his conviction had been affirmed by the Court of Criminal Appeals of
—TEKae
46 SOUTHWESTERN 253,
Lettkr dated Nov, 10, 1977, from Mrs, Zora Dell Cole, District Clerk,
Fort Bend County, Texas.
Morris! victim also black, Pete Autry hanged at same time for another
crime, Morris crippled. Limped out to gallows nervously at HB 1:25 and
sat on chair while warrant read to him, Made brief talk confessipy
crime and thanking officers and then said prayer in unison with priest,
Trap fell at 1:)3 and body hanged for 23 minutes. Neck not broken,.
Autrey then hanged, Used alias Emamel Henderson and was about 0 tho
he blaimed to be but 27. Afflicted with "white swelling in hip which
caused mich pain & it was feared he would not Live to hang. A man of
powerful physique and after Capture it was with difficutly that white
people kept blacks from lynching, Crime on 1-1-1898,. After appeal
failed was in constant state of terror and when looking out of window
and saw ropes being stretched week before execution, became frenzied,
GALVESTON DAILY NEWS, Galveston, Texas, 10-29-1898 (5-I,)
his conviction had been affirmed by the Court of Criminal Appeals of
Texase AAR Pin w Ane What enaane ey
h6 SOUTHWESTERN 253,
Letter dated Nov. 10, 1977, from Mrs. Zora Dell Cole, District Clerk,
Fort Bend County, Texas.
Morris' victim also black, Pete Autry hanged at same time for another
crime, Morris crippled. Limped out to gallows nervously at HB 1:25 and
sat on chair while warrant read to him, Made brief talk confessigg
crime and thanking officers and then said prayer in unison with priest,
Trap fell at 1:3 and body hanged for 23 minutes. Neck not broken,.
Autrey then hanged, Used alias Emarmel Henderson and was about hO thoy
he blaimed to be but 27. Afflicted with "white swelling in hip which
caused mich pain & it was feared he would not live to hang. A man of
powerful physique and after capture it was with difficutly that white
people kept blacks from lynching, Crime on 1-1-1898, After appeal
failed was in constant state of terror and when looking out of window
and saw ropes being stretched week before execution, became frenzied.
GALVESTON DAILY NEWS, Galveston, Texas, 10-29-1898 (5-),)
Lettkr dated Nov. 10, 1977, from Mrs. Zora Dell Cole, District Clerk,
Fort Bend County, Texas.
Morris' victim also black, Pete Autry hanged at same time for another
crime, Morris crippled, Limped out to gallows nervously at MB 1:25 and
sat_on chair while warrant read to him, Made brief talk confessigg
crime and thanking officers and then said prayer in unison with priest,|
Trap fell at 12h3 and body hanged for 23 minutes. Neck not broken,
Autrey then hanged, Used alias Fmamel Henderson and was about 0 tho
he blaimed to be but 27. Afflicted with "white swelling in hip which
caused mch pain & it was feared he would not live to hang. A man of
Powerful physique and after capture it was with difficutly that white
People kept blacks from lynching, Crime on 1-1-1898, After appeal
failed was in constant state of terror and when looking out of window
and saw ropes being stretched week before execution, became frenzied,
GALVESTON DAILY NEWS, Galveston, Texas, 10-29-1898 (5-1)
emis ete ee
MORRIS, Emanuel
Morris, a fully grown black man, lived and worked on a plantation in
Fort Bend Co,, Tex. On the night of Jan, 1, 1898, he went to a house
on the planatation where Ophelia Williams and Henry Ellis lived toge-
ther in a common-law relationship, He knew that both were away from
the house, having just left Ellis who had told him that Ophelia was
attending a dance, and that Ophelia's 6-year-old blind daughter,
Fannie, was there alone, He raped the child and when she threatened
to tell her mother, he bludgeoned her to death with an iron bar, As
he was walking away from the house, Ellis approached and he told him
that he had gone bhere but could: not get in and had seen a man leaving
by the back door, They then entered together and found Fannie's body,
While they were going for help, Ellis accused him of the murder and he
admitted it. When Ellis attempted to place him under citizen's arrest,
he fled and went to another plantation where he» spent the night, He
was taken into custody when he returned to his own cabin the next morn=
ing. Morris, after being advised that whatever he said could be used
against him, made several.other confessions bnti at his trial he repud-
lated them, claiming that he had made them under duress. His defense
consisted of attempting to prove that Ellis had committed the crime
but the evidence against him was overwhelming and he was convicted and
sentenced to die. He was hanged at Richmond on Oct, 28, 1898, after
MORRIS, Emanuel
Morris, a fully grown black man, lived and worked on a plantation in
Fort Bend Co,, Tex. On the night of Jan, 1, 1898, he went to a house
on the planatation where Ophelia Williams and Henry Ellis lived toge-
ther in a common-law relationship, He knew that both were away from
the house, having just left Ellis who had told him that Ophelia was
attending a dance, and that Opheliats 6-year-old blind daughter,
Fannie, was there alone, He raped the child and when she threatened
to tell her mother, he bludgeoned her to death with an iron bar, As
he was walking away from the house, Ellis approached and he told him
that he had gone bhere but could not get in and had seen a man leaving
by the back door, They then entered together and found Fannie's body.
While they were going for help, Ellis accused him of the murder and he
admitted it, When Ellis attempted to place him under citizen's arrest,
he fled and went to another plantation where he spent the night, He
was taken into custody when he returned to his own cabin the next morn-
ing. Morris, after being advised that whatever he said could be used
against him, made several_other confessions but at his trial he repud-
iated them, claiming that he had made them under duress. His defense
consisted of attempting to prove that Ellis had committed the crime
but the evidence against him was overwhelming and he was convicted and
sentenced to die. He was hanged at Richmond on Oct. 28, 1898, after
MORRIS, Emanuel
ris, a fