johnson, were
48 hours
veriff had
ed report
‘iation in
bout that
out what
he officer
bottle of
-hen,
‘now why
soison put
lat you’re
.RTLING
talking about, Sheriff. Poison, Peaches. I never poisoned any
peaches.” .
“You had this bottle of poison in your room, didn’t you?”
The officer palmed the tiny glass bottle. :
“Yes ... No. No, I didn’t!”
“But you did steal the horse?”
Haines’ body sagged. “Yes, I took the horse . . . to get away,”
he admitted in a low voice. “But I didn’t kill Mrs. Morrison.”
The sheriff stared levelly at the hired man. “We can hang
you just as high in Carson county for stealing a horse as we
‘can for murder, Haines,” he said. “You're in this thing up to |
you neck.” .
Haines only shrugged his shoulders, his face deathly
white.
A deputy motioned to the. sheriff from the door. For a
moment. the two men conferred; then the sheriff walked back
to his desk and faced the hired man.
“Haines,” he said, “you bought that strychnine two weeks
DETECTIVE
ago in Conway. You told the man who sold it to you that you
wanted to kill skunks. Right ?”
Haines was silent for a moment. Then he nodded, slowly.
“Yes,”
“You wanted to kill skunks in Panhandle in the middle of
the winter!” %
Haines said nothing.
“That’s a lie and you know’ it,” the sheriff blazed, “You
could stampede a herd of steers across half of Carson county
in December and not pop a single skunk out of the sagebrush.”
The hired man nodded. “I guess’ that’s right.”
“Take him back to his cell,” the sheriff ordered.
For several minutes, after Haines had left, the sheriff
sat motionless in his chair, Then he looked at Deputy
Sawyer, a quizzical expression on his face.
“Something keeps prickling the back of my mind,
Bob,” he said. “Haines seems to be guilty. We found the
strychnine in his room. The medical association verified
the evidence of the poison in Mrs, Morri-
son’s stomach. We found the man who
identified Haines as the man who bought
it from him to ‘kill skunks.’ But something
doesn’t add up.”
“What's that?” the deputy
asked.
“What possible motive could
Haines have had? I can’t con-
ceive of one. And another thing
—to me, the use of poison seems
a little inconsistent with the
man’s character. He might have
shot the woman, or hacked her
to death with an ax. But poison?
No. He doesn’t have that much
imagination.”
The deputy looked at his. chief,
sensing that the officer was on
the trail of a new lead in the
case, “What’s on your
mind ?”
“The only evidence we
- have against Haines ‘is cir-
cumstantial and without a
motive that won’t hold up too
well in court.”
“What do you plan to do?”
“Mr. Morrison left town
established that this was
murder. At the time it didn’t
strike me as strange that he
should want to be with his
sick mother, but now. that we
know it’s murder, I think
we'd better check on him.”
As the sheriff spoke he
was writing out a message.
“Send this out by telegraph
at once,” he said as he
- finished.
_ The message was addressed to the Kansas City police depart-
ment, requesting them to check the whereabouts of the Rev.
Morrison who was visiting his sick mother in that city.
“You think Morrison did it?” the deputy asked in amazement.
“I don’t think anything yet,” the sheriff replied. “But Haines
has no motive for killing the. woman, I’m not certain that
Morrison. had none. He may be completely innocent, but so
long as he’s. out of town it may give me an excellent chance
to find out.”
Thirty minutes later Holland let himself into the minister’s
study in the Morrison home. He started work immediately,
examining the room from wall to wall. Patiently he sifted.
through the papers on the desk, studying the contents of each.
His search included the wastebaskets, the books! that lined
the walls and the desk.drawers. Finally he found what. he was
seeking. In a small drawer at the rear of the desk He found a
letter addressed to the minister in a woman’s handwriting and
[Continued on page 62]
55
before we had _ definitely -
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Firs Day |
Clue ‘of the Poisoned Peach
(Continued. from page 55]
signed “Edna.” Slipping the letter into
his pocket, he went next door to the home
of the woman who had visited him the
morning after Mrs. Morrison’s death.
She answered’ his knock and he stated
his question at once, “Do you know of
any woman named Edna with whom the
Reverend Morrison might have been
friendly?” ;
“Edna?” The woman pondered a
moment, then shook her head. “No. He
had several women parishioners whom he
visited occasionally as a matter of duty.
All of them thought highly of him, but
they were not named Edna.”
“This woman is probably not a parish-
ioner,” the sheriff prodded. “In fact, she
probably ‘does not live here in Pan-
handle.’
"THE woman puzzled a moment, then
her face lighted. “Why, yes,” she said.
“There was an Edna Bitner. She lived
here for several months and was a good
friend of both the Reverend and Mrs.
Morrison. She used to-stop at their home
frequently, But she mbved back to
Kansas City several months ago.”
“Kansas City!” The sheriff could not
conceal his elation. Thanking the woman,
he left at once for the office.
Here he was met by Deputy Sawyer
who handed him a telegram, It was an
answer to the wire sent out a few hours
before and verified the sheriff's suspicion.
Morrison had no mother in Kansas City.
Shortly afterward, the sheriff saddled
his horse and made a hurried trip to
Marietta, checking every farm house
en. route. He returned before dark and
strode into the telegraph office in the
Panhandle depot.
He wrote a message and handed it to
the clerk. Slowly the clerk read over the
message which was addressed to the
sheriff in Kansas City.
“Arrest and hold the Reverend Guy E.
Morrison for return to Panhandle for
questioning in connection with his wife’s
death.”
Two days later, the Rev. Morrison
stood on the exact spot where his hired
man had stood in the sheriff's office
several days previously,
“What is the meaning of this?” he
demanded. “It is an outrage!”
~ The sheriff studied the minister care-
fully for a moment. Then he said:
“Morrison, you almost got away with
murder.”
The pastor sputtered, “What are you
talking about?”
“Did you see Edna Bitner in Kansas
City?”
Morrison’s face was livid. He clamped
shut his mouth.
“T think you did,” the sheriff said. “In
fact, we know you did. The police are
returning her here now.”
Then the sheriff dangled a letter from
his hand. It was written in ink on a
woman’s stationery in a woman’s hand.
The letter was addressed to: “Dear Guy”
and was signed “Edna.”
“You had a motive for killing your
wife,” the sheriff said. “Haines didn’t.
You hoped he’d be caught. You asked
Haines to buy that strychnine two weeks
ago, You knew your housekeeper never
ate peaches. You put some of the poison
in a jar of peaches and hid the bottle in
Haines’ room. Then Mrs. Morrison ate
the peaches and died. Haines was sup-
posed to be your goat, Morrison. ,
“You suggested to him that your wife
had been poisoned. He got panicky. He
had bought the strychnine, He ran away
that same night on a stolen horse. Then
you invented a story about your sick
mother to leave town. You wanted to see
Edna. Edna Bitner, The girl you were in
love with!”
Morrison made no response. He stood
stiffly and defiantly as the sheriff con-
tinued:
“Your wife was beginning to suspect
your affair with the girl,” the sheriff said.
“You had to get rid of her. So you
arranged for Haines to buy the poison.
Then on the day. she died, your nerve
failed. You had to get out of the house.
You told neighbors that you were going
to ‘visit an ailing family near Marietta.’
But you never, went to Marietta, I don’t:
know what you did—but you didn’t visit
a single family in or near the town of
Marietta.
“Then you wrote yourself a letter
about your sick mother in Kansas City,
for an excuse to leave town. You were
losing your nerve, But you don’t have a
mother in. Kansas City. Haines’ act in
running away gave you a perfect out: You
thought you were safe. But Haines didn’t
have a motive for the crime. You did.
You killed your wife, Morrison, because
ve were having an affair with that young
girl.” .
The minister's voice was a croak when
he a “Well, that’s that, I guess,” he
said.
The sheriff put in his final blow. “You
see, Morrison, we found Haines and he
admitted buying the poison. He admitted
that only a few minutes ago. He told us
his story. It tallies with what we know
you did.”
“How did you find out?” the minister
asked.
“T found the girl’s letter in your study.
There were others; and they were not
the kind of letters you would read from a
pulpit,” he added significantly.
“T checked the story on your mother’s
illness with the Kansas City police. They
reported that your mother did not live
there. I checked the ‘ailing family’ at
Marietta. There was no such family.
You're guilty of murdering your wife for
the affections of Edna Bitner!”
HE trial of Guy E. Morrison was one
of the most famous ever held in the -
Texas Panhandle. The case was moved to
Wilbarger county on the appeal that the
people of Carson county were prejudiced.
Some of the best attorneys in the South-
west represented Morrison, Facing these
defense attorneys were some of the best
prosecutors in Texas, among them W. D:
Berry and Sam Cowan.
Morrison made an appeal to the jury:
on the grounds that he could not resist
the temptations of his sweetheart, Edna
Bitner, But the jury returned a verdict
of guilty on the murder charge. .
The jury foreman read the guilty
verdict, and the court sentenced Morri-
son to die. The minister was hanged on
Oct. 25, 1899.
(The names Timothy Haines and Edna Bitner
as used in this story are not real, but fictitious to
protect the identities of persons innocently involved
in a murder investigation.—The Editor.)
7
ie A wis
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rested
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ties we
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Them |
Haines’ rooms contained a modest set
of furniture, including a mirrored,
marble-topped hall rack. As a last resort,
after searching the room carefully, Hol-
land lifted the marble top of the rack and
examined the interior. His face mirror
his pleasure as he lifted out a small glass
bottle containing a trace of liquid.
He uncorked the bottle and held it to
his nose. Then he handed the bottle to
the deputy.
“Perhaps the neighbor women were
not imagining,” he said. “Maybe Mrs.
Morrison really was trying to tell them
something before she died.”
The deputy nodded. “That’s right. Un-
DETECTIVE ,
less I’m wrong, there’s enough strych-
nine in this bottle to kill a horse Y
At the sheriff’s suggestion, the two
men walked through the Morrison home
to the kitchen. The family housekeeper
was drawing water from a pump at the
sink. Behind her, a wood fire roared in,
the kitchen stove. She started, fright-
ened, when the officers walked into the
room.
“My land, you startled me,” she
gasped. “Sneaking up on a person like
that.’ Then she wiped her hands on her
apron. “Sit down and have a cup of cof-
fee. It’s mighty chilly outside.”
Over a cup of steaming coffee, the
sheriff learned the housekeeper’s version
of the death of Mrs. Morrison. She re-
vealed nothing startling.
“She complained of being sick at her
stomach after the Sunday dinner,” the
woman said. “I couldn’t understand it.
We all ate the same food. But I still
think something mighty queer hap- ©
pened. It was almost as though she had
eaten. . .” The woman hesitated.
“Poison?” prompted the sheriff.
The housekeeper’s face blanched. Then
she regained her composure and nodded,
tight-lipped. “That’s right! Poison!”
“What was served for dinner rr
The woman listed the food.
53
“Now what food did Mrs. Morrison eat that you and her
husband did not eat ?”
The housekeeper pondered for a moment. “It must have
been the jar of peaches. Yes, I remember now. She ate a peach.
I don’t like them, so I didn’t. I also served them to Mr. Morrison.
I don’t remember whether he ate his or not.”
The sheriff nodded.’ “Now we’re getting somewhere. Show
me that jar of peaches.”
The housekeeper went to the wooden cupboard and produced
a glass jar of home- preserved peaches. Except for two
peaches, the jar was full.
Her voice was shrill with excitement. “I put up those peaches
myself last summer, Sheriff. And there wasn’t any poison in
that jar then!” Her face flushed hotly. ““Why. . .” There was
amazement in her voice, “somebody trifled with this jar.”
The sheriff examined the jar. There were scratches along the
top as though a knife had been used to loosen the lid. “Were
those marks there yesterday?” he asked.
“They could have been.”
“Now try and remember, did Mr. Morrison eat his
peach ?”
“I don’t remember. He was interrupted-right in the middle
of his meal when somebody came to the door. He didn’t finish
eating.”
“Could Timothy Haines, the hired man, have come into
this kitchen and put poison in that jar?”
“Mr. Haines!” The housekeeper was aghast. She hesitated,
then continued: “Well, yes, he could have. The rest of the
canned fruit was in the storehouse. It was the only jar in the
cupboard, It’s been there three or four days.”
“That's all I want to know.” He turned to his deputy. “Come
on, we’ve got a trail to follow.”
Back at his office, the officer summoned the doctor again.
“I want you to perform a post mortem on the body of Mrs.
Morrison. Then I want you to send the contents of her stomach,
with this bottle and this jar of peaches to the medical association
in. Galveston for analysis. We don’t have the facilities here to
determine whether these peaches contain strychnine, but I
believe they do.”
He showed the bottle he had found in Haines’ room to the
physician. “Doesn’t this bottle contain a trace of the poison,
Doctor ?” he asked.
The physician made a tidehled examination of the bottle,
then said: “Yes, I would say this bottle had contained strych-
nine. I can tell you for certain after I make a test.”
HE sheriff’s hunch proved correct when the doctor returned
from his office. ;
“That's str ychnine, Sheriff,” he said flatly.
After the physician had left, the sheriff summoned several
deputies into the room. He told the officers the details of Mrs.
Morrison’s strange death and the discovery of the poison.
“We’re looking for Haines right now,” he said. “I want each
of you men to take a section of this county and question every
person in that section who might have sold this poison, It’s
doubtful that the murderer traveled very far in this weather
to buy the poison. Check every sale of strychnine in Carson
county during the past six months.”
When the officers had left the room, Deputy Robert S awyer
sat down across from his chief and watched the sheriff in
silence for a moment. Then he asked: “You're sure it’s murder,
Sheriff?” ’
Holland shrugged. ‘I’m not sure of anything right now.
I’m only acting on a hunch, We haven't had the contents of the
woman’s stomach or the peaches analyzed. But I feel certain
that strychnine from the bottle we found in Haines’ room
killed her!”
“And that’s why Haines left in such a hurry ?”
“Maybe. If he’ s guilty. He’d been working for Morrison
ten years. A man’s ordinarily got to have a blamed good reason
for a sudden hankering to leave... on a stolen horse.”
Regarding the possible motive, the sheriff had no suggestion.
“We'll get that out of Haines when we corral him,” he
said. “Horse stealing is a hanging offense—along with
murder—in Carson county. That will bring the truth out of
Haines,”
«But Haines did not scare easily the sheriff discovered. Two
54
94 Sabie be-tade Da 20d 4. -
The housekeeper went to
the wooden cupboard and
produced a glass jar of
home-preserved | peaches.
Except for two peaches
the jar was full.
days later the man was arrested in Amarillo and 48 hours
later he was lodged in the Carson county jail. The sheriff had
him brought immediately to his office.
On the desk in front of the officer was a telegraphed report
he had received that day from the medical association in
Galveston, Tex.
“All right, Haines,” he said. ‘‘What’s your story?”
The hired man grunted, “About what?”
The sheriff fingered the papers on his desk. “About that
horse you stole the day Mrs. Morrison died , . . about what
you know concerning the woman’s death... and,” the officer
watched carefully to see the effect, “about that bottle of
strychnine we found in your room.”
“Strychnine ... you found!” Haines’ face was ashen.
“And,” continued the sheriff, “I’m interested to know why
Mrs. Morrison died from strychnine poisoning ... poison put
by a murderer in a jar of peaches !”
Haines. half rose from his seat. “I don’t know what you're
; STARTLING
a,
talking abo
peaches.”
“You hac
The officer
“Yes 5).,
“But you
Haines’ b
he admitted
The sher:
you just as
can for mur
you neck.”
Haines «
white,
A deputy
moment, the
to his desk ;
“Haines,”
DETECTI\
city “Murdertown’’
ians have this latest
ing to remind them
’$ no exaggeration
KILLED
‘en Appleton lies partly
where he had been shot.
varm, pleasant afternoon, two
were doing target practice
the rifle range along Turkey
rowing tired of shooting at
a tin can into a pond beside
‘ns firing at it.
and his son, Stephen, 11, had
1 handed the 9-shot revolver
1e other member of the party.
ness executives.
d fired at the target. But he
mister?” said a soft, pleasant
gazing at a young man who
behind him. The newcomer,
wore a red hunting cap and
ried a .22 rifle.
‘u want to,” Hanson said.
edge of the pool, raised his
aim. His shot whistled over
k the water beyond.
eems like this rifle always
d the gun and smiled pleas-
und here, do you?”
Hanson said.
DETECTIVE CASES
q
4
a
Sheriff C. V. “Buster” Kern looks over wallets of victims and displays pistol used in triple slaying.
REE PEOPLE’
Sheriff's Captain J. D. Walters beams flashlight ray
into closet Where murder gun, money and other personal
effects of the three brutally slain victims were found:
by Jerome Green
Sheriff Kern (1.) and Chief Deputy B. F. ‘‘Ug’’ Williams
inspect hole which was battered in wall of suspect's
room to recover dead men’s wallets hidden in the flue.
37
a
“Then I reckon you drove out in that car standing over
there.” The youth nodded toward an expensive late-model
sedan parked on the road nearby.
“It’s my car,” Appleton spoke up.
“It’s mighty nice-lookin’.” The youth regarded the two
men in a friendly manner for a moment, then volunteered:
“I come here to practice target shooting lots of times. Fve
got some other guns at home, too. But I never did own a
>? revolver. Mind if I take a look at yours, mister?”
!
HERE WAS NO ONE else in sight on the rifle range,
and some deep-rooted instinct made Hanson hesitate
briefly. But the next instant, he was reproving himself for
being over-cautious. The young man was soft-spoken and
courteous. He had a clean-cut look about him, He was ap-
parently a farm boy who lived somewhere nearby and was
out hunting rabbits. He held the revolver out to him.
The youth transferred his rifle to the crook of his left
arm, took the revolver and flipped it open. It still contained ,
six unfired cartridges.
“Mind if I try it out on that little ol’ tin can?” he asked.
“Go ahead,” Hanson said.
The boy in the red hunting cap took a step back, leveled
the gun toward the pond. Then abruptly he swung around
and pointed it directly at the two men and the boy.
Hanson’s heart practically jumped into his throat. “Hey,
put that gun down!” he cried. “Never point a loaded re-
volver at anyone.”
There was a new, hard glitter in the youth’s eyes, and
his lips had formed into a twisted smile.
“Now I want you people to do just what I tell you,” he
said. “Then there won't be no trouble at all. Just come in
closer together—that’s right. Now put your hands up.”
Hanson stared at him in astonishment. “What are you
going to do—hold us up with our own gun, after I was nice
enough to let you try it out?” j
“You just shet up, mister—and stay shet up.” The youth’s
voice was still soft and mild. He put down his rifle and ad-
vanced with the revolver. He reached in. Hanson’s’ hip
pocket, withdrew his wallet and stuffed it into his overall]
jacket.
“Now give me your change,” he said. i
/
Bertram Appleton made try for freedom, was first to die.
\
Hanson took several bills and some silver from a trou-
sers pocket and handed them to the bandit, who then went
to Appleton, took his wallet and also demanded his loose
change.
“Don’t think you’re going to get away with this,” Apple-
ton said severely. “I intend to see that you’re turned over
to the police and thrown in ‘jail.”
“Just hand me the rest of your money.” The man in the
overalls stepped closer and thrust the gun into the older
man’s ribs.
Appleton handed over the rest of his money.
‘“‘Now give me your car keys.”
“I haven’t got them,” Appleton said.
“Where are they?” -
“They’re in the car.”
The youth stepped away so that his gun swept all three
of them. “Now I’ve got to decide what to do with you,” he
said. “I guess you’d better climb down into that ditch and
start marching along the bottom. Keep your hands up.”
He waved the gun toward a ditch that had been dug to
supply dirt for Addick’s Dam, which was part of a flood
control project. The ditch ran for several hundred yards
across the fields: toward a woods. It was entirely dry at the
moment. fe
By thisetime, Hanson was thoroughly alarmed. “What do
you want us to go down there for?” he demanded. “What
do you intend to do with us?”
“Don’t ask questions,”. the youth retorted. “Just get
moving. This trigger finger of mine is mighty itchy.”
“Look, let’s all be reasonable about this,” Hanson said,
trying to keep his voice calm. “Mr. Appleton didn’t mean
what he said about sending you to jail., You’ve got our
money. Now if it’s the car you want, go ahead and take it.
We won't go to,the police until you’ve had time to get a
long way from here.”
“You just get moving,” the youth said laconically.
The two men and tha boy climbed down into the deep
ditch. As they walked along it in the direction of the woods,
they were completely out of the range of vision of anyone
who might happen to be in this lonely area. The young
man kept giving commands in his soft, drawling voice. His
revolver remained leveled on them, while he carried his
Bodies of victims were found by 17-year-old Gail Gillaspy.
rifle under his other
The ground at the
full of boulders. App
been hospitalized fo
regained his strengt
grow weak. His rais
. “Keep those hand:
“T haven’t got the s
I want a cigarette.”
“All right, stop. Y
HE STRANGE |!
cigarette and be;
Suspect, gripped
and some silver froma trou-
to the bandit, who then went
and also demanded his loose
to get away with this,” Apple-
o see that you’re turned over
il.” .
your money.” The man in the
thrust the gun into the: older
‘est of his money.
ys.”
nleton said.
> that his gun. swept all three
cide what to do with you,” he
mb down into that ditch and
om. Keep your hands up.”
a ditch that had been dug to
1, which was part of a flood
in for several hundred yards
ods. It was entirely dry at the
horoughly alarmed. “What do
‘e for?” he demanded. “What
-
e youth retorted. “Just get
mine is mighty itchy.”
le about this,” Hanson’ said,
1. “Mr. Appleton didn’t, mean
you to jail. You’ve got ‘our
u want, go ahead and take it.
itil you've had time to get a
youth said laconically.
climbed down into the deep
in the direction of the woods,
he range of vision of anyone
this lonely area. The young
his soft, drawling voice. His
them, while he carried his
by 17-year-old Gail Gillaspy.
rifle under his other arm.
_’ The ground at the bottom of the ditch, was uneven and
full of boulders. Appleton, who was in the lead, had recently
been ‘hospitalized for an operation and had not entirely
regained his strength. He began to breathe heavily and
grow weak. His raised hands sagged lower as he walked.
- “Keep those hands up,” the youth cautioned. ,
“T haven’t got the strength,”- the older man protested, “and:
I want a cigarette.” | ‘
“All right, stop. You can have a cigarette.”
Ul
T= STRANGE PROCESSION halted. Appleton took a
cigarette and began to: smoke. No one said anything.
/
Suspect, hands cuffed
behind his back faces
intensive questioning
by two deputy sheriffs.
. Hanson kept glancing around, trying to think of some way
out of | the peal situation. Presumably the youth
meant to march them into the woods. But what did he in-
tend doing with them there? Would he tie them up and
leave them? Hanson fought back the terror that was rising
in him. He'd have to think of some way to outsmart the
youth, get the two weapons. His life might well depend on it.
« “Let’s get going,” the young man said sharply. “Put those
hands .up again.”
Once more they started off in single file along the ditch,
a strange, grim procession. Eleven-year-old Stephen Apple-
ton had obeyed all the gunman’s commands without ques-
tion, and he didn’t seem (Continued on page 72)
Suspect with mother, relatives (r.) confers with lawyers.
iaiaeransactedtcldiacaoretaansemrmrmarnacas
It was a correct anticipation. His
counsel admitted the two murders, and
declared that Heath was a moral defec-
tive. The defense was not insanity—
which under a law of 1723 meant total
insanity—but partial insanity.
This was the mainstay of the defense.
Anthony Hawke, for the Crown, relied
on the strict interpretation of the law.
He did not suggest that Heath could be
in a normal state of mind, but he did
suggest, on the evidence, that this was a
plain case of murder—prompted per-
haps by perverted instinct, but not ex-
cusing the perpetrator from lawful re-
sponsibility.
On to the stand stepped Inspector
Spooner, of Scotland Yard, primed with
the background facts of Heath’s history.
No Dead End Kid was Neville
George Clevely Heath. He had a good
suburban home and a high school edu-
cation, but, from his schooldays on, his
monetary resources fell short of his so-
cial pretensions. He sought to cure that,
in his teens, by exploiting his talents for
fraud and deceit combined with a charm
of manner, a kind of magnetic attrac-
tion, that fascinated any woman he en-
countered,
At 19 he joined the prewar Royal Air
Force, but was soon court-martialed and
dismissed from the Service for stealing.
A civilian again, he drew his first, sus-
pended, sentence for various frauds only
two months: later. (He was then posing
as Lord Dudley.) ;
When World ‘War II came he was
serving a term—frauds on a woman
friend—but was released conditional on
joining the Army. He got to the Middle
East, but was court-martialed again
about phony checks and returned to
England. On the way he’ jumped ship at
Durban, and resumed his career of prey-
ing on women. He'showed up in differ-
ent places and under different names
and in different uniforms, on an ascend-
ing social scale, and eventually got. to
Johannesburg and signéd on.as a recruit
in the South African Air Force, care-
. fully saying nothing about his two years
with the R.A.F, Phenomenally quick to
-learn, this “born flyer” recruit soon be-
came an instructor.
His name was now, James Robert
Cadogan Armstrong—“son of Arm-
strong-Sideley motors, you know”—and,
circulating in a more congenial. social
stratum now, he met and married beau-
tiful Elizabeth Pitt Rivers, the daughter
of a wealthy mining family, This mar-
riage was wrecked when she returned
to her parents two months later, and
dissolved by, divorce after three years.
Meantime, having got on the wrong
side of both military and civil law in
Africa, Heath was sent back to Eng-
land.
He showed up, in a uniform to which
he was altogether unentitled, at his
home town of Wimbledon, London, as
Colonel “Jimmy” Armstrong, complete
with wings and medal ribbons. This im-
posture landed, Heath in the local magi-
strates’ court, and thus Inspector Spoon-
er was able to obtain his photo.
After days of legal bickering Heath’s
murder case was sent to the jury, which
promptly returned a “guilty verdict.”
To the end Heath’ maintained his
pose of nonchalant indifference. Nor
was he ever known to express regrets or
remorse for the fate of Margery Gard-
ner and Doreen Marshall. There. was
talk of an appeal, but it was not initiated
by him. He left himself in the hands of
the parel of doctors which the British
‘Home Secretary is required by law to
call when a defense of-insanity is raised
in a murder trial.
But the panel found him sane and
Heath was hanged.
The execution was at Pentonville
Prison, London, on the 16th of Octo-
ber, 1946. Sometimes, it may be, a.
man’s last words are a clue to his life
and .character, even on the scaffold.
Two minutes before he was led out to
die the governor of the prison asked
him if he would like a highball. Heath
thanked him and said he would. And
then, stopping the governor as he was
about to give the order, he grinned and
said: “You might make it a double.” @
/
“I KILLED THREE PEOPLE” -
(Continued from page 39)
4
frightened or even particularly con-
cerned about what was going on. Han-
son thought the boy was probably too
young to realize fully the danger.
After they had stumbled along the
ditch bottom another five minutes, their
captor said: “All right, climb out. Into
the woods.” -
After the exertion of climbing the
dirt bank, Appleton stumbled and fell.
The youth permitted them to rest again.
Then he marched them through the un-
derbrush between the sparse trees to
the bank of Turkey Creek. Here they
could no longer be seen from the sur-
rounding fields.
“All right, stop here and line up side
by side, facing me,” the youth said.
The men and the boy obeyed. Then
the youth laid his riflé on the ground
beside him. Transferring the revolver
to his left hand, he advanced toward
Appleton. The crooked smile that had
remained on his lips was completely
mirthless. His eyes glittered dangerous-
ly. “Take: off your belt and hand it to
me,” he said.
Appleton obeyed reluctantly.
‘Now your shoelaces.”
There was fear in the older man’s
face now. “Look here—what do you
mean to do—tie us up and leave us here
72
- volver.
to die of thirst? We might be here all
night—even several days—before any-
body found us.”
The youth looked. at him speculat-
ively. “So you’d rather not be tied up.”
“Better let him tie us if he wants to, .
Appleton,” Hanson said sharply. “It’s
\ better than some things I can think of,”
‘Appleton bent down and started to
pull out his shoe laces, But his eyes were
not on what he was doing. They were
on the youth’s .22-caliber rifle, which
lay on the ground only a dozen feet
away. The youth had moved away from
it. i
Appleton, still bending over his shoe-
laces, suddenly. lunged forward. He -
half-run, half-stumbled to the gun,
. grasped it, started to swing. around.
His captor’s revolver followed his ”
every movement, and then he pulled the
trigger. Two. shots sounded. sharply: in
the afternoon stillness. Appleton gave
an odd, hoarse yell: that died in his
throat. Clutching at ‘his chest, he spun
around and fell face-downward into
the’ shallow, muddy: water at the edge _
of the creek, where he lay entirely still.
Hanson stood staring incredulously
at his friend, who was now quite evi-
dently dead. Rage. boiled, up within
him, until! he could control: himself no
longer. ty BE SY
“You've killed him, you: maniac!” he
shouted. Then he sprang forward. sud-
denly, tried to seize the youth’s re-
He stepped swiftly aside and Hanson. ,
went sprawling on the ground.
Again the gun cracked out. Two
bullets entered Hanson’s back and he
too lay still. “
Then, young Stephen, who had run
over to where his father lay in the
water, let out a yell. He started to run
away along ‘the creek bank. Then he
apparently thought better of it, stopped
and turned,
“Don’t shoot me—please don’t!” he
said, ,
The_ gunman fired his last two bul-
lets into the boy’s chest: and he too .
toppled into. the water!
Te YOUTH in the red cap stood
still for an instant regarding. his
handiwork, Then he went to the body
of Hanson, reached in his pocket and
took out some cartridges. He reloaded
‘the revolver. Next he went to the boy,
who was still alive and splashing help-
lessly in the water.
Deliberately, cold-bloodedly, he fired
six more shots into the boy until at last
he lay still, Then he went over to the
elder Appleton and put another bullet
through his head.
That seemed to satisfy him,:and he
put the revolver in his jacket pocket,
picked up his rifle and started back .
toward the rifle range where the car was
parked. ;
During the time he had been in the
_ woods, however, something he had not
anticipated had been happening near.
the rifle range. Four young women, out
;
iY
DETECTIVE, CASES,
Ff
for an afternoon of horseb
had noticed the parked car.
surprised that there was no
or anywhere else in sight.
Then they heard shots cc
the distance, an intermitter
them.
“Somebody must be ove
woods shooting at rabbits,
15-year-old Pat Smith.
“Well, either there were a
bits or he was a mighty
- said her companion, 16-ye
Gillaspy. “I heard at least «
shots.”
The girls started in the «
the woods and rode until Gz
in the lead, caught sight o!
lying on the ground near th:
reined up and swung down
horse. It was a man’s billfo!
“Wonder who could ha
this out here in the middle o
she said to Pat, who had pt
side her. The ‘other two
Elaine Weiman, 23, and
_Armstrong, 20, rode on.
Gail ‘looked in the wallet
that it contained more thar
in bills, as well as two a
licenses—one issued for t!
Texas and the other for III
“Hey, there’s a man com
—down by the ditch,” Pa
denly, pointing.
‘Well, maybe he lost the '
said. “Let’s ride over anc
She swung onto her horse
“Wait a minute. He’s carr
Pat said.
“Well, so he’s probably
heard shooting rabbits.” ¢
over to the man, with Pat t
hind. Gail stared at him in :
and mounting fright. Over
was wearing a silk stocking
completely hid his feature:
a revolver from under |}
pointed it at the girls.
“Don’t come any closer.
an easy drawl. “What do yc
The girls reined up shar;
fought back terror as she ti
series of shots. A man does
bits with a revolver and wez
. “We found a wallet,” G
« ingly. “Did you lose one?
The man’s hand plunged
his jacket pocket. “Yes, th
‘ let. I didn’t know I’d Jost
“Give it to me.”
In spite of the gun poi
Gail said boldly, “I don’t th
let is yours after all. There
driver’s license in it, and y:
like a local farm boy. You
Illinois?”
“Give me that wallet i
what’s good for you. Just
the wire of that farm fen
’ Something in his manner
to ‘do what he said. He to:
and slipped it in his pocke
“Now you two go on
business,” he said. “And
follow. me, because I’ve
guns at home to blast you
Come.”
DETECTIVE CASES
-
ea: Te
sperately. Surely a
ne driver would see
hing like this just
ver at the rifle range
Surely one of them
iiss at the two cars
shoulder. “It’s all
hat he says.”
2d by the cold-eyed
fence and scrambled
igle file, the armed
1e wide gully.
range, Appleton or
nee upward. If so,
sons using the range
coulee and look out
ime time, Elaine and
dlacksmith, who had
fter he was through
irrier. Then Elaine
e horses fighting for
re we had ridden a
‘rom the barn of the
saw Pat Smith and
orse and Gail had a
toward the back of
‘You remember, the
re, I had gone to the
» gate, and Pat and
‘ns, admiring Apple
) business there, and
lidn’t say anything.
’ Elaine suggested.
e back boundary of
wanted to ride the
1p in his fence open-
rt of the reservoir.
ncis’ barn and I in-
rses of yours!” Pat
1orse and we’ll ride
{igh School student.
ollege. Elaine, who
rsity of Houston be-
“rancis came out of
“Where you girls
rere, I guess. Why?”
iend who is coming
{eer rifle. He’ll be
I wouldn’t want
s left.
I introduced her
rode toward the res-
ind he exploded into
»f hooves behind me
ce may be other joys
e under you, the bit
but you can have
leading to the levee,
us how good a trail
that gate,” she said,
e and Elaine got all
to act right, and we
the “points” she
would be losing if this was for score in a trail class show.
We were laughing so that we paid hardly any attention to
the series of shots that sounded from across the dam in
front of us.
Riding up the slope of the levee, another staccato burst
of shots sounded, and this time the shots aroused our cu-
riosity. Gail pulled her mare to a stop and we halted be-
hind her.
“Those shots didn’t come from the rifle range. It’s down
that way, a mile or more,” she exclaimed, gesturing to-
ward the west. She was right. The shots had sounded
directly in front of us.
“It could be someone hunting,” Pat surmised. “But if
so, he’s hunting on Mr. Francis’ lease, and that’s not al-
lowed.”
“Well, let’s go see,” said Elaine, urging Apple up the
slope.
We topped the levee and halted. We saw a man, stand-
ing several hundred yards out in front of us, in the middle
of the coulee bed. The gully is shallower at that point and
grown over with clumps of grass. A small stand of timber
was behind the man and a finger of the woods extended
out into the gully.
When we first spotted him, he was pointing at the
ground with what seemed to be a stick, but when he
sighted us, almost at the same time we saw him, he
brought the “stick” to his shoulder and we saw it-was a
gun.
“Hey, he’s aiming that thing at us!” exclaimed Pat.
The action didn’t scare us, since the range was so great
and we didn’t think he really meant any harm, but it made
us a little angry.
“Let’s go run him out of there,” said Gail brashly. ‘He
has no business in here.” She kicked her mare into move-
ment and we followed.
The four of us spilled down the slope at a full gallop,
and when we reached level ground we charged down on
the solitary figure like four Sioux on the warpath.
He turned and ran, fleeing over a small hummock and
scrambling through the fence on the north side of the de-
pression. He was into the trees when we brought our
horses to a jolting halt at the fence. Gail was all for find-
ing a way through the fence and riding the man down,
but Elaine and I had our hands full with Apple and Bunny,
who were still fighting to run. 7
“Let him go,” I shouted. “We scared the dickens out of
him, anyway.”
We turned and rode back toward the levee, laughing at.
the way the man had fled our charge. Looking back, I
could see him, slipping from tree to tree, headed in the
direction of the rifle range. Probably some kid, I thought,
caught where he knows he shouldn’t be.
Near the spot where we had first sighted the man on
foot, one front hoof of Gail’s mare struck an object in the
grass. “Hey! That’s a billfold! It must be his,” Elaine said.
Gail dismounted quickly and picked up the wallet out of
the weeds,
“Any money in it?” questioned Pat.
Gail shook her head. ‘“‘Nope, just some cards and a Flor-
ida driver’s license. His name’s Bertram J. Appleton and
he was born on 2-5-20,” she recited.
“I guess we ought to return it,” I ventured.
Elaine vetoed the idea. ‘“Let’s turn it over to the po-
lice,” she suggested. “That way, they’ll get him for tres-
passing.”
“No, let’s give it back to him ourselves,” Gail said, back-
ing me. “And we'll bawl him out!” She jumped back on
her mare, and we rode at a lope down the fence-line,
searching for the man.
“There he is!” Elaine pointed. He was out of the trees,
but still on the other side of the fence, still walking to-
ward the rifle range.
“Hey, mister!” I shouted. “Wait up!”
He stopped and turned to face us, his gun in the crook
of his arm. He still wasn’t too close to us, about 25 or 30
feet. He was a couple inches under 6 feet tall, and slim,
dressed in blue jeans, denim jacket, combat boots and a
green army fatigue cap.
“What’s that over his face?” whispered Pat.
He was wearing something over his face, we could see
when he turned his head so the sun hit him just right.
Whatever it was, it was a natural color, and sheer, like a
stocking—which it turned out to be—and it distorted his
features, giving him a grotesque look. It gave me an un-
easy feeling.
“Did you lose a billfold?” we asked, almost in unison.
“Yes, it’s mine,” he replied, and the uneasy feeling in-
side me turned to doubt. His voice was toneless, but I
could tell it was the voice of a youth. And I recalled the
birthdate on the driver’s license. It showed the owner was
38 years old.
“Can you identify it?” Gail asked.
The man nodded. “It’s black,” he said, shifting the gun,
which I saw to be a shotgun. I (Continued on page 66)
“They started running, then I started shooting,” he said
£7 a
ess pattern of trag-
sture, I was greeted
The blue, white and
ing snort, cavorting
and tail high. Mr.
re, five brood mares,
and blue, a leopard
jay Raymond and I
‘ed Appaloosas. We
xas now, since you
o be a member. In
ng of our own herd
iny, in the end pen,
th his head. “Quit
“You needn’t be
unny is dear to my
id that alone would
horses, even if he
sunts in Texas.
rtable forge and laid
ile the man worked
to his feet. Elaine
1 was working. She
Slaine is a beautiful
n in the Southwest.
ind other trophies in
\l go riding and let
10es,” Elaine said.
an trimming Fancy’s
im out when he fin-
that delay may have
-d for the smith, the
vhich we were to be
unwillingly cast was being acted out less than a mile
away.
I was given the details later. Some of them came from
a killer. The lure of the day had exerted its: magnetic
pull on many in Houston and in Harris County. Among
them were Bertram J. Appleton, 38-year-old regional
manager of a nationwide swimming pool construction firm,
his son, Steven, 11, and a family friend, Lee Hanson, 40,
former oil company executive, who livéd in Pasadena,
Texas, but was visiting the Appletons’ home that day.
All three were fond of shooting. Young Steven was a
member of the American Rifleman’s Association. This day
they had decided to drive out to Addicks Reservoir in
western Harris County and do some target shooting. Ap-
pleton, who had only 28 days before moved his family, to
Houston from Miami, Florida, had recently purchased a
9-shot, .22 caliber revolver which he wished to try out.
For some reason, the three went in two vehicles, Apple-
ton and his son in the family car, Hanson in his station
wagon. They drove west on Katy Road, passing within
hailing distance of Elaine, the smith and me, on the
Addicks-Fairbanks Road and turned north. Half a mile
north of the highway they crossed the high levee of the
reservoir, drove a short distance and pulled over to the
side of the road near a bridge which spans a broad coulee,
a depression formed by giant dirt shovels scooping out
earth to form the dam. 3 é
No water is impounded behind the L-shaped breastwork
of dirt. Addicks Reservoir is strictly a precautionary meas-
ure, a flood-control project to protect Houston’s west flank
against possible floods. The area behind the earthwork is
little different from the surrounding topography, lots of
prairie, stands of brush and trees, crossed by several small
creeks and bayous. Several roads transverse the reservoir.
Except for a federally-owned rifle range leased to a local
gun club, the area inside the reservoir is leased by nearby
a
farmers and ranchers as grazing land, and so is tightly
fenced. In fact, the east-west arm of the levee is double-
fenced, one wire barrier paralleling the earthwork 100
yards south of the dam, the other fence paralleling the
north bank of the coulee inside the reservoir.
Only club members may use the rifle range, which was
only a few hundred yards from where Appleton and Han-
son parked their cars, but the gully is used by anyone and
everyone. And although these users could be technically
classed as trespassers on government property, they are
not stopped by the authorities, for the coulee is a safe,
practical spot in which to practice marksmanship.
After parking their cars, Appleton and Hanson climbed
through the fence, descended into the coulee and set up
several tin cans for use as targets. Then they returned to
the roadside and, standing beside their cars, took turns
firing at the cans.
They had been firing for some time when the two men
and the boy noticed a tall, lanky youth watching them
from a few feet away. He had approached without at-
tracting their attention, as silently as an Indian. He seemed
fascinated by the pistol.
“Can I shoot it?” he asked Appleton.
Bertram Appleton, a man fond of young people, smiled.
“Sure, son. Here—’” Appleton handed the loaded revolver
to the young man.
As the stranger’s hand closed about the butt of the pis-
tol, his jaw hardened and he jabbed the gun at Appleton’s
stomach. “Stick ’em up,” he snapped.
A look of blank incredulity washed across Appleton’s
pleasant face. Steven looked scared.
“What the devil do you think you’re doing?” Hanson de-
manded. ‘Give me that gun!”
“Shut up!” the youth snarled. “Get down in that ditch,
all of you, and start walking!”
He gestured with the pistol for emphasis. Appleton and
Sheriff Kern (1.) and (r.) with Capt. Walters found the victims’ wallets, pistol and rifle in Nearvel’s home
a
28
Hanson hesitated, glancing about desperately. Surely a
car would come over the levee and the driver would see
that something was wrong. Something like this just
couldn’t happen in broad daylight. Over at the rifie range
several people were moving about. Surely one of them
would notice there was something amiss at the two cars
near the range gate.
“Move!” the youth snarled.
Appleton laid his hand on his son’s shoulder. “It’s all
right, son, don’t be scared. Just do what he says.”
The two men and the boy, menaced by the cold-eyed
young gunman, crawled through the fence and scrambled
to the bottom of the coulee. In single file, the armed
stranger last in line, they moved up the wide gully.
Perhaps, as they passed the rifle range, Appleton or
Hanson may have cast a hopeful glance upward. If so,
the hope was vain. Not one of the persons using the range
‘felt compelled to stroll to the lip of the coulee and look out
across its sandy, ridged bottom.
Back at the pasture, at about that same time, Elaine and
I were holding open the gate for the blacksmith, who had
finished his work and was leaving. After he was through
the gate, I closed it and locked the barrier. Then Elaine
and I rode toward Katy Highway, the horses fighting for
their heads and wanting to run.
We turned east on Katy, and before we had ridden a
quarter of a mile, someone hailed us from the barn of the
W. L. Francis ranch. I looked and saw Pat Smith and
Gail Gillaspy. Pat was saddling a-horse and Gail had a
bridle in her hand and was walking toward the back of
the barn.
“It’s Pat and Gail,” I told Elaine. ‘You remember, the
girls I told you about?” A week before, I had gone to the
pasture to. find two horses tied to the gate, and Pat and
Gail, strangers to me then, at the pens, admiring Apple
and the three stud colts. They had no business there, and
they knew it and apologized, but I didn’t say anything.
They are very nice girls.
“Let’s go over and ride with them,” Elaine suggested.
The levee of Addicks Reservoir is the back boundary of
Francis’ place, and Elaine had always wanted to ride the
levee. Francis was bound to have a gap in his fence open-
ing on the high bank, for he leased part of the reservoir.
, We rode across the highway to Francis’ barn and I in-
troduced Pat to Elaine.
“Hi! I sure like those spotted horses of yours!” Pat
grinned. “Wait until Gail gets her horse and we’ll ride
with you two.”
Pat is 15 and a Spring Branch High School student.
Gail is 17 and a student at a business college. Elaine, who
is 23, and I were students at the University of Houston be-
fore we got married.
While we were waiting for Gail, Francis came out of
his house and walked down to the barn. “Where you girls
riding today?” he asked Pat.
She indicated the reservoir. “Back there, I guess. Why?”
Francis smiled. “Well, I’ve got a friend who is coming
out after a while to sight in a new deer rifle. He'll be
doing some shooting in my back pasture. I wouldn’t want
any of you girls to get hurt.” Francis left.
Gail reappeared, leading a bay mare. I introduced her
to Elaine. Then we all mounted and rode toward the res-
ervoir. I loosed the reins on Bunny and he exploded into
a fast run. I heard the hard tattoo of hooves behind me
as the others let their horses go. There may be other joys
comparable to the feel of a good horse under you, the bit
in his teeth and the wind to outrun, but you can have
them.
We pulled up at the gap in the fence leading to the levee,
and Elaine decided she would show us how good a trail
horse the stallion was. ‘Let me open that gate,” she said,
kneeing Apple forward.
Wouldn’t you know it? That horse and Elaine got all
tangled up in the gate, Apple refusing to act right, and we
all laughed and kidded Elaine about the “points” she
would be
We were
the seri¢
front of
Riding
of shots
riosity.
hind he:
“Those
that way
ward the
directly
“It co
so, he’s
lowed.”
“Well,
slope.
We to;
ing seve:
of they cc
grown o
was beh
out into
When
ground
sighted
brought
gun.
“Hey
The :
and we
us a litt
“Let
has no !
ment ar
The f
and whs
the solit
He tv
scramb!
pressior
horses t
ing a v
but Elai
who we
“Let
him, an
We t
the we
could
directic
caught
Near
foot, on
grass.
Gail di
the wee
“Any
Gail
ida dri\
he was
“Tg
Elair
lice,”’ s
passing
“No
ing mé¢
her n
search
“The
but sti
ward tt
“Hey
He s
of his «
Si ai
+
66
We Faced the
Masked Murderer
(Continued from page 29)
was still studying the man, nagged by
doubt.
Gail wasn’t sure of him, either. “You'll
have to do better than that,” she said.
“I said it’s mine,” the masked man re-
plied, and while he still spoke in dead,
clipped tones, he suddenly assumed an ac-
cent. “Now, drop it on the fence and get
out of here.”
That settled it for me. I was sure the
billfold did not belong to him. I didn’t
know who Bertram J. Appleton might be,
but I was certain it was not this man, I
nudged Bunny forward. “That’s not good
enough for me,” I challenged him. “What's
in this billfold, if it’s yours?”
“What's in it is my business,” he said,
still without emotion. “So drop it on that
wire and get out of here.” f ‘
He tilted the shotgun. I have my fa-
ther’s temper, and that little bit of gun-
play upped it to the boiling point. I stood
up in my stirrups and leaned forward
over Bunny’s ears. “Listen, mister!” I
snapped at him. “I don’t appreciate your
sticking that nasty gun in my face!”
I was going to add that I’d climb out of
my saddle and fight him bare knuckles,
but quick as a striking snake, that shot-
gun was at his shoulder and the evil eye
of the muzzle was centered on my head.
Behind the gun, his eyes, even through the
gauze-like mask, glowed like green fire
and got narrow‘and real mean.
“You drop that billfold on the fence,” he
said in that peculiar, flat way. “And get
out of here, or I’ll kill you.”
I knew he meant it. I sat back in my
saddle as he eased the hammer of the
shotgun back. It sounded like a car door
slamming. “I don’t have your old bill-
fold!” I protested.
He turned slightly and came right at
Gail, the shotgun swinging to center on
her. “Then you drop-it of the fence,” he
said coldly. “And I'll say it just once
more. Get out of here, or I’ll shoot you
and your horses!” |
We gasped at the threat to our mounts.
Hastily Gail kneed her mare around,
leaned over ahd dropped the wallet across
the fence.
“Let’s get out of here,” someone—may-
be me—said, and we spun our horses and
kicked then into a run. We scattered like
quail, concerned only with putting dis-
tance between ourselves and this suddenly
frightful figure.
Out of the corner of my. eye, I saw
Elaine thundering off at a tangent, riding
for the levee. “How far is it to the near-
est cop?” she screamed.
“The nearest phone,” I shouted, intent
on guiding Bunny over the rough terrain.
I was riding straight up the coulee, which
had been’ cut, eroded and slashed by rain
and runoffs until a goat would have found
it difficult to traverse. I said a silent pray-
er that Bunny wouldn’t break a leg, but
he never made a misstep during that reck-
less ride.
And during the wild dash up the gully,
I was recalling Raymond’s words to: me
when he left to go into the army, only six
weeks after our marriage. “If you ever
run into any trouble, honey,” Raymontl
told me, “call Captain J. D. Walters at the
sheriff’s office. He’ll help you.”
I had scoffed at the suggestion at the
time. “Don’t be silly,” I told my young
husband. “I’ll never need to call on Cap-
tain Walters for help.”
ey ar
Captain Walters is head of criminal in-
vestigation for the Harris County sheriff’s
department, and a-friend of Raymond’s, I
had met Captain Walters, one of the out-
standing peace officers in. Texas and a
seasoned veteran of a dozen gunfights, and
I liked him for his courtly manners, but
I sae I wouldn’t need -to go to him for
help. : '
But that Saturday afternoon, I ate my
words. Fleeing down the draw, the knowl-
edge that I had faced: death’ a cold cer-
tainty in my mind, I knew it was time to
“holler for help.”
Bunny found a way out of the coulee
and I found myself riding along parallel
with the levee. Directly ahead of me
loomed a road and there was a gap in the
fence. I hit the ground: before Bunny had
halted and I began wrestling with the gate.
Looking across the broad gulch, I saw
Gail’ standing at the fence, talking to a
man in a car. I was too far away to hear
what she was saying, but I could tell by
the look on the man’s face that he thought
she was a crazy kid.
“Come on, Gail!” I shouted.
Gail didn’t. come, but Elaine and Pat
did. They topped the levee above me and
rode down the slope just as I got the wire
gate down.
“Let’s go call that friend of yours, Cap-
tain Walters,” Elaine said breathlessly.
“I am,” I said, “if I can get Gail over
here.” ; .
Elaine and Pat added their voices to
mine, and Gail. mounted and: made her
way across the gulch. She had a pencil
and paper in her hand, which she had
obtained from the motorist. Gail pointed
to a car and a station wagon parked across
the bridge on the road, the name of which
none of us knew at the moment, but
which we learned to be the Addicks-Fair-
banks Road. “I’m going to. get the license
numbers of those’ cars,” she said. “Maybe
one of them is his. You all go call the law.”
Elaine, Pat and I galloped off in the
direction of Katy Road. Just over the
levee, I spotted three houses. In the back
yard of the first house a man was work-
ing. We thundered into his yard, the
hooves of our horses tearing chunks of
sod out of his lawn.
I guess I must have been excited, for I
had to ask him three times if he had a
phone I might use before he nodded and
HAART
Tit
WAS
LLL tty
’
3
Be BS
pitryt
COOPED FOR THE COPS
A ‘resident of Maspeth, Long Island,
heard strange noises one night from his
registered racing’ pigeons, valued at
$100. He slipped on his bathrobe and
hastened up to his pigeon coop. There
he_found a acted sel tocien holding
a bag. And in the bag were several. of
his prize. pigeons...
The owner quickly locked the ‘door
of the coop and: shouted to his’ wife
to phone for the cops/* They’ came’
promptly, and the pigeons were re-
leased—and -the youth’ was in the bag.
—Alfred B. Camp
ushered us into the house. Only Pat and
I entered. Elaine stayed outside to act as
horse-holder.
Pat grabbed the phone, but she didn’t
know who to call or how to dial the num-
ber, so I took the phone. I dialed the
operator. “Give me Captain J. D. Walters
at the sheriff’s office,” I said. “This is an
emergency.”
Within seconds I heard Captain Walters’
calm voice. As steadily as I could, I told
him of our encounter with the mysterious
stranger. He interrupted me several times
to ask questions. “Where are you, now?”
he finally asked.
I didn’t know. And neither did Pat. And
when we asked the man who lived in the
house, that confused and puzzled citizen
gave us his rural route number.
“Do you know where Katy Road is, in
relation to you?” Captain Walters asked.
I told him it was about half a mile
south,
“Ride to Katy Road, then,” directed the
captain. “Wait there. I’m sending a patrol
car to meet you.”
I went back outside and told Elaine that
officers were on their way. She volun-
teered to go with Pat to the highway and
meet them. “You go find Gail,” Elaine said.
I found Gail at the top of the levee,
sitting her horse in the middle of the
pavement. As I reigned up beside her, she
pointed down into the coulee. There,
squatted on his heels, Indian-fashion, was
the masked trespasser, Staring at us.
“He’s been ransacking those cars,” said
Gail. “I watched him, but I didn’t see
him take anything.”
The masked man suddenly stood up and
started climbing the side of the gully,.-
coming towards us. I pulled Bunny’ around.
“Let’s put some distance ~ between us,” I
said. “I don’t want to be close’ to him
again.”
We rode toward the houses, but halted
our horses a short way from the foot of
the levee slope. Within a minute or so, the
masked man loomed at the top of the
dam. He halted, then beckoned us to ap--
proach him.
“Maybe he wants to apologize,” Gail
said acidly. ‘
“Whatever he wants to do, it’s too late,”
I said.
The man beckoned us again, and sud-
denly, for a reason I can’t explain, I
decided to ride up and face him.
“You stay here,” I told Gail. “I’m going
to see what he wants.”
“Oh, no, you don’t,” said Gail. “If you're
going to get shot, I can get shot, too. We’ll
go up together.”
She was trying to keep her voice light,
but I knew she was as scared as I was. But
when they passed out the spunk, Gail
wasn’t slighted. We rode up the levee,
keeping our horses abreast. We stopped
with Bunny’s nose almost on the man’s
chest.
Gail spoke. “Why did you run us off?”
‘she demanded. “What right have you‘ to
chase us off government land?”
“You had no right there, yourself,’ I
added?
He eyed us calmly from behind his
mask, which we could now identify as a
woman’s stocking. He did not appear a
bit disturbed at our attack.
“I saw a man in a red shirt kill two
men and a boy,” he said, without a trace
of excitement or tension. “I ran you away
because I didn’t want you to catch me
there. Because then I would be blamed.”
The incredible words seemed to hang
‘in the air. Gail had a look of blank sur-
prise on her face, and I knew-.I must
have looked surprised. We couldn’t believe
him—not the way he talked, as uncon-
cernedly as if he were giving us direc-
tions.
“Where did you see this?” I asked.
He pointed. “Rig
you first saw me.”
I was sure then
certainly hadn’t b
around.
“How long ago a
did you see these k
ed
“You all came o\
it happened,” he
must have heard tl!
Gail and I looked
bering the two bur
at once, I got that
The youth sudden!
and started walking
Gail rode toward
“Come on, Suzan,”
see for ourselves.”
But I felt I shou
zling youth. I whe
keeping pace with h
» my mind whether h:
or lying. “Are you s
was, he sure wasn’t
authorities.
He shrugged. “If
go find out for your
The whole affair
to me. I began to 1
all this, that I'd w:
of it ever had happ:
The fellow sudden
gaining my attentic
done it,” he said. “T
a pistol. I don’t hav
And I couldn’t hit y
with this.”
It was a childish s:
to .make me more
this strange youth.
“Don’t hand me tl
» not a very good sho
but even I could hit
with a shotgun.”
INV
Train quickly fo:
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students and grc
an hour SPARE 1
Time. You need
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A
As a trained Claim
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Many students have p.
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APPROVED,
UNIVERSAL SCHOO
3-35-f7]
HUNTSVILLE — Judge “~ >>
blocked Wednesday’s execu- LY ye
tion of David McKay, but Eli: >
seo Moreno — also to be exe- K
cuted Wednesday — refused to
seek delay... **"~
3-4-F7.
Texas killer executed
HUNTSVILLE, Texas — A man
who killed a state trooper and five
other people during a 160-mile ram-
page of kidnapping and murder in
1983 and who spurned efforts to de-
lay his death sentence was executed
early today.
Eliseo Moreno, 27, a former lawn
mower repairman from Donna, was
injected with the lethal drugs just af-
ter midnight and was pronounced
dead at 12:19 a.m., said Attorney
General Jim Mattox.
He was the second Texas inmate
to be put to death this year and the
22nd — more than any other state —
since Texas resumed the death pen-
alty in 1982. Scramenfo Bee
Ps 4 jaye
XS 7
“red. 3-4-7
[xecution in Texas
HtUNTSVILLE, Texas — Eliseo
‘oreno, 27, a murderer who re-
ised to seek a sure reprieve be-
use he believed that “the wages
- sin is death,’ was. executed
irly today with a fatal injection
Moreno died for killing a state
voper in 1983.
(he murder occurred during a
unken rampage’in which other
-ople were slaimr or kidnapped.
he violence followed a dispute
‘ith his estranged wife.
Moreno wrote to survivors of
veral victims to seek their for-
iveness. He also asked his family
ot to intervene to block his
eath. Honelulu Advertiser
Sfx Fin
144° Wednesday, March: 4, 1987 m San Jose Meredry:News:
i “
National News
in. Gee
met eae
by:injection.
; ee ee i
A man who killed a state trooper /
and five other people in 1983 dur- |
ing a:160-mile rampage of kidnap-:
ping and murder and who |
efforts to save his own life was”
executed in Huntsville, Texas, to-
day. Eliseo Moreno, 27, a former
lawn mower repairman from’ Don-
na, was injected with the lethal
drugs at’ 12:12 am. and was pro-
nounced dead at 12:19 a.m. “I'd like
to say I’m here because I’m
guilty,” Moreno said.
ie < el
oe tes,
«
= .
2
Po oe
BS bp
exas killer executed p> /
killed a state Goieer a Re
a state trooper and five ot
ple during a'160-mile rampage of
spurned efforts to save his own life
was executed today. bo Sort
Eliseo Moreno, a former Bees
mower repairman from Doana;¥
injected — the lethal drugs just’
after midnight and was pronounced
dead at 12:19 a.m., said Attortiey™
General Jim Mattox. “¢3g%
Moreno had told the judge‘who set
his execution date that he wantéd no
appeals ‘ ; tesa
466
; The wages of sin are sath and
’m rea accept that fate,”?? hi
lawyer, Richard Tindal, reca ed.
Moreno saying. “They cantake my
body but not. my soul. My soul is the
Lord." eno Gaze He 3-4-$7
Bene WV
Vi /| Ulan County CA — >
Marin Independent Journal, Wednesday, March 4, 1987
<& xX AM INGER,
Texas killer of 6 executed
Lynn Boyd on Oct. 11, 1983.
By Michael L. Graczyk la Moreno, 27, played dominoes
associaTeo Press AV) cA ¥ [18 ) and met relatives before his trans-
HUNTSVILLE, Texas —A man fer to a holding cell outside the
who killed a state trooper and five Texas death chamber. He also read
other people during a 160-mileram- the Bible and watched reruns of
page of kidnapping and murder “Dennis the Menace” on television.
spurned efforts to save his own life Moreno was the second Texas
and was executed Tuesday. inmate to be put to death this year
Eliseo Moreno, who repaired and the 22nd — more than any oth-
lawn mowers in Donna, Texas, was er state — since Texas resumed the
injected with the lethal drugs just death penalty in 1982.
atte 18 Pi PST SOG was PEO ~ - aeas tie tidied abet neable
ad by 10:19 p.m., Attor- y ;
a Cosem tie Mecos cal pOapepos wi yatctary! sons ae
: coe ey gpa NL page — College Station with the slayings of
Lowes a appeals his brother-in-law, Juan Garza, and
al Meanie be: mend "Seva aa es wet to death after
ee i " pulling over Moreno for a traffic
wages of sin are death, and I'm ‘ :
ready to accept that fate. They can Violation near Hempstead.
Also shot to death were Ann
take my body but not my soul. My
soul is the Lord.” Bennatt, 70, a retired nurse in
Moreno was executed for the fa- Hempstead; her sister, Allie Wil-
tal shooting of Texas Department kins, 79; and Bennatt’s broth-
of Public Safety Trooper Russell er-in-law James Bennatt, 62.
BRIEFLY
“
Inmate dies with smile
HUNTSVILLE,"Texas — Eliseo Mor- _
eno, convicted of killing six people
including a state trooper during a 50-
hour rampage, was exegt early today
after he rejected all appeals and eagerly
accepted death. i)
“When he came in (f6'the death -
chamber) he jumped up.on the table with
a smile and said he yin en for the
rocket to take off so hé.could finally go
home — and he did,” said Attorney
General Jim Mattox, who witnessed
Moreno’s death by injection. :
He was the second inmate executed in
the nation this vear.
.
~ KAKI NER
San, Trantisce
a
1938,
‘Thureda lotoread
EL PASO PUDLIC LIDRARY ae S 0 ee
BO] MORTH OREGON ms lUS LAD
eee wo J
EL PASO, TEXAS 79701 ae
KATNA Lio AN
-
fe >
xe
2
fim: eonevek Gallon Morante
eg “to eetant ter — ee
Renews Denial:
"i bes In: Mag
bent thousands of dollars
blans, profiles and mak-
before you represents
tt to lay the foundation
ceptable plan and does
any obligation «on - our
pt or. finance: it,” he
Prices Vary.: * a cid ais
nt estimate: is not’ less
000... This figure may
a year from now: It is
ble to make an esti-'
ran. stend edi" pubes]
owing to general. in-.
prices of materials: ned
pe fakes:
\ this order re-
b... ¢as something of a
surprise...J; have been
th: this: question . for :a
years. I- do not know
ht-it.up at this time, <1
vass among a good many.
citizens. on this -ques-
not seen a citizen who |.
any ‘particular interest,
d many to ask me. why
“was Seeeant up at:
be interesting to know :
he S. P- started to come
n. 1881,‘ the «company
come in in: this part ‘of
Tm. part) but some ‘of
es of those. days said,
't going to let you come
y, through the: business
1 Come ‘in on. the. north
there ain't going to be
de the present situation
derable inconvenience,
w of. the “extreme:
financial times,’ : which
in the ‘country is: ex-
it. ts” unthinkable.» and
to think of doing |?"
as ‘eliminating®-the } *
is. We are willing ‘to
ith eu bn every: way
feet. Silixiee
tlorney. Guinn: said
, presented: a’ traffic
maid he had: not. been:
tly, Onan emergency
7 #.
Dorris
*.¢
Liber Sent of thy: ore ;
of the tracks... All
| from. $250,000 to ' $350,000, he: said.
(ha pocurred be “ar recht: pte
ly| ination: of’ Kemp, who. also had the ie
chief: say that El Paso's: favorable}:
the grade - crossing: (tate ine: 1919, }
ee
e ‘He
Is Not In Dautical
- Insurance Game. -
-(Contineed Frees | Frees Page bn
Thus they, too, must. be engaged in
dark practices,
“Doesn't it seem to you that such
Improprieties are far too widespread
for safety?”
|The President's: son denied he
ever had been asked “by a prospect
or a client to do anything except.
write insurance contracts.”
He said his firm obtained ‘a con-.
tract under. which: National. Dis-
tillers is insured for $60,000,000 ‘to
$100,000,000... On this ‘business: the
firm. makes-an annual profit of :74-
-per: cent. of premiums, which range
But ‘that: contract was» obtained,
Roosevelt: declared. by: “writing a
new.’ form’: of whisky © insurance:
policy: and, having: ‘it aces by
Underwriters. Association.
He disclosed® that’ his company’
handles compensation insurance for
Transcontinental and Western: Air-
ways, but said ‘no-airmail contracts,
were given) TWA’ ‘since Roosevelt
and: Sargent did. business. with
them.” ¥ “ t + + 2: *
a law” against’. running: the. red
signal light....> .
= “You -enow no one is doing any-
thing about. enforcing it," Kemp |
sald:
“FitzGer rald “made you. act\as ‘you did,* “question,
Teal beg your pardon,”
said. “There were, Many. arrests.”:.
“Have you “any: > tecord. of: any
offe der: tof: running against, those |
lighta?" asked Kemp, -
ra & haven't ; one in my: ‘office, but
you can get that:from the’ coutt
docket,” the chief: replied.
Fire, Chief: John. We Sullivan. ‘said
if: the: ‘were blocked for
several min that. might. result.
in.°a- serious”. life and ner Mabe
hazard. ‘Sullivan said he had been
with the fire department for. almost
40. years and: hid been: chiet: since
1927. He had ‘never “known of. an
instance where a serious fire: loss|
‘crossings being - blocked. .. That. was
developed “under the: cross > exami:
key. rate was due bi Shere ee ban
cellent fire record:
Stockwell said he started etic ‘on
when: he: was ‘at: the. Chamber’ of
Coguneness Tt was: the ‘consensus. of
engineers: wha had. studied the’sit-
‘pation that: ihe crossings ‘should be AD
eliminated, he. said. +h
“Referring. to the: plan’ submitted {0
‘by railroad engineers, Guinn asked: | |
“Is: thie-the: reasonable way ‘to: dis- | Iw
theproblem at a reasonable} *
pose af”
cost?" Stockwell sald. it ‘waa:
< Other : railroad ” officials at’: the}
manager of the T. & N. O; RW.
his» wife ‘wit
George Rodriguez, one of. his at-
Dies In: Chair! f
EV Paso Wite Slayer Has
“Nothing To Say In...
- Death Room...
(Continued From Pass D
wife were enjoying a quiet evening
at home. They sat together on the
living room: floor.’ facing each other
over. @ game of rummy, Morgan's
13-year-old» son. Calion. Jr; had
gone out for the evening.
“Another Man.” .
Morgan sent his wife to #-neigh-
borhood store, according to’his own
statement ta officers. for soft drinks.
which they drank as they: played
their cards. During the course of the}. ,
game a mild argument started about
another: man, ‘tn whom. Morgan al-
leged. his -wife was, foreneriy ine
terested. ov
Suddenly..Morgan. according 10 his
signed statement. lunged: at: his wife
and choked her: with his bare hands,
“Defending ‘herself, Mrs. SMerean .
serale nen: his: face.
Then Morgan struck her: with’ an
‘emapty pop. bottle; “ shattering “it
against. her right temple, he -aaid.
Rushing to the door of. an) adjoins
ing bedroom Ne tore the wire ’of.a).
‘small Jamp from its socket; returned
‘and garroted the unconscious. Wom- FS
an to Heath: with: a: double ‘coil of
the’ wire.; > = eg ot
. Keeps. Sitent2: Reise
"What. could «she: have said “that
ers asked. .
“Nothing. seeker’ ‘that T can EN Ee
rhember. It was just-an argument of
long standing,” Morgan:replied,
The: reply« was. characteristic “of.
his conduct-from the time: of his ar:
rest until his sont pororaing, to his
attorneys: =~
‘ “He stead?
sanyone, even “ns,”
forneys said Thursday night’ “When
we tried to find out something about
Mrs.:. Motgan® ‘from: him: he ims:
mediately started talking about: the
jail food or; looking out ‘of*his-cell
window, femar kets about’, Wie: scan,
; Spocah: Acclaimed.
By. British: Officiale
ery. er
lie
‘the. heey
had. considerable * trouble ‘and: that
ne nete had — * Vaktan: aim. The |
g. Morgan’: ‘trial:
‘contended’ Merge? and-his. “wife had-
Sf CHO ORS
: Paonia a
ig} the: United: States will
sufficient foe Seat the, rarer ae oC
national: ” enbbeck”
ls for @ queen ta.
Choice
. festival offi
“reign at-S
daughter of ebieoeny mMPets cs
sador: ta .U. §. : ie
FDR Emphasizes
~ Friendship. Ties)
(Continued ec Page 1p.
‘} shall remain a ‘strong’ citadel where
‘¢ivilization= can - ours h > une
smpaired.” ; att dew
President Peoves'
For. Hyde Park’.
Clayton, Ni Y2 Aug. 18 4UP):—
President: Roosevelt. left. by special
vey | train’ tonight for ‘his home at H
; tehised ‘oe Biscuss'| re
Park. Ni: ¥, after ‘participating «in
the dedication-of a» bridge across the
St. Lawrence ‘River. near here. 5”
The President motored ‘here from
the bridge, .. spanning : ithe :
Thousand ® Islands, and’ left ‘aboard
the train at: 3p) mijs(C:.S. T.' He
is. scheduled’ to, reach Hyde ‘Park: at
4:30. a.m: Foe Dic tomotrows 1s
London. fant 3B
which: hey
“wanton brutality? of some’ foreign :
enthusiasm foe: his- assurance that
ot
in de
“Boston, Va; ete: -
iin September’ is Erma Najera;
sae es eae |
, ge> tha iwi = nake »
th | Anglo:French “al
~ }dable ‘tn'the face of: Ponioees heavi-3
. y -armied totalitarian ‘nations. ' :
oe Government. ‘officials declined: to
: ‘comment: Shep -@: thorough ‘enalys fo: rae
President's. seer tae Uses
t fn
‘formi- fs
[tegimes, but there was widespread |.
for a marriage license . Q what
such. license be granted (are
who prove to be infected: * > Unal
the ‘Heaven on Earth or
Tedsy;.
Laytod wilt be © presented
framed certificate at @ final sage?
tion: -seasion” Friday’™ at: ;
gate, anda “member: of*'t
‘Diego Board of Trustees, |
civie service’ in the hieiney of
clubs,” Smith. said.
official ambassador of pees A Aa
hospitality.” ee ae
Smith
duty. to be ani}
said:
river ot | Ne he nee
have crackled’ tha, ewacdiat ‘
renin’ on: Earth Club are Fresi
ner p eat ree rei hg
president for. almost: five years. :
gala dulifight in. Jusrez, Mex
en eicivads touredar evening
<“He will be
‘
oe
ALLON- ‘Me MORGAN: (cente Et Posawtfe slayer: ‘anon above |
“with his-two atiorneya, Stanley: Caufieldi(te (6) and George Rodis: Be
“riguet lextreme-right},.went to his death at: Texas State Penitentiary,.~. 3
Hantsrile, earty Friday morning fo pay. the’ penalty: for his’ onime. poo ie
The porture was taken iw Morgan's jail cell here afew mututes after :
the death seutence was pronounced by baka Ww. /D, Howes 34th ie
Pity: sims 4Times staff phota.} 5 aces
ses vine rer es iP Unipersity; 2S an
<"“The R Pap of See Cannte is pert{:
‘of the sf .erhood of the British Em-
pire. I give to you assurance that
the people of the United States will
not stand idly by if domination of!’
®| Canadian soi) is threatened by any
other empire”
Premier Replies.
“Prime Minister MacKenzie King.
\ Canada, answering the~ Presi-
A's declaration a few hours. la-
ter, asserted: :
“I think I speak the mind ‘ote
both countries when I say that nat}:
only are we determined ‘to ‘pre-t
serve the neighborly relations, and;
the free days of life which are our!
priceless heritage, “but that we}
a
se Bengt trate C,.E.; pci and: Fa
20-3 0. Instal lation = Gace cate
In Caverns T. oday
thats i. say, he merely, shook ::B
* He tappeared to: be: inbriee
Mev tidoreds and. guards. showed: him:
“every step: ‘of, the process: cof: exe:
cution:: cre,
1 Polanco was, ‘almost aunty as he”
Sw Y came into the death. house: He said®
| he had no. statement ‘to make, but®.
asked “only that: he sing the song”
Spe = eam te
"doveedor Tingley To Give:
earnestly wish to see them become |
Valley Youth |
iwhich he had composed: on, death
a part of the common heritage of |
mankind.
: } “It is @ jos to me to be able to
Killed By Pali
BAS Cree Convention
Ends In E. P.
row, He sang it, in Eng)ish, before |
_ he was strapped into the chair. ~-
Morgan was. executed: for killing
his wife with a bottle during a@.card:
| join with the President in drawing |
to the altention of the citizens of:
aie ther lands as well as our. own, the ; Federico Perrea D ea da; {
it wide significance of “today’s pro- Alberto Martinez
Says Accident.
4. \Bluborate: installaticn: ceremonies
ftir incoming International 20-30 game. His defense was insanity.
‘club. officers. for 1939 will be held! Palinco died? fot? staying: George
Friday. afternoon. in Carls bad | Furbes,; a bus driver) ina hold-up.
Ge averns.. : ‘One Man Reprieveds: i
eat t Gov. Clyde. Tinkle ¥-0 4 New. Mex=.: ole ty ie three men Were wehed~
Geo will, give. the address jules wie. srs i
“Federico Perrea 18. Canutit iG. w. coer ‘Marty Kadrosdiot spurtishae hes James v ‘Altced: Th adap:
ze] ' ceedings.”
4 Both executives joined tn the ded-+. |,
ication of the new $3.000.000 Thati-{
sand Isiannds Bridge which, links}
ys Ont. and Collins Landing,
pid |
m'
ye}
¢
‘
in
for
told: pe natiae Jimmy.
» shot! ty de. ith by al 2ccahber. ti te"! Ore. ‘gun utas hamed national clubs pad -yranted a 30-day: reprieve®
the hands of his’ huaténg com: bP president ata. finab-Session Thors- Carlog Fernundez‘of Bexar: County,
“Etat eau itp pinion, Alberto Martinez 18, Can iday-at Hotel Paseo del Norte, 5 Gudpcaaens scheduled “to. die; today
Asserting that. beth se—Amerie thin, shorty. after. noon Thursday ‘< Motureade of” 700 delegates: wilt after his conviction for, slaying Jonny
can . and Canadian governments {4 the re and ane. halt miles) Aeave El Paso. for Carlsbad at §:30 | Stowe; a policeman, ane San Anis;
sought to be “scrupulously fair": fog “their hume, rilf's: officers | # m. Friday. Sheriff Chris-P. Fox { tonto Revi
both toward: each other and their) uported. Mee i wilt head athe: “caravan bY the cit rae State: ‘Boatd. of Pardons, ‘and
<<. | OWN citizens, the President sa)<t that}. Msriiies mits Ee i's ari sf a Austin ar oie ie
for! neither. government “could, oC) Hicks and Charlie Sin. Franciscn Pere ‘chosen | as’ ihe ; against: t emency: ‘ars any “of
should. control the process. Of) perroa jefPhome about noun-te hint |:
public opinion. He added: rabbis an the: brush: Reaching ~ a}
We can not prevent, oc e people | fikely spot ane and a tialf miles fran;
from. having .an ‘opinion im regard, Gon utile toward ER: Pyso, they see
to wanton brutality, in regard: to ; arated. - ;
undemocratic regimentation,.. in’ re+|
4 gard to violations of- accepttd indi-j
,) vidual” rights.”
; “Shoots ‘Accidentally. ’
‘ Martanez kaw: a_Fabbit and: rais ea
this: “rifle: Before “he - would: aim: thet
President: said; can <anly. seek tO Coroner: CoM: Wilchsr: or. tr:
aid their citizens in’ receiving. fac- i mediately: he. ‘saw a-commotr on bes
ly-stated — information | phind a cedar bush eh five feel
t what is going 6n in the: world. } pigh-& ©: it’ d
u
Fine President expressed the hope Upon |
shat Canada and the United: States
could . contribute. to world... peace.
} But-if this hope doesnot material-
ize, he’ added, “we can assure each |
other that this hemisphere. at least,
3 eansezadaitian meets et ;
Sveslaate a ie hes
askew. oMartinez ’
¢
¥
“f panjoo.-
Brave Grocer
“Ignores s Bold”
~ Money Demand
Shooting to Constable Willie Rosen: 4
‘Crans, Who called the Sheriffs : De-
pauecnt :
: Find Boy ‘Dead.
S Bepoties Hicks and Ward
sponded and found) Perrea deod.
The body. was taken 1d Kaster and |
Maxon, where funer»] Seren esHiene
were pending...
Coroner: Wilchar:: made: Perclinnht?
inary -investigation; but ished the’
tase over ta .Justice of the Peace}
Harley Caldwell of. Canuntie, for. min,
Inquest. >). ;
-. Martinez was held eCounty’ Sai ‘|
pending the: inqoest- date of. which
had not “been : set" ‘early Thursd. ay
nie, apthie ‘ tT he: Nes
re=}
if
j “Les “ake Aug. 18 APIs
Henry Clay, manager of a grocery
store, found: an > extortion © note:
tucked in the. crack, of the door. 10-
day when he opened up for. busi«
hess, but he wasn't worried much:
He turnéd: it- over to the police,
who didn’t worry: about ‘it: either:
‘Written. in. a. Juvenile. Pande. _ the
note read:
"I want. five’ ‘cents ‘or rt get. ‘my:
.B-B gun, Anytime you. want to give}.
me: five cents mt it Lk the mailbox 2
4 am envelope.” ahaa y
HAPPINESS BRIEF. Leet Ay
'. Philadelphia, Aug. -18 > (APS. hee
Mrs. Nellie Van de. Putte: ‘waited
six months to take -her son home
a, | trom jail. then dropped. dead today
fas she greeted him after his re-
lease. Physicians: ene she: eetnted
&
"
46 ‘And: Sierra Blanca.
ue ne ope chet en 5a $
art ate: “afternoon ihowek fell: ay
eI Pasi, and: throughout the Upper
-| Valley: to Las Cruces Thursday, the
a heart attack.’ ©.
: 2 second within two days. The rains;}
trical® storms: Rain = was: smacdest:
at Las Cruces) (30 %< >.
C4 ported © lightning storms. extending
bone: Les Cruces to El’ Paso Thurs:
7 breaks: in “current distribution. ’.
Pasdans return . Thured
Ward: he. ands:
Dem ocret is. goveriments. the | rine’ weit olf sccidentalls. he told t*
ty ‘GOLE: TOURNEY:
Perrea Ising on: the grourid, his hat is ;
vrai hes raised
Perrea's head in his arms and nn te
ticed blood Qowing Irom-the wound:
behind. “the. Fight ear. cof hig, “com Y
A Contused. he fitst deciden: to. shek e
‘water,’ but “changed his mind and 3:
hurried: to’ Canulilso: fo report: the!
‘Visite EL Page hae Cree Sa
{causing frequent: short “t ue
mihi ‘aminvia: ‘Arial: “was
: attorneys, State Sen. Gordon. Burn,
1999 Fenven ties eity
i ‘ Other: Officers:
Me Al roe Strunk of: San: SRaLoie
Texas.
se Ap Be 2 Trustees elevied © are:
5. : Howard: Maxon, EP Pasp,; fipresent-
; BOB-KIRBY® WINS
AH See Femiie’
sf Mi a carrying | handicai. ‘otf
BS the: National 20-30 =] >
: Ronit ament< Thursday -}:
sat? ‘the Valdespines “Mynicipal
Galf Course with a “SCOFE™ of.
49 against afield of 36. ;
(| Charles: Revnolds... “ot ‘Sane
CAntonins wan the medal} with
oa TTBS nA ESSN lewings
LGourleys “Paso, sh aS,
ade od pene of: 113, °
Dickerson. ; Stockton, Calita: repre-.|
senting Central: California “area;
Eddie: Zumwalt, St: Helena. Calif,
| representing the North California”
area
Edward Ryan: al + Sacramento, |
Calif, is secretary: tecasurer Danny |
Macpherson of Albuquerque, No M.,
ptesident-for-a-d ay ‘ gitoma tically 4
[ becomes a goeraber of the national
boards 5
Ones o feeeiaden? fatiea at ‘a
(Continued, on Page 3, Col. 8)
etc tabs ap ap
“ition Guard
Tn. Death Of Felons...
OS ae 4
Crockett, Texas, Ang. 18 ANS) 7
Robert: ‘Parker, Eastham state ‘prison
guard chatged: with. murder-in. eon
‘nection with the death: of two:cons }: ;
Victs ~who-escaped: ‘fram the prison tp
“awarded the consolation Rien’ is
(as. Tamed: finiional wer 08
“4
“9
Sa veer iota i beni wound and. Sin re
“| throatsA: shattered: soda '
op Was at het side: 2*}4
on Freed ‘Uaded: $10.00: Regt
inight:
¢ reclock: Morgan: and ki his 29-year-old:
3 Aiki voting ‘ynanimously ‘in’ ‘the
Kiases Of Polanco: and “Morgan, ‘but
jsecing z= td. an athe Case: of:
ndex. oe ‘,
“Ep “nis? Wri sillers: 7 se ae
ing. ANG Southwest, Orta: Richard Wi 'On Brutal:
ig
“BL Pas.
PK et: ane ot
damp cord tightly, twisted -sbout her:
" bottl
The‘ slaying: occurred on Sunday
-June 30, + about 9:30
" (Continaed om Page 3, Cel. 6)
‘Dallas’ Woman
Ts Defendant
Los” A tndied? hid ie: eS, -
Atcaainat his wealthy mother- in-law.
of. causing. ‘a. separation : between:
him‘and his wiles Charles Py: Link, -
pot) Pasadena, ‘ today” filed: suit.“ in
Superior Court. against Mrs; Amber: :
+ Collins: Massie, of Dajlas,~ Texas”
asking: $300,000 heart -balm... 2°:
Mrs. Adonel] Massie Link, and hee
mother,: arenow! visiting in’
+ A Jolla, Calif, the’ complaint sald:
aida a dealer in ‘oil leases, further
i Mes. -Magsie of | maine
fares ‘daughter ° ‘AO: bring”
Givorse. Dy Dallas. We, ;
farm, was released from: “custody. iy
Electric: Company - “alficlals: ge wou)
this afternoon Tamed bend af shad KY
were accompanied: by, severe elecs:}.000,), Lae ao Me: :
G& PASO PUBLIC LIERARY
601 NORTH OREGON
EL PASO
. TEXAS 79901
Captive Bride
[Continued from page 20]
which she had evidently been sitting or
lying at the time she was attacked. Dressed
in a thin black lace negligee, the body
was trussed in a jack-knifed position with
a braided silk cord that had first been
knotted about her slender throat. Long
tassels at the ends of the five-foot cord
indicated it had come from a man’s bath-
robe.
Eleanor’s dark aubugn hair was matted
with blood and there was a shattered soft-
drink bottle on the heavy earpet near the
body. But other than the overturned table
and playing cards that lay scattered about,
the expensively furnished room was im-
maculate. An ash tray on an end table
held several cigaret stubs, all smeared
with lipstick. Clutched tightly in the slain
girl’s right hand was a crumpled playing
card—the ace of spades.
Mrs. McAllister, standing behind the
detective as he took the card from the
dead girl’s hand, explained that Eleanor
had spent much of her time, “when she
wasn’t off with her young friends,” tell-
ing her own and others’ fortunes with
cards. “On weekday nights, after the boy
had been sent to bed and she was here
alone waiting for her husband to come
in, she would spend hours trying to see
into the future with cards,” the woman
volunteered. “Mrs. Morgan really lived
by the cards.”
“And apparently died by them, too,”
replied Chitwood as he'turned to welcome
David Haynes and J. C. Fuller, investiga-
tors from the district attorney’s office.
“But why was it necessary for a pretty
girl like her to find any kind of solitary
- relaxation at night? Why wasn’t her hus-
band here with her, and why isn’t he here
now?”
Mrs. McAllister explained that Callon
Morgan, the 33-year-old father of the boy
who had been locked out of his home that
night, worked a 4 p.m. to 12 midnight shift
at the Southern Pacific Railroad shops on
the other side of the city. As she finished
speaking, a dark, bushy-haired man
rushed in past the uniformed officers.
Callon Morgan took one long look at the
woman whose scantily clad body lay be-
fore the sofa and fell forward in a dead
faint. A coroner’s physician, who had ar-
rived a few minutes earlier, helped revive
. the husband while Chitwood asked the
district attorney’s investigators to make-a
room-by-room search of the rest of the
apartment. He then turned back to the
owner of the house.
Exactly what time was it,” Chitwood
asked, “when you heard someone come
up here?”
Mrs. McAllister glanced at the calendar
clock on the wall directly over the body.
This showed that the day was Sunday,
June 20, 1937; the time 12:57 p.m. “About
four hours ago, just after I heard the boy
leave the house,” she answered. “I knew
that Junior had been sent out to a movie,
even though he had to be up early for
school tomorrow. It wasn’t the first time
she sent him off like that when she was
expecting company.”
*Now, just a minute, Mrs. McAllister.
Exactly what are you trying to say?”
The words, in a hollow voice hardly
above a whisper, came frorh the dark-
complexioned man over whom the medical
examiner had been working for the past
few moments. Callon Morgan stared angri-
ly at the woman as he spoke, but at a signal
from Chitwood, a uniformed man stepped -
52 ad
uickly forward to escort the owner of
e house back to her own quarters. —
Chitwood, adopting a conciliatory tone,
said, “I’m afraid that what Mrs. McAllister
has told us is true, Morgan. Your own son
says that he has been sent off to the movies
on several occasions, only to return home
and find himself locked out of the house.
Tonight he went to the landlady to get her
to let him in. When they came up here
they found the body of your wife just as
you see it there on the floor now.”
“Dead?” There was disbelief in the
man’s husky voice.
“Yes. ‘The doctor says she was killed
sometime within the past four hours.
Struck over the head and then strangled
with the cord which has been tied about
her body. Ever see that braided silk cord ,
before, Morgan?”
The husband replied that he had not.
The burglar or thug who had broken in
upon his wife while she sat reading her
fortune-telling cards must have brought
it with him, he suggested.
“I'm afraid there was no burglar,” an-
swered Chitwood softly. “Whoever came
here tonight was voluntarily admitted.
’ The door from the back stairway was still
locked with the key inside when we got
here. Mrs. McAllister found the front
door locked, and it would have been im-
possible for anyone to have climbed to one
of the opened windows on this floor from
outside the house without being heard
below.”
“But Eleanor would never have let a
man into the apartment dressed as she
was in that flimsy negligee,” protested the
husband as he stared down at the crum-
pled body. Chitwood started to answer,
but at a signal from Detective Haynes
turned and followed the latter from the
room. A moment later the district attor-
ney’s investigator was showing him a
small leatherbound diary in which a final
entry had been made the day before.
“Found this lying on top of the dressing
table in the master bedroom,” Haynes ex-
plained. “Let me just read you this last
entry, written in the slain girl’s hand:
“Had a long talk with B. today. It is
awful that we should be apart when we
love each other so much. I can hardly
wait until the day when we can be to-
gether forever.’ ”
“Any other references to this mysteri-
ous ‘B’?” inquiréd Chitwood.
Haynes said that there were several
other entries in which “B” was mentioned.
In all of these Eleanor had mentioned
letters received from “B” or conversations
that evidently took place between the two
of them on previous dates. But in none
had the other person been called anything
but “B”.
“Find anything else?”
Haynes shook his head. Fuller, entering
from the — said he had discovered
a six-pack ,case of soft-drink bottles of
the same brand as that which had evi-
dently been used to bludgeon the girl into
unconsciousness before she was strangled.
“Any hard drinks out there?” inquired
Chitwood, recalling Mrs. McdAllister’s
story of a mysterious guest. -
“No, nothing but the remains of the
roast the family probably had for their
Sunday dinner. And ‘a thermos of coffee
and two sandwiches wrapped in wax
paper that she must have prepared for the
youngster.”
Chitwood returned to the front room
where the husband knelt over the body
of the girl he had married six months be-
fore. Both had been divorced. “I know
that you’ve had about all you can take
for one day,” he told the other, “but I’m
afraid I'll have to ask you to read this.”
Pap sR
Chitwood handed the man his wife’s
opened diary.
- Morgan slowly read the words that
Eleanor had apparently written the day
before. “That is your wife’s writing, isn’t
it?” inquired the detective.
“Yes, it’s certainly her writing,” an-
swered the other with quiet resignation.
“And I suppose I may as well tell you
what I can of the man she has referred
to in that final entry ... the man ‘B’ that
she could hardly wait to be with. You see,
I’ve suspected for sometime that some-
thing like this might happen. I first sus-
pected she was stepping out after my
son let slip that she had given him money
to go to a movie once before.
“When I confronted her with it she said
that she had only gone out for a walk, to
get some fresh air. That was about a
month ago. Several nights later I had to
stay home from work because of illness.
She was nervous the entire evening, and
when the phone rang about 10 o’clock she
rushed to answer it before I could get to it.
I heard her tell the caller that he had the
wrong number, but her manner was so
strange that I felt sure she was lying.”
A week after that, Morgan continued,
he had decided to check on his wife’s ac-
tivities after learning from his son that
she had again promised him money for
a movie on a school night.
“I had to pretend that I was sick again
in order to get away from the job be-
cause I get only half an hour off at 8 p.m.
and that wouldn’t have been long enough
for me to get out here and return,” he
went on. “So I arranged to take off during
the second half of my shift. I got here
half an hour later, just in time to see
her leaving the house with a tall dark
guy I had never seen before.”
Morgan said he had followed the pair
on foot to a corner where they caught a
south-bound bus. He had been fortunate
in hailing a passing taxi, and managed
to keep the bus in view until it reached
. the end of the line, the International
Bridge spanning the Rio Grande River
between the United States and Mexico.
Twenty minutes later, in the border
town of Ciudad Juarez, just across the
river, the couple had entered a gambling
casino and stood about the tables placing
small bets for nearly an hour. After they
left, still unaware that the husband had
followed and was watching, Morgan had
made discreet inquiries of the manage-
ment.
Yes, he had been told, the pretty Amer-
ican woman and her handsome, flashing-
eyed Mexican escort frequently visited
the establishment. Always at night, and
always, the husband realized, on one of
those nights when he was at work in the
El Paso railroad shops.
“I learned that the man’s name was
Bernardo Fernandez, that, he’s a profes-
sional tourist guide and that he conceri-
trates on wealthy American women who
travel south of the border looking for
romance and excitement,” Morgan con-
cluded.
“Was your wife a wealthy woman?” in-
quired Chitwood, noting the expensively
furnished apartment, but aware that
Morgan must earn only a modest salary
at his job in the railroad shops.
“No,” answered the other, “but she’s
very attractive and a guy like this Mex-
ican gigolo must want something young
and pretty when he isn’t playing footsy
with those wealthy old dames from
whom he makes his living.”
Morgan added that his dark-eyed wife
had arrived in El Paso less than a year
before after divorcing her first husband
who still lived in New York City. He had
met her at the ga
open town across
ing his own divo
married her as t}
_ courtship.
After ordering
to the El Paso C
asked Morgan’s
lock the apartm
vestigation.
“We'll never
Morgan answere
mother in New
a room near the
town until I dec:
“Don’t you th
with the boy be
suggested Chitw
Morgan replic
questioned his sc
at Mrs. McAllist«
after returning f
ior told me hi
money to gQ to
lated. “She told
time for the last
be home before
The husband
the exact dates
ported for work
But a check
confirm those a
he had been or
previous afte:
12:30 a.m.
Early Mon
from the distric
the resort town
confer with Me«
tive Chitwood
cific Railroad
that rgan ha
May 22 becauss
he had reporte«
half his shift.
The bus whic
to his place of
the trip in 28
‘have been im;
taken that to |
the half hour }
Chitwood dete
employes said t
continually fre
8:30 p.m. until
fore.”
In Ciudad J:
Fuller learned
ager of a Me
ment that the
ently had been
told of followi:
and her comp:
the month befc
“Yes,” the «
answer to Hay
ber the man y
about a mon
Bernardo and
been chasing
pected at the '
husband—and
these young '
' So I let him |
had been sper
at the casino
“This Berna
cort?” inquire
“That's rigt
Makes his livi:
who slip down
their husband:
States. But
younger girls.
The casino n
police should
ing the Latin
been involved
Meanwhile.
still loyal to his.
s up there,” the
tairs
eplied without
tside until I go
McAllister was
premonition of
atly furnished
man went up
is heavy steps
itwood. “But I
them still to-
ide,”
artment when
aited to search
{ body gf the
g back down-
theers, arrived
dy of Eleanor
ed on page 52)
the mysteri-
Sandwiches.
Ee ae
a
>
St BEN:
f
This unusual braided cord had been knotted
about her throat and tied around her body. Doomed Eleanor lived
by the cards—
and she died with the
ace of spades
clutched in one hand
Eleanor Morgan was clad in a
filmy negligee and held crumpled
ecard in right hand when found.
; be-
1ame
Alice
long
s his
with
his
that
> car
ump.
hree,
{ on
stru-
the
atest
been
roxi-
; had
wood
‘d the
visted
rail-
one
ze of
ilway
‘allon
shift,
n till
from
sum-
overy
head,
d re-
d one
‘d in-
the
when
organ.
ce the
yurder
appar-
were
nurder
yunced
t any-
against
y any-
You're
at the
shops
vered,”
m 7:30
or suUp-
restau-
of. you
home.
, Mor-
paused,
always
napped.
our ice
1es and
him in
ntinued
vou did.
e home
topping
1ing for
dd take
Maybe
» enter-
ou just
if she
~ your
—and
that
God
knows what happened when you
found your wife alone, innocently
playing solitaire. I should have
thought that would have brought you
to your senses. As I say, though, I
don’t know. A murderer’s mind is
hard for sane men to understand.
“Maybe, once you were home, you
and your wife had words. Maybe she
resented your spying, and knew it
for what it was. But she wasn’t
frightened of you. . . because she
went right on playing cards. Playing
until she turned up the ace of spades”
. .. Maybe she taunted: you then, re-
minding you it was the card of death.
J don’t know. But this much I know.
“You had entered your own home
HEADQUARTERS DETECTIVE : 59
with, murder in your, heart—murder
‘fin your mind. And while, perhaps,
your wife was still laughing at you—
mocking your suspicions—you struck
her down. Struck her down, and then
. strangled her..
“And get this, Morgan! It wasn’t in
a sudden fit of hot anger that you did
. this. It was in your mind—you had
planned it in cold blood. Else, you
wouldn’t have stopped by the dump to
pick up that silken cord to use as a
garrote! Premeditated murder!”
For a long moment when Chitwood
finished there was heavy silence. Then
the defiance went out of -Morgan’s
eyes, and his shoulders-slumped.
“Okay,” he. muttered. “Okay. I -
>
did it. I got so.I hated her for the
way she made me feel—the way she
made me jealous.. Other men looking
at her all the time—giving her the eye
—and she liking it like she did. It got
so I didn’t trust her none... I didn’t
know what she might be doing behind
my back. J kept seeing her in some-
one else’s arms. I had to stop it
some way... .”
Chitwood said softly, “You chose a
poor way, Morgan.”
Perhaps Morgan remembered those
words, on the morning of August 19th,
- 1938, when they strapped him into the
electric chair. A spark of jealousy
had started the whole business.
And now another spark....
HEADQUARTERSE
DETECTIVE
couldn’t; some weren’t sure. The up-
shot of this canvassing by the police
was that none of the bartenders was
sufficiently positive to give , Police
Chief McCormick and Sergeant Smith
a promising lead. ™
The victim’s nephew, on the fourth
day after the murder, called on Mc-
Cormick and said he had wired and
telephoned relatives of his uncle, some
of them living several hundred miles
distant. So far as any of them knew,
the nephew reported, Girard had
lived a rather uneventful life, and
there was nothing in his batkground
to suggest he made an enemy or
enemies who would resort to murder.
McCormick and Smith were veering
around again to the theory of robbery
as the motive for the slaying. It was
not a satisfactory explanation, but
thus far it was the only reasonable
hypothesis the officers had.
The police chief had enlisted the
assistance of the county sheriff and
his deputies. They spread out —-
the various hobo “jungles” in the
neighborhood, on the assumption that
Girard might have encountered some
tramp along the railroad tracks.
Hundreds of men were brought -into
Marquette, questioned and freed. .
Meanwhile, the local “prison popula-
tion” of Marquette city. prison was
also questioned. Nothing was learned
of any consequence.
Smith was unsatisfied with the re-
sults of the calls upon taverns and
bars. He retraced his and McCorm-
ick’s steps. Late Friday evening—the
Friday after the slaying—he returned
to the police chief’s -office, looking
dog-tired but triumphant.
“Learn anything?’’ McCormick
asked hopefully. The police chief
had begun to despair of solving the
case.
“Yes, plenty. I went into the tav-
erns again, and also again pumped
O'Leary, the bartender at Jake’s. I
learned this:
“Girard did leave, as we suspected,
about 10 p. m. But he returned to
Jake’s! He returned about 11 p. m.,
evidently right after seeing the grand-
nephew. I suppose he wasn’t sleepy
and. thought he would have a nightcap. —
‘Now, at that hour there was a
lumberjack in the place, a fellow
named Michael Green, who was rais-
BLOODY DEATH |
CONTINUED FROM PAGE (9
ing an unholy, drunken row.- He
wanted: to fight everybody in the
4 ota because O’Leary wouldn’t give
im. any more whiskey. He chal-
lenged. a couple of. tough Finns to
come down to the Duluth and South
Shore tracks, and he threatened- to
beat them both one-handed. Finally
he stumbled out, about midnight. A
couple of customers think that Girard -
left one or two minutes before.”.
The police chief jumped out of. his
chair.
“Swell! Now we're getting some-
place! It shouldn’t take me long to
locate this fellow Green, if he made
that kind of spectacle of himself.”
McCormick and Smith found Green
with almost disconcerting ease. He
“was at his boarding-house, in bed.
The officers searched -his pockets.
In the trousers, McCormick found
a round, dull green, dirty leather
urse!
“Well, Green, this cooks your goose!”
the police chief said. “You stole this
from Girard Saturday night, after you
followed him out of Jake’s tavern.
That’s the truth, isn’t it?”
“No, Chief. I guess I was in Jake’s
all right, but. I know I was’ pretty
drunk and I’m not sure. About the
‘ pocket book, I don’t know. To tell
the truth, it ain’t mine. But where
I got it, I don’t know.”
‘The purse was empty.
“You're coming down to headquar-
ters,” McCormick ordered. “And you'd
better tell the truth!”
‘While the police chief escorted the
lumberjack to headquarters, Smith in
his car sped with the purse to the
home of Girard’s nephew and his
wife. He roused them out of bed.
“Well, I figure we’re about to find
out who killed your uncle,” the State
police officer said, with relish. “This
was his purse, wasn’t it?” ©”
The nephew’s wife took the purse
under a light in the parlor.
She looked up‘at the officer.
She shook her head. “No,” she said,
“this couldn’t. be it. It’s green, all
right, and the same shape, but Uncle
Peter had recently bought the purse ©
and this one must be years old. It’s
greasy and stained, and hasn’t any
_Jining. Uncle’s was only a few days’
old.”
Smith’s cup of disappointment was
overflowing. He had spent the better
part of a day rechecking the taverns,
ascertaining the facts of the dis-
turbance created by Green, only to
see that promising lead disappear into
thin air!
His story made’ the police. chief,
— at headquarters, no more ‘cheer-
ul,
They grilled Green.
“J don’t know what time I left
Jake’s. place. And I don’t know what
I did when I did leave. Listen, you
fellows, I know I’m a bad actor when
I. get too much aboard, but while I
like to fight, killing people isn’t in my
line. And this Girard fellow you
describe, he doesn’t sound like some-
one you could easily pick a fight with,
-even if you were tight.”
McCormick and Smith sent back
Green to a cell, and returned to the
chief’s office.
“Somehow, what that big guy says
makes sense, you know,” McCormick
commented. “If he was in a danger-
ous mood, ‘and started picking on
Girard, Girard would probably just
. leave the bar.”
“Yes, but on the other hand Girard
‘might have followed him to that
wooden bridge, and slugged him near
the tracks.”
But neither man was satisfied with
be theory. It presented too many
bas | ig 2?
' They had testimony from witnesses
that both Girard and the intoxicated
Green had left. around midnight, and
that Girard had returned to Jake’s
an hour before. The chief difficulty
was determining with whom Girard
had talked between eleven and mid-
night.
Smith sorted out his notes once
more. He gave an embarrassed
laugh.
“You may think this curious,” he
said, “but sometimes when Tm
stumped I get somewhere by reading
my notes backward, in reverse order!”
The police chief had to attend to
several matters on his desk, accumu-
lated during the Girard case, before
going home. Smith continued shuf-
fling his slips of paper, as though
they were playing cards.
He looked up at: McCormick.
“Say!” he almost shouted.
“Yes?” McCormick answered. ‘Did
LETS 41985
rs. McAllister heard the shuf
randa and reached automatic yr: for” plicate’! .
the six-room apartment upstairs. She knew that in another
moment there would be a hesitant tapping on her door and
she would open it to a wide-eyed little boy standing there
Ci
with an expression of mingled fear and helplessness on his.
white face. This was not the first time the 11-year-old son
of her second-floor tenants had returned late at night to find
himself locked out.
“My mom must have gone out after she sent me to the
movies,” Junior Morgan said as the owner of the big brick
house in the heart of the most exclusive residential district
of El Paso, Tex., appeared at her door.
“She’s not your mom, and I don’t think she left the house
tonight or I’d have heard her go,” replied Mrs. McAllister,
She tried to keep the exasperation from her voice. It wasn’t
> the child’s fault that his pretty, 24-year-old stepmother sent
him out at all hours of the night so that she could entertain
her friends.
But she decided it was time to give Mrs. Morgan a piece of
her mind. This was the third time that she had had to get
up to admit the boy to his own home, On the other occasions
the woman upstairs had gone off. with friends after sending
the boy to the movies, and never returned in time to let him
Upstairs apartment of this house was little more than a prison for
the auburn-haired beauty. Landlady heard man’s footsteps on stairs. | ous letter
|
.
$
ul
:
i
“new parent,
i
when he got back.
“But my stepmother would let me in if she’s up there,” the
youngster protested as they started up the stairs.
“She may have fallen asleep,” the other replied without
conviction. “Anyway, you had better wait outside until I go
in and find out.” *
"An hour after she spoke those words, Mrs. McAllister was
explaining to the police that she had had no premonition of
what she was to find when she entered the neatly furnished
flat of her second-floor tenants, “I knew a man went up
there after the little boy left because I heard his heavy steps
on the stairs,” she told City Detective Roy Chitwood. “But I
didn’t hear them leave, so expected to find them still to-
gether. That’s why I told the boy to wait outside.”
‘ “And you're sure the man was not in the apartment when
you entered?” inquired the detective.
Mrs. McAllister answered that she had not waited to search
the premises. One glance at the cord-bound body of the
brunette had been enough to send her running back down-
stairs to call the police. :
Chitwood, accompanied by two uniformed officers, arrived
at the house just before midhight to find the body of Eleanor
Morgan sprawled before the sofa on [Continued on page 52]
Dark man below was tripped up by the mysteri-
“B” and two forgotten sandwiches.
floor telling her fortune . . . That
ace of spades . .. She once told
me that the ace of spades means
death . .. It’s what she called,
‘the fortune teller’s death card’.”
Fuller asked, “How did
happen to tell you that?”
she
Morgan explained, “She told me
what all the cards meant. I happen
to remember that one.”
Fuller dropped the ace of spades
into his pocket and stood up. He
walked over to the desk where the
telephone was. He noticed that the
paper on the telephone pad was full
of doodles: ragged little cartoons,
profiles, horses, stars, moons, fir
trees and other sketches drawn in
an absent-minded manner. A couple
of telephone numbers had also
been hastily scribbled down and
there was the beginning of a word,
just.two letters of it. The letters
were R-a. Those two letters were
written three times and each time
with a different lead: hard, soft
and indelible. It was as if they
had been written on three different
occasions and as if the writer had
been interrupted by a_ telephone
conversation before finishing the
word. Or else, it was a word that
was-on the writer’s mind and
which he or she had started to
write down while in the midst of
talking to someone over the phone,
and didn’t finish. ’
Fuller asked Morgan, ‘Whose
name begins with R-a?”
Morgan did not answer immedi-
ately. He came to the desk and
looked down at the pad.
Finally he said, “That’s Eleanor’s
scribbling. She was a great doo.. ”
He couldn’t finish He sank down
in a chair beside the desk and
buried his head in his hands.
Fuller touched his shoulder
sympathetically, saying, “Hang on-
to yourself, old man. You’ve got
to help us find out who killed her.”
At that minute, Detective Dave
Hayes stepped into the room. He
had been questioning the landlady
downstairs. He reported, that so
far as the landlady knew, no one
had called on the Morgans from
the time Mr. Morgan left for work
at 8 a. m until he came back at
4:30. But, she said, she herself
had been out between 12 noon and
1 p. m., so she was unable to vouch
for that hour. The landlady also
said that she was usually away at
that time and anyone who was
acquainted with the routine of the
house would know it.
While Detectives Fuller and Hayes
were making a routine inspection
of the apartment, the Coroner, a
fingerprint expert, and a_ police
photographer arrived and began
doing their work.
Morgan asked permission to leave
the house while these mournful
proceedings were going on. Fuller.
granted his request but told him
to meet him at the District
Attorney’s office within an hour.
Just before: Morgan left, Fuller
reminded him, “By the way, you
didn’t tell me whether or not you
know anybody whose name begins
with R-a.”
Morgan : thoughtfully replied,
“T’ve been thinking about that. It
doesn’t seem likely .. .”
“Out with it, man!” Fuller urged
him. “Don’t be afraid of incrimin-
ating someone. If he’s innocent,
you’ve got nothing to worry about
and neither has he.”
“Well,” Morgan = said’ slowly,
“there’s Ramon Prado. He lives
across the river in Juarez. But I’m
sure my wife wouldn’t be writing
his name on her telephone pad. In
fact, I know she had no use for
him. He’s crazy over women. Only
last night I blacked his eye for
him in a restaurant when he tried
to annoy Eleanor. Still, I wouldn’t
suspect him of being a killer.”
“Ramon Prado,” Fuller wrote the
name down in his notebook. “We’ll
have a talk with him.”
It was by this slender circum-
stance, of the letters R-a being
found on Eleanor Morgan’s tele-
phone pad, that dashing, hand-
ry
“District Attorney,
some young Ramon Prado became
identified with the case.
Prado was well-known to more
than one Juarez official. He didn’t
wait to be summoned to Head-
quarters, but went to see the El
Paso police.
He said, with a touch of ironic
amusement in his voice and dark
eyes, “Information has reached me
that the minions of the law want
to question me about the murder of
a very beautiful lady.”
Roy Chitwood, assistant to the
sized up his
caller. He saw that he was an
extraordinarily handsome man with
a lot of animal magnetism and a
reckless manner. Just the kind of
a man that women find attractive,
Chitwood thought.
He inquired, “How well did yo
know Mrs. Morgan?” ‘
Ramon shrugged his debonair
shoulders. “I knew her very slight-
ly,” he replied. “I know her
husband quite well.”
“IT see you do,” Chitwood re-
marked,. looking pointedly at the
black and blue mark under one of
Ramon’s eyes.
Ramon gave a light laugh and
touched the injured spot tenderly.
He was as nimble-witted as he was
charming and he said, “So that’s
the way it is! Well! Well! I
merely smiled at the lady, bowed
to her, kissed her pretty hand and ~
— what happens? First, the lady’s
husband pokes me in the eyes and
then, the next thing I know, he is
accusing me of killing her! Well!
Well!”
“Mr. Morgan has not aceused
you of killing his wife,” Chitwood
told him. “In fact, he’s a_ better
friend of yours than you imagine.
He has stated that he does not be-
lieve you are capable of murder.”
“He is clever,’ Ramon remarked.
“And, now, I will tell you some-
thing, Mr. Assistant District
Attorney. I was: with very respect-
able and important people ail day
yesterday, while poor, lovely Mrs.
Morgan was getting herself killed.
I was a guest at a house party
which began the night before.
Yesterday morning I had my break-
fast at 8 o’clock in the company
‘of my friends whose names I will
give you if you can give me one
good reason why I should. After
breakfast, we went for a motor
ride and did not return until after
6 last night. I can prove my state-
ments, Mr. Assistant District
Attorney, and will do so if you can
give me just one reason why |
should.”
Chitwood realized he was up
against a sharp operator. He could
not tell whether or not the man
was bluffing. And, after all, he
had no real evidence that Prado
had killed Mrs. Morgan. The only
thing the police had, that pointed
to Prado, was the first two letters
of a word that happened to be
scribbled on a telephone pad in the
The ace of spades, the card of death in fortune telling, was found clutched by the murdered girl,
and silken bathrobe cord was mystifying clue that baffled the police but finally enabled them to solve
the mystery.
19
POLITICALLY GIFTED?
Tj still say that there never has been
a funeral in Perry, Ia., quite as impressive
as the one that was given John M. Smith
on a February day in 1931. For John M.
Smith was not only a top Perry business
man and leading citizen but he recently
had run for governor and made a surpris-
ingly strong showing for a political un-
known.
The preacher's voice was befittingly
somber, Not only was he eulogizing one of
the state’s most respected men, but there
was the terrible tragedy that had under-
lined his passing. The deceased's badly
charred body had been found in his over-
turned, burned truck.
As the preacher went on with his eulogy,
the widow wept openly and, truth to tell,
there was hardly a dry eye in the church.
No one doubted, as the minister indicated
so eloquently, that John M, Smith had en-
tered the portals of heaven.
As it turned out, though, this was a some-
what mistaken conception. John M. Smith
was in Kansas and carrying on with another
woman. To such an extent in fact that, his
legal-wedded spouse notwithstanding, he
married this Kansas female.
The insurance companies had no
knowledge of this, of course, nor did they
have anything against the “late lamented
Mr. Smith.” But insurance inspectors, irre-
spective of personages, are just naturally
suspicious, and in this case, to the tune of
$60,000.
As horrible as the accident had been, it
had seemed explainable enough. Mr. Smith,
when he wasn’t engaged in the loftier
realms of politics, was an insecticide manu-
facturer. He had had gallons of the in-
flammable liquid on his truck when the
highway mishap had occurred,
It was assumed that when the arms and
legs of the victim were missing that it had
been consumed by the fire. But there was
something peculiar about it. Even the
bones of the limbs were missing:
Then there was the fact that the under-
taker thought it rather odd that rigor mor-
tis should have set in so rapidly.
But these two facts, while a bit on the
puzzling side, would hardly seem to justify
50
opening the flood gates of suspicion on
such an estimable gentleman. Nevertheless,
curious investigators continued prowling
around and they came up with a discovery:
Mr. Smith, it would appear, was not really
so estimable after all. He had collected
$100 in “good faith bonds” from 26 of his
insecticide salesmen whose monev was to
be returned sixty days after hire.
So, five weeks after “Mr. Smith” had been
laid to rest with such reverence, he was
dug up again. It was now discovered the
buried body had been embalmed, whereas
the funeral director reported embalming
had not been attempted.
Further, it was revealed that Mr. Smith
had been in a train wreck a number of years
before and had suffered.a fractured skull.
The skull of the exhumed body showed no
sign that it had ever sustained a fracture.
Investigators were now convinced that
John M. Smith was not only very much
alive, but had staged “his death” to avoid
payment of $2,600 due his salesmen and
also to attempt to get his hands on the
$60,000 insurance money. So now, instead
of everybody nodding sorrowfully at one
another and saying what a terrible thing
it was for Mr. Smith to have had to go,
there was a hue and cry out to fetch the
rascal back.
He was crafty enough to elude the
forces of the law for a number of weeks,
but eventually gave himself up. He went
to trial for conspiracy to defraud and
several other charges. It was never learned
where he got the body found in the flaming
truck, and it was assumed he had snitched
it from some cemetery or medical labora-
tory. A jury decided, after listening to the
testimony of psychiatrists, that the train
wreck injuries he had sustained years be-
fore had effected his mind. Therefore,
Smith was committed:to a mental institu-
tion.
But perhaps the most thought-provoking
thing about the case was the inference
drawn from the psychiatrists report. Smith,
whose spell-binding oratory, and whose
profound social ideas had won him such
a large political following, was insane al
the time-he was running for governor.
~Harold Helfer
Benito's. smile grew broader. “If I was so
angry about my black eye I would kill the
man who gave it to me. Not his wife.”
That sounded most reasonable. Chitwood
told the Mexican of the entry in Eleanor
Morgan’s diary.
Benito said, “I hardly knew the woman.
1 only met her a couple of times. If that
entry in her diary applied to me it would
mean she loved me. If so, why would I kill
her?”
“Perhaps, because she wouldn't leave her
husband and run away with you.”
“But,” said the Mexican with devastating
logic, “in the entry you quoted she says she
can hardly wait for the time that she and
this B can be together forever.”
This, too, was most reasonable. Chitwood
examined the suspect thoroughly and at the
end of an hour was forced to admit that he
didn't suspect. him very much, Moreover,
the man had come willingly into El Paso
from Mexico. Certainly, at that time, the
department had had no evidence strong
enough for extradition.
Therefore, Carvahal was released. He
freely offered to return to Texas if anything
more was required of him.
It was dusk. Chitwood, Fuller and Haynes
sat in the office of the former. They were no
closer to the killer they sought than they had
been on the night of the murder.
At last, .Chitwood spoke slowly and
thoughtfully. He said, ‘Haynes, exactly
where did you find that diary?”
“On top of the bureau. In the bedroom,
Why?”
“Doesn’t it seem odd to you fellows that,
since the diary was out in the open where
Morgan could easily read it, his wife wrote
so freely of her affection for this mysterious
B?”
“Perhaps,” said Fuller, “I’d thought of
that. But apparently she did it.”
Suddenly Chitwood stood up, He said, “I
have an idea. I'm going over to the tele-
phone company.”
Apparently whatever Chitwood learned
at the offices of the telephone company
pleased him. He wore a confident smile as he
emerged from the building. He climbed into
his car and drove down to the border, to
the yards of the Santa Fe Railroad.
He spent two hours there, then he went
home to bed. He did not sleep well, however.
His head buzzed with conjecture as he es-
sayed to put several jagged pieces of the
puzzle together,
On the following morning when he en-
tered his office Fuller and Haynes were wait-
ing for him.
“Well,” said Fuller, “did the telephone
company solve our case?”
“Partially,” said Chitwood. “And let me
tell you something else. The name of Eleanor
Morgan’s daughter is Betty.”
Haynes wrinkled his brow. “Say!” he ex-
claimed. “That fact reminds me of some-
thing.”
“It reminded me of something, too—that
B could stand for Betty,” said Chitwood.
“Suppose you bring in Morgan.”
Callon Morgan was dragged out of bed at
10 o’clock of the morning. He arrived at
police headquarters, sleepy and resentful.
Before he was brought to Chitwood’s office,
Chitwood said to his colleagues, “I’ve got a
perfect book case. That:is, I have a case on
: paper. Since it's largely circumstantial there’s
an even money chance that the grand jury
won't indict. The trick is to present it so con-
vincingly to Morgan that he breaks down.”
Fuller nodded. “Here’s wishing us luck.”
He opened the door and ordered Morgan
brought in.
Callon Morgan was surly. He said, “What's
the idea of pulling me out of bed? I’ve told
you everything I know.”
“Oh, no, you haven't,” said Chitwood. “You
didn’t tell us of your
phone call on the 16th. J !
at the telephone compa
us why you didn’t take
on the night of the 20th.
didn’t tell us that you k:
Three pair of official e
at Morgan as Chitwood
tence, Morgan held up we
nor lowered his gaze.
He said evenly, “J thin
| loved my wife.”
“That I grant,” said ©
the reasons you killed h«
Morgan stifled a yawr
was magnificent.
“T’'ll tell you what you
“You decided to murdc¢
night of June 20th. You
you'd have the nerve. O1
someone might be with
lunch behind—that iced
sandwiches in the icebo:
cuse for your coming h:
usual hour.”
“So,” said Morgan, “I
that makes me a killer.
“You worked in tha
four years,” put in Ha
lunch was a habit, like
You hardly could have
“Anyway,” said Morg:
I was working that nig
can testify.”
“You weren't working
period,” said Chitwood
went home, strangled y
back to work. You wer
dump to save time, saw
took it along to do the
“You're crazy,” said
wouldn’t have had time
tance in an hour.”
“You didn’t walk. Yo
“I don’t even have a
“You swiped a car. 7
parked down there at n
to the railroad employe
ones drove home to eat,
lunch. You took one of t
ably that of Harry §
him?”
For the first time Morg
“Soames, a careful di
in gear when he drov
He recalls it clearly. H
leaves his car in neutral
Morgan shifted uneas
said, but not so convin«
that Benito did it. The
each other, It says so i
“You are a liar,” sai
reference in the diary
Morgan's young daught:
your wife naturally ca!
through a long distance
child on June 16th. And
time, [f you’d thought a
faster you mightn’t h
away.”
Callon Morgan glanc
wood, “What do you m
“When Haynes, here,
diary entry and asked \
said, ‘Oh, that’s—’ The
tended to say that’s B
as of no importance. |
curred to you that th
slugged in the eye had
began with B.
“You jumped on tha!
could make him a natu
cided in that instant to |
on him, That would rv
from you. So you put «
revengeful act.”
There was a long si
Morgan shifted uneasi]
said, “You think you ha
to charge me with murc
‘ew broader. “If I was so
lack eye I would kill the
» me. Not his wife.”
ost reasonable. Chitwood
of the entry in Eleanor
hardly knew the woman.
couple of times. If that
applied to me it would
¢. If so, why would I kill
se she wouldn't leave her
away with you.”
Mexican with devastating
y you quoted she says she
or the time that she and
ther forever,”
\ost reasonable. Chitwood
ect thoroughly and at the
s forced to admit that he
n very much. Moreover,
ie willingly into El Paso
tainly, at that time, the
had no evidence strong
tion,
vahal was released. He
turn to Texas if anything
of him.
twood, Fuller and Haynes
the former. They were no
they sought than they had
of the murder.
‘ood spoke slowly and
said, “Haynes, exactly
d that diary?”
bureau. In the bedroom.
odd to you fellows that,
‘s out in the open where
ly read it, his wife wrote
ection for this mysterious
Fuller, “I'd thought of
tly she did it.”
sod stood up. He said, “I
| going over to the tele-
hatever Chitwood learned
the telephone company
sre a confident smile as he
building. He climbed into
down to the border, to
inta Fe Railroad.
ours there, then he went
id not sleep well, however.
with conjecture as he es-
ral jagged pieces of the
g morning when he en-
er and Haynes were wait-
ller, “did the telephone
case?”
Chitwood. “And let me
else. The name of Eleanor
is Betty.”
his brow. “Say!”” he ex-
ct reminds me of some-
: of something, too—that
Betty,” said Chitwood.
g in Morgan.”
‘as dragged out of bed at
morning. He arrived at
i, Sleepy and resentful,
rught to Chitwood’s office,
lis colleagues, “I’ve got a
hat is, I have a case on
rely circumstantial there’s
ince that the grand jury
ick is to present it so con-
n that he breaks down.”
Here's wishing us luck.”
or and ordered Morgan
as surly. He said, “What's
me out of bed? I've told
ow.”
‘n't,” said Chitwood. “You
didn’t tell us of your wife’s long distance ’
phone call on the 16th. I foutnd out about that
at the telephone company. You didn’t tell
us why you didn’t take your lunch to work
on the night of the 20th. Most important, you
didn’t tell us that you killed your wife.”
Three pair of official eyes stared steadfastly
at Morgan as Chitwood spoke his last sen-
tence. Morgah held up well. He neither paled,
nor lowered his gaze.
He said evenly, “I think you guys are crazy.
1 loved my wife.” ,
“That I grant,” said Chitwood. “It’s one of
the reasons you killed her.”
Morgan stifled a yawn. If it was phony it
was magnificent.
“I'll tell you what you did,” said Chitwood.
“You decided to murder your wife on the
night of June 20th, You weren't quite sure
you'd have the nerve. Or perhaps you feared
someone might be with her. So you left your
lunch behind—that iced tea, those wrapped
sandwiches in the icebox—to serve as an ex-
cuse for your coming home at such an un-
usual hour.”
“So,” said Morgan, “I forgot my lunch and
that makes me a killer.”
“You worked in that railroad shop for
four years,” put in Haynes. “Taking your
lunch was a habit, like cleaning your teeth.
You hardly could have forgotten it.”
“Anyway,” said Morgan. “I have an alibi.
I was working that night as a hundred guys
can testify.”
“You weren't lca during your lunch
period,” said Chitwood. “It was then you
went home, strangled your wife and went
back to work. You went through the city
dump to save time, saw that silk cord and
took it along to do the job.”
“You're crazy,” said Morgan again. “I
wouldn’t have had time to walk all that dis-
tance in an hour.”
“You didn’t walk. You drove.”
“I don’t even have a car,”
“You swiped a car. There are fifty cars
parked down there at night, cars wag ed
to the railroad employees. You knew which
ones drove home to eat, who brought their
lunch. You took one of the latter cars, prob-
ably that of Harry Soames. You know
him?”
For the first time Morgan found no answer.
“Soames, a careful driver, found his car
in gear when he drove home that night.
He recalls it clearly. He claims he always
leaves his car in neutral when he parks it.”
Morgan shifted uneasily in his chair. He
said, but not so convincingly, “I still think
that Benito did it. They were crazy about
each other. It says so. in her diary.”
“You are a liar,” said Chitwood. “That
reference in the diary refers to Eleanor
Morgan's young daughter, Elizabeth, whom
your wife naturally called Betty. She put
through a a distance call to talk to the
child on June 16th. And you knew it all the
time. If you’d thought a fraction of a second
faster you mightn’t have given yourself
away.” :
Callon Morgan glanced sharply at Chit-
wood, “What do you mean by that?”
“When Haynes, here, first read you that
diary entry and asked you who B was you
said, ‘Oh, that’s—’ Then stopped. You in-
tended to say that's Betty and dismiss it
as of no importance. But it suddenly oc-
curred to you that the guy whom you'd
slugged in the eye had a name which also
began with B,
“You jumped on that. You saw that you
could make him a natural suspect. You de-
cided in that instant to try to pin the killing
on him, That would remove all suspicion
from you. So you put on your tremendous
revengeful act.”
There was a long ‘silence in the room.
Morgan shifted uneasily in his chair. He
said, “You think you have enough evidence
to charge me with murder?”
“I’m sure we have,” said Chitwood quietly.
“Then,” said Morgan, “you don’t need
any confession from me. Lock me up and
get me a lawyer.”
The officers looked at each other in dis-
may. Chitwood's bluff had failed. As he had
said before, there was a chance of convic-
tion on the evidence he had adduced, but,
by no means was it an open and shut case.
Figuratively, they rolled up their sleeves -
Nearly Cost Me
MY JOB!
and went to work on Morgan. But now he ..vntll |
shut up like a taciturn clam. He folded his
arms and sat like the Sphinx. discovered this
“All right,” said Chitwood at last. “Take New Electronic
chim away and lock him up. Way to Hi
Morgan was led to a cell in the El Paso
county jail, He sat there, apparently lost
a deep igs. gl for meee fener heute Chances more aey
Then, early in the morning of June 26th, of wearing
he asked tb see Roy Chitwood. re was again pedas, lee T rebel Meets thes wosightly
ushered into the presence of Chitwood, nin the ear nae Ciaey Retery Seeks,
Fuller and Haynes. N
Outside, the Texas sun was rising in the
sky, The day was hot now and promised to
be hotter. The wide window in Chitwood’s
ground floor office was open. are :
Morgan came into the room. He said ina pend re the ee ie
low, contrite tone, “I've been thinking it way to hear.
$e i
OS y,
over. I’m willing to talk now. I was crazy aye
about that woman, But she was always flirt- ae.
ing. 1 couldn't stand other guys even looking HEARING AID
at her,” Beltone Hearing Aid Co., Dopt. 2013
Chitwood picked up the telephone on his 1450 W. 19th $¢., Chicage 8, Il.
desk and ordered that a police stenographer —MAIL COUPON FOR FREE BOOKLET——
be sent in. Morgan shuffled slowly across Beltone Hearing Ald Ce., Dept. 2013 '
the room, toward the window. 1450 W. 19th St., Chicage 6, Hit. i
Then in a sudden swift movement he flung Please send me FREB booklet on OVER-
his legs over the sill. GOMING DEAFNESS with the new |
Outside police headquarters, Sergeant Ray jectronic way to hear.
Smithers was smoking a cigaret before ‘he Name.sssccessseeeees Ts iewasaaveaice
went on duty. He became aware of a shout Address...cccccses eae cesianedaipele
behind him, He turned his head to see a Tow: on
man emerging from the window. Smithers PW Rosia tye + 0sp + +90 ARs seb as
was a big man. He didn’t even reach toward
%,
ADAM”-EVE ROOT
his holster.
Considered by many thet it
He stretched forth a barae hand and
G5) BRINGS GOOD LUCK
grabbed Callon Morgan by collar. He
dragged his struggling’ prisoner back to
any that a Wery LUGKY nt ‘3 ir of the ‘
Many ite lieve that “e., roo’
Nothing can ruin
a man’s business
a new electronic way to hear. had
hard otheariag,
Chitwood'’s office.
This time Callon Morgan gave up com-
pletely. With tears in his eyes he dictated
the story of the killing, a story which jibed
exactly with Chitwood’s reconstruction of
the night of june 20th,
In July District Attorney Andress took we Mate Th vod ‘a
Morgan into court, charging him with first iMitaT ONS: wnlle we make no wupernatural claims swe
degree murder. The fury agteed with the | S&RQine SeRCiMEND OFT O Vane ManES? QUAGITY.
district gg 5 Callon Morgan was sen- | Satisfaction QUARANTERD of Money Refunded. 81.50 post:
tenced to die, But because of appeals and | ppg} “without extra. comt. with each prepaid order:
legal technicalities, execution was delayed for | yisegh Kurio | ompany 248 w Ison Aven’ Dept, Em
over @ year. COLUMBUS 5, OHIO
On August 19, 1938, Callon Morgan was
seated firmly in the electric chair. At pre-
cisely 11:07 on the switch was thrown.
Perhaps, there is panelling in the black
art of card reading. At least in the Morgan
household, the death card, the ace of spades
did double duty. Both Callon and Eleanor
are dead.
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Carrollton, Ohio
51
MORGAN, Callon H., white, electrocuted
e Couldnt
Touch
Eleanor
Pretty Eleanor Morgan never knew that a crazed fiend watched her
day and night. Arrow points to the window of the room where he
attacked his unsuspecting victim.
POLICE RECBRD DETECTIVE,
Spring, 1952
Texas (El Paso) August 19, 1938
_ THE CARD
RAMON PRADO of _ Juarez,
Mexico, was a suave, handsome
man with a dangerous idea about
women... According to Ramon’s
philosophy, any woman, married or
single, so long as she was pretty,
was fair game. Ramon also claim-
ed that he was philosophic about
the black eyes he sometimes sus-
tained after making advances to
married women. He was especially
philosophic about the black eye
he received from the clenched fist
of Callon H. Morgan the night be-
fore Eleanor, Morgan’s wife, was
murdered.
Morgan found his pretty young
wife dead on the living room floor
of their apartment in El Paso,
Texas, when he came home from
work. She lay on her back, a deck
of playing cards scattered on the
rug at her feet. The silk cord of
a bathrobe dangled from her neck.
She had evidently been strangled
to death,
As soon as he was able to
control the shock he had suffered
from the sight of his wife’s dead
body Morgan called the police:
Detective J. C. Fuller of the El
Paso Police Department was the
first investigator on the scene.
-When he arrived, Morgan was
standing near the front window,
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PERFECT MURDER
IF THE DEAD GIRL HADN’T BEEN HOLDING
OF DEATH
looking like a graven image of
despair. The door was open and
Fuller walked in.
The detective surveyed the
situation with a professional eye.
Eleanor Morgan’s head was twisted
so sharply down onto her chest
that Fuller knew, without waiting
for the Medical Examiner, that her
neck was broken. There was a
jagged cut on her temple which
had bled quite a bit for a head
wound, The lower part of a brok-
en soda pop bottle was lying near
one of her feet. Fuller automati-
cally looked around for the rest of
the bottle. And then suddenly he
saw the neck of it, tangled in the
woman’s hair, just above the
jagged cut!
‘Fuller also noticed something
else. It was a bit of paper pro-
jecting from one of*the rigid fists.
Stooping down and prying open the
stiffened fingers, Fuller took a
playing card from the dead hand.
It was the ace of spades!
Callon Morgan spoke for the
first time. He spoke slowly, paus-
ing from time to time, as though
to gather his thoughts. “She must
have been telling her fortune...
Eleanor liked to try to look into
the future through the cards...
No doubt she was sitting on the
iw
Cmaevrownu
ad
um
Bathrobe cord used to strangle unconscious girl seemed
worthless clue but was sleuths’? only hope to solve mystery
throat, squeezing life out of her.
The three detectives examined the cord, recognizing it
almost immediately as the length and kind of braid
ordinarily worn on a man’s bathrobe. A new search
of the Morgan apartment turned up no garment to which
it could have belonged.
day night, June 20th, 1937. “Look here,” he added,
withdrawing a crumpled piece of paper from the vic-
prt clenched right fist. “You may make something
of this!”
It was a playing card. Chitwood unfolded it. The ace
of spades. He stared a long. moment at the four neat
stacks of cards, face up on the table. To a person such
as Eleanor Morgan, who believed in fortune telling by
cards, the spade ace meant one thing: death.
Coroner’s attendants had removed the body before
a police detail came in with Callon Morgan, whom they
had found at work in the Southern Pacific railroad shops
on the bank of the Rio Grande in an outlying industrial
section of El Paso, several miles from the scene of the
murder.
A dark, good-looking, muscular man in his early 30s,
Morgan was obviously badly shaken by the tragic news
his escort had broken to him on the swift ride home.
“Who could have done such a thing?” he asked over
and over.
“Tet’s face it, Morgan,” Chitwood told him frankly..
“Tt wasn’t any robber or prowler. No one forced his way
in here and attacked your wife. The killer was someone
whom she herself admitted, or who had a key and came
in with her full knowledge and consent.” _
“But that—it’s impossible!” the husband cried.
“It’s the truth,” Chitwood answered. “And no matte
how unpleasant, the truth’s got to be faced if we ever clear
this thing up. You want it cleared up, don’t you?”
“Of course!” Morgan snapped. “What do you think I
am? I'd give anything I've got or ever will have, just
to get my hands on the guy before you fellows do.”
“We'll take care of him, all right,” the detective said.
“Let’s get back to the facts. Your wife was sitting here
in her own living room, telling fortunes with cards, as
we understand she frequently did. Your little boy was
at the movies.
“Now, no person could have entered this room with-
out your wife’s being aware of his presence. But some-
one was here, and she still sat there with her cards. She
had no cause to fear this person, no foreknowledge of
her danger. You can see for yourself that even the
been a quarrel, a quick, angry exchange of words. But
there was no struggle. Her visitor hit her once with the
bottle from which he’d apparently been drinking soda.
Then he used this to kill her. A,cord, did you ever see
it before?”
Morgan looked at the silken braid dully and shook his
head. :
“The ‘killer didn’t pick it up in this apartment any-
where,” Chitwood went on. “You know what that
means, Morgan? He brought it with him. And why
would a man carry such a thing around with him?
There’s only one reason I can think of—he came here
intending to murder your wife. Now will you try to
help us? Was there any other man?”
“f think there was.” Dave, Haynes spoke up as he came
in from a bedroom, a brown cardboard covered note-
book in his hand.
“Picked it up on a dresser, under a woman’s crumpled
. nine
Paste t
handkerchief,” he explained. “It’s just the kind of thing
we'd overlook, the first time around the place, lying there
Ke obviously a part of the usual setup. But here, read
is.”
Chitwood studied the ‘page Haynes indicated, then
addressed Morgan again. “You know what this is?” he
inquired, gesturing with the notebook.
“Pllie’s diary,” the husband replied. “She used to
write in it every once in awhile.”
“You ever read it?”
“No. Why should I? It was just one of those things
of hers, like telling fortunes.”
“Maybe you'd better take a look,” Chitwood said,
handing over the notebook. :
The entry was brief, dated June 16th, four days earlier.
It read: “Had a long talk with B. today. It is awful
that we should be apart when we love each other so much.
I can hardly wait until the day when we can be together
forever.”
“Mean anything to you?” Chitwood asked.
For a full minute, Morgan did not reply.
Then he said soberly: “I guess I’d better tell you.
The last four or five months, [ve had a hunch—yeah,
even more’n a hunch—that Ellie’s been stepping out.
First, it was something the boy let slip about her going
out at night after he was in bed; She said she just
went for walks, to get some fresh air, or sometimes took
a bus ride and got a soda somewhere, just to get out of
the house.
Eleanor Morgan had no cauge for fear, no forewarning of her danger—no chance to fight for life
SHE LIVED BY WHAT THE CARDS SAID
| —AND DIED WITH THE ACE OF SPADES IN HAND
25
shin asi ill! ha Salil
thing important in the fact that Eleanor Morgan would
quit her home at night and leave her son to return to
an empty apartment and make an entry the best way
he could. ;
“He wasn’t her boy,” the landlady said. “His folks’re
divorced. She was his stepmother. A good one, too.
Loved the lad, took good care of him, except—well, it was
none of my affair, of course, and I kept my nose out of it,
but I did ‘think she wasn’t doing exactly right, going out
sometimes at night and leaving him up here all alone.
I know, she was only 22 or 23, and it’s hard at that age to
be cooped up by yourself, night after night.”
“Yes,” the detective cut in, “tell me one thing more.
Did Mrs. Morgan have visitors here while her husband
was away?”
“Of course not!” the landlady flared.
“You heard nothing unusual up here tonight, no talk
or laughter, no noise of a quarrel or struggle?”
“Not a blessed thing. If you ask me, some burglar
climbed up to the second floor, forced his way in.”
“We've already checked,” Chitwood told her. “Every
window’s locked. You found the door locked. There’s
no indication of forcible entry anywhere. We'll be
down to see you and the boy later on.”
As he eased the landlady out the door, Chitwood
turned to meet Detectives David Haynes and J. C.
Fuller, his colleagues on the district attorney’s staff,
summoned with him by the cops who first answered the
landlady’s almost hysterical alarm.
“We've finished the bedrooms and the kitchen,” Fuller
said. “No luck. Not a thing out of place.”
“You went over everything?”
Haynes chuckled .mirthlessly. “Even counted the
‘knives and forks in the kitchen cabinet drawer. Even
pecked in the ice box. There’s a couple
of quarts of milk in it, two sandwiches,
part of a leftover roast, a thermos of
iced tea, three cold potatoes——”
“Okay, okay,” Chitwood said. He
stubbed a toe at one of a handful of
. shards of glass glimmering on the rug.
“You make out where this pop bottle
came from?”:
“That much I did find out,” Haynes
answered. “There’s a carton of six
bottles of this brand of soda on the
flbor beside the refrigerator. Two
bottles in the ice box, two still in the
carton and one missing. That must
have been the one the killer clubbed
her with. He really gave her a tap, to
bust that bottle into smithereens.”
The medical examiner agreed. It
was a miracle, the doctor said, that
the single blow, delivered even on the
thick frontal skull bone above the left
eye, had not caved in the skull. But
it had not, for Eleanor Morgan very
plainly had been alive when her slayer
looped the, silken cord around her
Apartment (arrow) where young house-
wife sat telling her own fortune with play-
ing cards when she was struck down by
killer seconds after drawing the death
card—ace of spades—found in her hand
Ce Paneer Pi [coment arenes mpy *
Mn
E I PASS KX Poe
EXHIB \v
PB
“Ure mero orro°o
~_
Janu
Detectives followed a killer’s trail across the border to the town of Juarez
but were baffled by perfect alibi of man thought to be mysterious “Mr. B.”
ae oe *
bison find ephael a soci $2)
“I knew it was kind of rough on her, young and pretty
as she was, to be cooped up here all the time while I
worked at night. I was trying my level best to get on the
day shift, so we could live a normal life. So I understood
how it was, that after the kid was safe in bed asleep,
she might go out for a while.
“And I thought it was just that till one night I stayed
home from work on account of a bad spell with my
stomach, and the phone rang, and I answered. It was
aman. When he heard my voice he said it was a wrong
number. I asked what number he wanted, and he gave
me one. The next day I called that number, and the
operator came in and said it didn’t exist.”
Suspicious thereafter of Eleanor’s nocturnal wander-
ings, Callon Morgan continued, his words tumbling over
themselves as he poured out his story, he took time off
from work on three occasions and followed his wife. He
saw her meet a man on one of these occasions. The man
and Eleanor had coffee together and parted. Morgan
trailed the man across the international bridge into
Juarez, Mexico’s sinkpot of sin, just across the river.
A bit more private detective work, Morgan said, and
he was able to identify the man as Bernardo Vejas, a
dapper, smooth-talking young man whose principal oc-
cupation seemed to be the rendering of his “services” to
gullible turistas—particularly women—whom he encoun-
tered in the bistros and gaming dens of Juarez.
“It was only about a week ago,” Morgan said, “I found
out who he was. I don’t know how he and Ellie got ac-
quainted. Maybe it was before she and I got married,
maybe some night we were over in Juarez. I took her a
—_—
few times-on my nights off. I didn’t say anything to
her about this. I wasn’t going to, unless I was sure
there was something actually wrong going on. I figured
if I could get on days, everything’d work itself out okay,
and I didn’t want to spoil things between us. We’d both
had our share of trouble, and there were the kids to
think of.”
“The kids?” Chitwood echoed. “I thought there was
only your little boy.”
“Ellie had a little girl, Beatrice,’ Morgan -explained.
“She’s been living with some relatives in New York
since Ellie got her divorce. We’d intended to bring her
out here with us, as soon as we could.”
Whether his wife had ever met men other than Vejas
on her journeys at night, Morgan insisted he did not
know. However, in the light of the diary entry bemoan-
ing her absence from “B,” Bernardo Vejas seemed a
very likely suspect in the murder of Eleanor Morgan.
Technical experts from the El Paso police department
went over the Morgan home thoroughly, but came up
with no useful fingerprints, nor with anything else of
value in the probe. The apartment was sealed pending
developments in the investigation, and Morgan and his
young son took up living quarters elsewhere.
While police in Juarez combed their city for Vejas,
Chitwood, Haynes and Fuller went to work on the only
tangible clue they had, the bathrobe cord.
Haberdashers in El Paso said the dark blue silken
braid would be difficult if not impossible to trace farther
down the chain of ownership than a manufacturer’s lot to
a wholesaler. (Continued on page 88)
‘watching the Dallas Cowboys’ football
game on television, when they left the
restaurant and headed for their car.
In the parking lot, however, they
spotted a man getting into their car.
“Hey, that’s my car!” shouted Carrie.
Seconds later, shots rang out.
At 2:30 a.m., Patrolman Jerry Conrad
responded to a shooting call in the park-
ing lot at Maggie’s. He found the two
women lying on the pavement with a
small crowd circling their bodies. One
woman was giving mouth-to-mouth re-
suscitation to Carrie Scott while
another administered heart massage.
Another bystander was crouched beside
Rosen and was tending to a shoulder
wound.
From what the police officer could
gather from witnesses, Rosen had been
shot after Miss Scott had yelled a warn-
ing that someone was attempting to
steal her car. At that point Scott was
shot in the back by a.38 caliber weapon.
Witnesses said the assailant then ran
across the street and got into a car dri-
ven by a woman. A witness described
the car as a late model, dark-colored
Chevrolet Monza and gave police the
license plate number, which he had
28 Official Detective
Morin, a “born-again Christian,” stunned court with a dramatic announcement
very helpfully memorized.
A computer check on the number
came back that the car was registered to
Janna Bruce of Corpus Christi.
Meanwhile, the two shooting victims
were taken to the Medical Center Hos-
pital where Carrie Scott was later pro-
nounced dead. Denise Rosen was in crit-
ical but stable condition.
The Chevy Monza was spotted two
hours later by a patrolman who drove
into the parking area of the Sands Motel
in the 1000 block of Austin Highway.
The headlights from the cruiser swept
across the row of parked cars and stop-
ped on the figure of a man getting a soft
drink from a machine outside one of the
rooms. The man dropped the drink and
dashed inside the motel room.
The patrolman radioed for backup,
and additional cruisers, sirens scream-
ing, arrived at the scene. The city’s
SWAT team surrounded the motel and
brought out two occupants of the room.
One was Sarah Clarke, a beefy, 32-
year-old former dispatcher with the
Port Aransas Police Department. The
other was Racquel Austin, the Corpus
Christi woman who had been missing
for 13 days.
:
Clarke reportedly broke down during %
the police interrogation and admitted
being the getaway driver at the Mag-
gie’s retaurant shooting. She also al.
legedly implicated Morin in the abduc- PY
tions of Racquel Austin and the murder
of Janna Bruce.
‘““He’s crazy, he’ll do anything,”
Clarke said, referring to the man she
had traveled with for two months. “The
last couple of days have been real bad.”
She said in the past two weeks Morin
had become “more and more desperate.
He was talking about shooting himself
one night and shooting it out with the
cops in a big blowout the next.”
One night while Morin was drinking,
he started talking about his childhood,
then handed his pistol to Racquel Au-
stin and asked her to shoot him, Clarke
Said.
“Racquel was shaking so bad she
wouldn’t take the gun, so he handed it to
me and asked me to shoot him. But I put
the gun to my head and said, ‘No, but I’ll
shoot myself if that’s what you want.’ ”
The threat to end her life apparently
calmed Morin down, because he became
jovial after that.
Clarke told police she had the “power
to calm him down” because she was like
a “mother-figure” rather than a lover
who would wake apparently deep-
deated hostilities towards woman. She
said the hostilities apparently were
caused by his “childhood hell,” which
included numerous beatings and acts of
torture.
Clarke said they had been in the San
Antonio area since December 2nd and
had been selling off items for cash when
they drove to Maggie’s restaurant. She
said Morin had told her he had opened
fire on the two woman after they disco-
vered him trying to break into their car.
After the shooting, they drove to the
motel on the Austin Highway and
checked in under a fictitious name.
Clarke reportedly told detectives that
when the police cruiser pulled into the
parking lot, Morin “came running back
into the room and jumped out the
bathroom window.”
After completing her statement,
Clarke was taken to Bexar County Jail
and was held over without bond. She
was later charged with capital murder
and attempted murder in connection
with the restaurant shootings.
Authorities also questioned Racquel
Austin, but she could say little about
the 13-day nightmare that had become
her life since being kidnaped in front of
a Corpus Christi bar. “I don’t know why
he kept me alive,” she told authorities.
No one else, including Sarah Clarke,
had an answer, either. Since the abduc-
tion, the attractive brunette had been
either kept tied up or heavily sedated
and knew very little about what was
happening.
eas
we
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(Continued on page 80)
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of
MORIN, Steven Peter, white, lethal injection Texas on March 13,
1985.
Southwestern kids may get their values mixed up,
but they take a perverse pride in this dude...
“THERE'S NOBODY
by BRUCE GIBNEY
Special Investigator for
OFFICIAL DETECTIVE STORIES
A MY DENSMORE came to accept
her Christian beliefs quietly.
She was certainly no Billy
Graham. There had never been a sud-
den revelation,-a “Paul on the road to
Damascus” type of experience for the
30-year-old suburban housewife. Just a
slow-growing—but quiet—conviction
over the last eight years that Christ was
“the way.”
his trial for the murder of Carrie Scott, 21,
Her real-estate broker husband tol-
erated her steady conversion to Christ-
ian beliefs as a quirk, and she certainly
didn’t push religion on her friends.
Far from it. She was witty and articu-
late, choosing to keep her religion a pri-
vate matter in the background.
She didn’t even attend church, but in-
stead satisfied her religious needs pri-
vately, keeping a handwritten journal
of Scriptures put together over the past
year. The journal had given her much
peace of mind in recent months. On
Saturday, December 12, 1981 it did
more than that: The journal saved her
Photo by Dave Ryan
Flanked by defense counsel, 34-year-old Stephen Morin listens to testimony at
in a San Antonio parking lot.
Her female companion was wounded by the killer, who drove off in Carrie's car
24 Official Detective
:
life in a most dramatic fashion.
At two in the afternoon Amy left the
K-Mart store not far from her home and
headed for her car. She got about half-
way before a grubby, unshaven man,
who had been hanging around the park-
ing lot, spotted her. He had been looking
all morning for a woman—an attractive
woman—to be his expendable hostage,
someone to sneak him through the
police roadblocks he was sure were out
there, waiting for him. And with il
he had just the ticket.
He waited until she opened the car
door then shoved the barrel of his .38
into her face and forced his way into the
car.
“Get going,” he snarled. “Do what I
say and I might not kill you.”
They turned onto San Pedro Avenue
and went about a block before the gun-
man turned and said: ‘“Haven’t you
heard.of me on the TV and in the news-
papers? I’m the guy that’s killed aii
those women.”
In fact, Amy hadn’t—although she
probably was the only person in San
Antonio, Texas who hadn’t.
The gunman seated across from the
San Antonio housewife had been the
target of a nationwide search for four
years and one of the most sought after
criminals in San Antonio’s history.
“We wanted him bad, all right,” said
San Antonio Police homicide Lieuten-
ant Jack Summers. ’ ‘He was as mean as
a snake.”
And as deadly. ;
The search began early in December
in the gulf coast port city of Corpus
Christi, located about 150 miles from
San Antonio. ,
4
Corpus was the home of Janna Bruce,
a strikingly pretty 21-year-old execu-
tive secretary with the Hilton Hotel
chain. Janna was a native of San An-
tonio but had lived in Corpus for the
past several years.
When Janna did not show up for work
on Monday her boss became concerned
for her because it was unlike the highly
respected executive secretary not to
show up for work without a good excuse.
As it turned out, the boss’s concern was
more than justified.
Janna was not the only woman to dis-
appear mysteriously during the final
weekend of November. On Monday,
November 30th, Racquel Austin, a 21-
year-old brunette, left Doc Holliday’s a
popular Corpus Christi nightclub, and
headed back to a nearby apartment
complex to pick up her son who was
staying with his father. Racquel, how-
ever, never arrived. Her husband spent
most of the night trying to find her and
the following day he even called a local
television station, wondering if news-
men could help locate her.
Police checked into the missing per-
son report. They learned she was last
seen leaving a bar at about 2:30 a.m. A
bartender who knew her casually said
he heard Racquel mention she had to go
home and pick up her son. “I’m pretty
sure she left alone,” the bartender said.
“I’m also sure no one followed her out.”
Racquel’s whereabouts remained a
mystery until a young man from the
beach town of Port Aransas contacted
police. “This wacko snatched this girl off
the street Monday,” he blurted. “I think
he killed her.”
The Port Aransas teenager said he’
had been picked up hitchhiking Monday
night by this “Chaquita-type’—a slen-
der, dark woman of Mexican descent.
They drove to a Corpus motel where the
woman’s boyfriend met them and after
several beers they all went aboard a
power boat owned by the hitchhiker’s
father, where they had a party.
.Later, the hitchhiker and the boy-
friend were driving through the city’s
night club district when the boyfriend
mentioned how he hated a local motor-
cycle gang named the Bandidos and
that he was going to kill one of their
“mammas.”
“He was talking about blowing away
one of the mammas, when we went by
Doc Holliday’s,” the teenager said.
“This woman walks out of the club and
the guy says, ‘Wait a minute’ and slams
on the brakes.”
The hitchhiker watched incredul-
ously as the man accosted the woman,
stuck a gun in her face and marched her
toward the car.
“That's when I beat feet,” he said.
“The guy was crazy; I figured he’d blow
the broad away and then me.”
Police went to the motel where the
couple had checked in but they had al-
26 Official Detective
ready left. But just as it began to look
like a deadend, police got a call from
Lupe Valdez, the pretty Port Aransas
woman who had checked into the motel.
“I didn’t know anything about the
kidnaping,” she said, adding that her
new-found boyfriend. “was crazy. That’s
why I got outta there. He’s acrazy guy, I
didn’t know what he was going to do
next.”
Her ex-lover was Stephen Peter
Morin, 34, of Rhode Island. And, if any-
thing, her rambling description of him
as a “crazy, dangerous guy” was an un-
derstatement.
Joe Lattus, an FBI spokesman, said
Morin was wanted for unlawful flight to
avoid prosecution of kidnaping and rape
in San Francisco, but he emphasized the
FBI only issued one charge even though
a suspect might be wanted for other
crimes. Lattus said a nationwide FBI
alert had been issued.
Actually the charge in San Francisco,
involving the abduction and sexual
mutilation of a 14-year-old girl, was
only the small tip of a very large
iceberg.
Morin was being sought for question-
ing about four killings in Las Vegas,
two in St. George, Utah and one each in
San Francisco and Golden, Colorado.
His name had been linked to as many as
20 murders of woman, mostly sex-
related.
Marin was known as a cocaine user
and possibly a pusher. He was described
as a migrant drifter who often used
women to support him by various
means. According to FBI files, Morin
was something of a ladies man.
One of the ladies that fell for his ques-
tionable charms was Lupe Valdez. She
met the boozy, unshaven Rhode Islan-
der in a Port Aransas bar and later
bar-and-motel-hopped around Corpus
with him, mostly on her money and cre-
dit cards. Valdez said Morin and a
chunky middle-aged woman he was
traveling with left town shortly after
Morin returned with the woman kid-
naped outside “Doc Holliday’s.”
They left, she said, in a brown Mer-
cury Cougar which she had rented for
him.
A statewide bulletin was put out on
Morin and the brown Cougar with the
notation that the suspect was to be con-
sidered “armed and extremely danger-
ous.”
Just how dangerous was underscored
when police came across the body of a
young woman lying face down in two
feet of water on Padre Island, a vacation
spot south of the city.
The woman was Janna Bruce, and she
had been strangled to death. Her ankles
and wrists also bore markings indicat-
ing she had been bound with cording or
rope prior to her death. A pathologist
estimated she had been dead 24 to 48
hours before the discovery of the corpse.
Detectives learned Janna had made
substantial withdrawals from her
checking and savings accounts on Fri-
Six.
|
te :
4 .
ps!”
&
te
Fe
A witness said he spotted the comely *
executive secretary and a short, ~
tousle-haired man sitting in Bruce’s
Chevrolet Monza while the banking
transactions were made.
“I knew Janna,” the witness said.
“But I didn’t know the guy with her.”
A description of the “guy” matched
the one of Stephen Peter Morin. Once
the connection was made, the statewide
bulletin was updated to include the de-
scription and license plate number of
the missing Monza.
A man matching the fugitive’s de-
scrption was next spotted on December
4th in an “urban cowboy” bar in north-
east San Antonio. Betsy Arnet had
just stepped inside the bar when an un-
ruly looking man with a small gold ear-
ring in his left ear bought her a beer.
Betsy took the beer, chatted a bit and
quickly forgot the stranger. He, how-
ever, did not forget and followed her out
to the parking lot, put a gun to her head
and forced her into his car. The two
drove around the city for two hours dur-
ing which time Betsy somehow per-
suaded him to let her go. “Get out of here
and forget you ever saw me,” the man
yelled, screeching to a halt. It was
doubtful that she would forget a man
who kidnaped and threatened her, and
she promptly went to the police.
The earring-wearing gunman was
not heard from again until December
5th when a woman was dragged from a
parking lot to a waiting car in the
Windcrest section of San Antonio. The
woman fought with her assailant and
finally was released when a man came
running to her rescue.
The description of her assailant and
the man who kidnaped Betsy Arnet fit
the one of Stephen Peter Morin which
was telexed to the San Antonio Police
Department. Police officers kept an eye
out for the brown Cougar and Chevy
Monza.
Twenty-one-year-old Carrie Marie
Scott and her best friend Denise Rosen,
25, had not heard about the attack of the
Windcrest woman or the intense man-
hunt for Stephen Morin. There was no
reason that they should; information on
Morin had not yet been released to the
news media.
The two worked as barmaids in Bul-
verde, a fast-growing area in northeast
San Antonio. They had finished their
shift and were enjoying a beer at Mag-
gie’s restaurant, a popular eatery on
San Pedro Avenue.
It had been a relatively easy night for
the two barmaids. They were looking
forward to a relaxed weekend, possibly
day shortly before the bank closed at _
MEN ARE OUT
Yesterday. Statement From
Macufactaren
biget
z - A Q aN , : a | og
Epa Move + Lak Mite
3453 |/Gp>
Bios Yea Wf Boye 700
/
Sentence against him as Pollows:- It is the order of the Court
trmAt the defendant Emanuel Morris who has been adjudged to be
giilty of Mirdernin the First desree and whose punishment hes
the 2£8th.day of Osotober A.D.1898 in Fort Bena county Texas be hung
by the neck until he is dead,and that the ci
fwd
D>
IJ
an0
K of this Court
issue a deathwarrant in accordance with this sentence and di-
rect ana deliver the sane to the Sheriff of Fort Bénd County,
Texas who shell execute the seme in accordance with the law in
such case provided and the said defendant is remanded to Jail to
ayait the execution ofthis sentence .
These are therefore to Command you to execute the aforesaid
judsment and sentence on Friday,the 2£8th.dey of OctoberA.D.1898
eat any time after eleven o'clock and before Sun—set on said day
iest stated in thecsounty of Fort Bend said State,by Hangines the
said Smamiel Morris by the Neck until he is dead and that in
said Bxecution you,observe and obey the provisions of the lay
hereor
governing in such cases herein feil not and due return make, in
sce°ordenss with lay.
?
Witness my signature and seal of ov fice o
y g
re]
of Ostober A.D.1898. of VW y,
Pyoeep ye eh Ae a Ri eh AE le erat ater ina. ee ETA ah A CTH lite ee Cat a ghana tear LETT ey et - oS I nmenoneenponeyae Te
’ at p
Phe within warrant cane to hand on the same day that it was issued and
wags executed by me after sievn o'clock and before sun-set on the 238th.
day of Ostober A.D.1898 within the walls of the County Jail of Fort
Bend Jounth,™exes by hanging Emanuel Mor¥is the person named within
said within warrant by the neck until he was dead, there were present
at gaid execution the following named Physicians, Drs. dJ.J,.Dillard,
J.G.Jonnson, J.M. O'Farrell S.M-Lister, W.A.Denson and Stewens
and the following named Justices of the Peace of seid county to-"it:-
Yynan Robinson,Justias of the Peace of Precinct No.3 J.M.eCassil Jus-
tice of the Peace of Precinct No.5, and Mat Lowery,dustice of Precinct
No.7, of,said Fort Bend County and State of Texas and the following
naned free holders to-wit:- M.B.Dunlavy, Wey. Smith,Gordon Mayes, Dave
“Mo ‘Blwee, August Hillendahi, Morris Duflop, Walter Bass, san
Gordon 7-B.Wesssndorif, w.I.Mo ‘'Fariane and G.A.Rgading and the Following
other parsons J+A-Voss Jr. GelVW/-Hargrove, Arohie jN,Anderson Phil Mo 'Gee
Robert Pleasants, Gerald Bates Len R.Mc 'Fariane Wtll Mercer LZ.0.Perkins
0 DexX¥ex]and\.and S.c.Rusepll, each and «11 o? whom were present by my
authority,after said execution I caused the body of the said Emanuel
Morris to be aecently burieé
Returned on this the 28th-day of Oatober A.D.I898. , ° ~ 7A |
< . » L Lh
eit Sherirr or Fort |
Bend County, Texes.
pom “7 2 dhe i a be ' rc /6/1' pen
iL Ewell, black, 22, elec. TX (Victoria Co.) </o/19
AY DIL og ww WE ney d whe G
IL, nen me ge een =
— se
Electrocutions Are! State to Test Death
First Under New | {~~ Chair =~’ 4
== State Law.-2 { || (Cantinued from Page 4, Col
Ing heartily, but saying Ute. 1%
‘}Casionally they Aiscuas with cok!
ASK = REPRIEVE) -teetarstectty its dune tau}
4-
/f With a word of hope.
{ qe : ms” if The eletric chatr has n¢yer been.
} , eee ee ee been Foe ba
« Te i ttn Ste Installation, resulting in four |
V arden Allows One \'reprleves for the doomed men..
‘ rye i} They will be given the “death
| T me to Phone | Meals,” today Food especially pre-
An eiee a if pared, food that bata hime |
. ‘ ‘Ralf would eel Gratified to Ne
To Austin, 4 dboick Will be thelr jot. Five new |
Be ae {mutts of clothes have been tald bul-
Associated Prees Dispatch ‘| Five caskets, plain black wooden
HUNTSVILLE, Pen: Tat 12:80{ Affairs, have been purchased. It {s
4 ben pam 4 *? probable the first will be executed
a m. three of the five negroes con- Mb abut 4-n’clock: AH must be dead |
Baran to weath hat” been ete =F at sunrise.
cuted in the gtate prison hepe.
The fourth victim was olectro-: GO ree RISONER TO
cute] at 1:10 a, m.. his name was: Mack Metthews, $8-year-old New.
Mac. Mathews. The other three | ,fon county negro, will be the firwt
were Charlie Reynoalde, Ewell! Texas prisoner to pay the death
Maria and George Washingtom-in | penalty under the new electrocution
the order named. A Inat minute daw which ubolished hanging, ac-
reprieve wae being sought --for cording to records of the atate peni-
MHalvin —Jehnason.—-Warden--W.aet tentlsry. He and four othe- newroen
AliNer having allowed time for a are sentenced te be elactrocuted to-
jong distance message to Austin in: /morrow morning. “bet ween midnight |
the attempt. : , afd sunrine” within the prison walls
| ‘at Huntaville. Four of the nen
ALL HOPE FOR LAST... _| were granted reprieves by Governor
MINUTE MIRACLE. ; Neff, postponing date of thelr ex-
International News Dispetch, ecution untl! Friday, to permit com-
| HUNTSVILLE, Feh. 7.~-In their pletion of the electric chair, and
| Ceath cette at the «tate penitentiary later to permit the prison board to
| beie:--eeemingly hardly: cognizant | employ @ warden. W. M. Miller,
that Mfe-fer them Is but a matter of | former sheriff of Johnson county
hours, (ive negroes xi]l retain the Wan Tuesday elected by the board.
faith of the doomed. that romehow, Gov. Neff announced severed dave
somewhere, something will be per- ;ago nO further reprieves would be |
formed, perhaps a miracle, in the | Era Tted. as perge {
tleyenth bour that will interfere The five condemned hegroes were
with thelr journey to the elecuric -Convicted of murder, 9...
tain, os - 4 | They will go to the electric chair
Tielr Jawt hope of’ another re- ; in the following order: - ioe
priave was shatttred today with the Matk Matthews, -88 years of age,
arrival of the new warden, “Watter} | Newton county, sentenced last Aug.
Milfer of Cleburne, who must serve | 32. to be executed Bent. 20; re.
as the executioner, © fas J prievid until Feb, 8. George Wash-
“ye poat” Gl warden had vren tagton: 38 years of age, Newton
racutyd by tts former occupant be- county, sentenced Bept, 18, for exe-
ij cause ihe oppuscd his taxk of turn- ‘ution Oct, 19. Melvin Joknson, 19
Ink On the electric current thar .years old, convicied fn Idberty |:
Tretht-the-end of ail thing mertal | county,-Aug...23, execution set for
é for Ube five negroes. Leah anda Bept. 27, alao repriéved ‘to Feh:g.:
The five nestocs Whe await death Ewell Morria, 22, convicted in Vic-
have all beer convicted of murder. torija county, sentenced Dec. 5 for
They ait numbly.in their cells, eat- execution Jan. 16, reprieved to Feh.
: Wl cree a _ 8; and Charles Reynolds, age 27,
‘(Continusd-on Page-#-Col.-4). convicted in Red River county, een. |
| tencedJan. 1, tor execution Heb, §.
- eee
for home. Haines, the blacksmith re-
lated, had “acted mighty queer; nervous
and scared.”
“He stepped back from the sidewalk
between the hardware store and the laun-
dry just as I walked up,” the stable
owner said, “But I recognized him. He
acted as though he were hiding. Then,
when I opened up this morning, the mare
was gone. The thief broke open the rear
door, saddled the mare and rode across
the corral toward the White Deer road.
I could see the mare’s tracks in the mud.”
The sheriff knew that the Morrison
family’s hired man had.an unsavory
reputation in the town, He had com-
mitted a number of petty offenses; but
nothing criminal enough to put him in
the city jail.
The officer promised to investigate the
horse. theft. Then, after the stable owner
left, he sent for the doctor and received
a first-hand report on the death of Mrs.
Morrison. The physician, however, added
nothing to the facts already included in
his report.
Later, when the doctor had left, the
sheriff dispatched two deputies to bring
in Haines for questioning. One hour
later, the deputies returned with the re-
port that the Morrison family’s hired.
man had disappeared.
“Just like the earth swallowed him,”
one of the officers said. “We looked in
his room at the Morrison place. But he’d
packed all of his clothes and skipped. The
only thing he left was a cracked mirror
and a washpan,”
The sheriff motioned to the two depu-
ties, “Reckon we ought to ride down to
the Morrison place and find out about
Haines, He worked for Morrison for ten
years; then he disappears. That looks
funny to me.”
. ? ‘
"THE sheriff fOiind the Rev. Morrison
in the study, The minister was sur-
prised at the officer’s visit.
“T was just coming down to your
office,” he said. “‘Here’s a letter that I
received a few minutes ago. My mother
in Kansas City is critically ill; I have to
go to her on the next train, Will you
handle the arrangements for me here
until I return?”
The officer nodded and took the letter
which Morrison thrust into his hands.
Then, while the minister was packing
for the trip, the sheriff questioned him
as to Haines’ disdppearance.
“I’m not surprised,” he said, “Haines
has been acting strangely lately. Some-
thing’s been bothering him and he’s had
a hankering to move. I haven’t seen him
since yesterday morning.”
The sheriff thought better of advising
the minister of his suspicions of murder.
The tragedy of Mrs. Morrison’s sudden
death coupled with the illness of Morri-
son’s mother was enough burden for the
man to bear without saddling him with
the thought that his wife might have been
slain.
Furthermore there was still consider-
able investigation to be done and Sheriff
Holland preferred to have the house to
himself for this work.
52
Pe.
Sebi pial east
Rada tiny tym neagin
ee ; z vie"
eae Soh
“Tt’s against the man’s nature to think
ill of anybody,” he said to his deputy. “It
may be true that Haines has been plan-
ning to leave for some time, but it’s more
than coincidence that he should elect the
day of Mrs. Morrison's death to leave.”
“Ves,” the deputy agreed, “and on a
stolen horse, too. That’s a_ serious
offense.” .
His luggage packed, the minister left
for the depot to meet his train. After he
had departed, the sheriff and his deputies
examined Haines’ room at the rear of
the house. The man’s closet was empty
and there was evidence that he had
packed and left hurriedly.
“He probably packed a saddle bag,”
the sheriff suggested. “He waited until
the blacksmith closed the stable, stole the
horse and left.” The officer made a quick
calculation of the time since Haines was
last seen. “He’s had time to travel about
forty miles. If he changed mounts, he
could have traveled farther. That chest-
nut mare was a good horse.”
The sheriff turned to one of the depu-
ties. “The blacksmith said the mare’s
tracks were headed toward the White
Deer road, Ride down to the depot and
send a telegraph to the sheriff’s office in
Amarillo. Ask them to pick up Haines if
he rides in there.”
STARTLING
sii ca IR eal
posisgets hun
that psychologists could have studied with profite
the awful crime, he was a Methodist minister located at FPan- .
handles preaching there and at Higgins, Texase Up to the time
of Kis wife's death, he stood well with the people. From the
circumstances of his wifets death, suspicion of ‘foul pley was
roused, investigation followed, and circumstantial evidence
poured in, until one of the most diabolical crimes of modern
times was established, not only beyond a reasonable, but also
beyond a speculative doubte.
The Motive ee
en ts\ spay % fopar
| The motive was freeing himself from his wife, so that he
might marry Miss Anna Whittlesey of Topeka, Kmsase He and Miss
Whittlesey had been school mates and Sweethearts at Carbondall,
Iiliinoise In the fall of 1897, he left Panhandle for Wiohita,
Kansas, to have his throat treated, He did not go to Wichita,
but went to Topeka, Kansas where he het Misa Whittlesey. They
renewed their friendship and love, and were engaged to be
marrieds, He came home and set about getting rid of his wife,
which he accomplished on the night of Octe 10, 1897, and, for
which he paid the extreme penalty of the lawe We have neither
ime nor space to give a detailed account of the case from the
- beginning to its sad ending, but it was one of the most remarke
_ able cases in criminal historye He never ceased protesting his
innocence from the time he was arrested in Topeka, Kansas even
before he was informed that he was charged with the murder of
his wife, to the time of the fatal trap was sprung and hig
earthly existence was endede Yet his every action, every word
he spoke, every line he wrote, bore testimony against him so
convincing that no court, no jury, mo intelligent person could
have had a speculative doubt Of his’ guilt, 9%, : :
His noble sister stood by him t6 the laste She has sacrificed
everything, time, money: and position, that she might save him from
an ignoble deaths During the time ‘she was Going this, and when
she would break dowm and fall prostrate with grief, he was river
seen to shed a tear,
Sheriff Williems and his worthy deputies were kind to hime We
doubt if any other man charged with murder and the death penalty
assessed, received such indulgent treatment. After the execution,
they took up a collection and with the funds they assisted in
securing a good coffin, hired the hearse and gave him a ehristian
burial. They also made up and gave to his devoted sister the sum
of $48. | as a
We will not enlarge upon the subject further, but it was one.
t
|
~-Clipping in the scrapbook of We He Stokes, Amarillo, from the
anniversary edition of October Ll, 1939, of The Vernon Times,
reprinted from an old Vernon paper of October, e
of Wi lbeBherhounty Tey ac
| AEDS
{ #47 a
| io ; ;
i
By
BATES FELDER
WO people watched Minnie
Morrison die that bitter cold
night the norther knifed
through Panhandle, Tex. The
woman died slowly and painfully,
while her el the Rev. Guy
E, Morrison, sat at the foot of her
bed, helpless to lessen her suffer-
ing. As her breathing grew weaker
and her pulse more faint, the hus-
band, pastor of a Panhandle
church, read passages from the
Bible.
In another torner of .the room
sat the elderly family housekeeper,
her eyes red rimmed from weep-
ing. She waited until her mistress
stopped breathing; then slowly
turned toward the silent man at
the foot of the bed.
' “Pastor Morrison,” she said,
“there’s something mighty queer
about this, Your wife was never
sick a day in her life. Then this!
Out of a clear sky.” With an edge
of her apron, the housekeeper wiped the
tears from her face. °
But the man was not listening. Quietly
oe at the foot of the dead woman’s
The rattle of a horse snd buggy over
the frozen snow in front of the house
brought the Rev. Morrison slowly to his
feet. He turned down the kerosene lamp
on the table until it was only a glow in
the room. He walked to the window and -
then spoke to the housekeeper.
“Tt’s the doctor. But he’s too late.
Bring him upstairs, Tell him I will be in
the study.” The minister looked once
|
50
. A Vennn;
Bh he he PA Nt No v CLnon
aes
‘ | {
toward the bed, then walked from the
room.
.The physician spent 20 minutes in the
dead woman’s bedroom. Later, his face
solemn, he walked into the minister’s
study and sat down.
“Mr. Morrison,” he said, “your -wife
apparently died from natural causes. I’m
sorry that your message did not reach
me in.time for me to arrive here before
her death. What were the symptoms of
her illness ?”
Briefly, the minister described how his
wife suddenly had become ill after re-
turning home that morning from church
a
a
where she had sung in the choir and
apparently was in good health. Mrs.
Morrison was 37 years old, the pastor
related, and had taken an active part in
church programs.
“She complained of a pain in her
stomach,” Morrison said. “She went to
bed and I sent the hired man after you.
Soon afterward, she became unconscious.
She died a few minutes before you
arrived.”
The doctor shook his head slowly. “T’ll
file the death certificate in the courthouse
tomorrow,” he said. “My examination
reveals only that your wife died from
STARTLING
eS)
seid Lala ee. oe eee atin a
Deakins
we 5 BON
hoir and
th. Mrs.
ie pastor
e part in
1 in her
» went to
ifter you.
sonscious.
fore you
wly. “Tl
ourthouse
umination
lied from
RTLING
natural causes.” With a word of con-
dolence, the physician left.
Sheriff A. A. Holland, of Carson
county, had two visitors on the morning
of Dec. 6, the morning after the death of
Mrs. Morrison. The first visitor, a house-
wife, was a neighbor of the Morrisons.
She entered the sheriff’s office nervously
and sat down at his invitation.
“T didn’t go to bed all night, Sheriff,”
she said. “I was nervous; something hap-
pened at Minnie Morrison’s house last
night before she died that upset me. It
might be just my imagination, but my
friend and I talked it over this morning
DETECTIVE
“She tried to tell us something just an
hour. before she died, but she was too
weak to talk. I. know it was something
about what caused. her death,”
*
and decided that you should .know
about it.”
The sheriff, a veteran peace officer of
the Texas Panhandle country, knew that
both this woman and the friend of whom
she spoke occupied highly respected
positions in the community, He too had
known the Morrison family and had been
surprised at the sudden death of the
minister’s wife.
‘What is it?” he invited.
The woman related how she and her
friend had stopped by for a Sunday after-
noon visit with Mrs. Morrison. It was
about 3 p. m., when the women arrived.
They found the minister’s
wife very ill. The minister,
the woman said, had hitched
up his buggy and gone to help
some ailing family near Mari-
etta.
“Mrs. Morrison was cry-
ing,” the woman related. “She
said she -wanted to tell us
something when she felt bet-
ter. She said she knew why
she was sick, But she didn’t
get any better, She fainted and
was awfully weak. She tried
to tell us something just an
hour before she died, but she
was too weak to talk, I know
it was something about what
had caused her death.”
clerk into the office and asked
that the medical report in the
county clerk’s office on Mrs.
Morrison’s death be brought
to him. When he had it, -he
studied the report carefully.
Then he wrote down a com-
plete ‘record of the neighbor’s
testimony.
“Do you have any idea what
Mrs. Morrison was trying to
tell you before she died ?”
The woman shook her head.
“No. She thought she was
going to get better. Then it
was too late. But I’m certain
- that she knew what caused her
death, Sheriff. Mrs. Morrison
was strong and healthy.”
‘Tes officer’s second visitor
was the operator of the
smith, he strode angrily into
the sheriff’s office.
“I want you to find a horse
. thief, Sheriff!” he began. “My
best chestnut mare was stolen
out of the stable sometime
o’clock this morning.” His
face purple with rage, the man
strode up and down the room
in front of the sheriff. He
stopped suddenly and faced
the. officer, “And I think I
know who stole her!”
“Who?”
“That hired man at: the
Morrison place—Timothy
Haines.”
The sheriff could not conceal his sur-
prise. The death of Mrs. Morrison had
occupied an important place in his mind
since the visit of the neighbor woman
and the mention of the Morrison family’s
hired man strengthened his belief that
something other.than natural causes had
been responsible for her death. Was there
any connection between this death and
the theft of the chestnut mare?
In answer to the sheriff’s questions,
the livery stable owner said he had seen
Haines, the hired man, standing on a
corner near the stable just before mid-
night when the blacksmith was leaving
51
The sheriff summoned a '
Panhandle livery stable. A,
burly, broad-shouldered black-—
between midnight and six .
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted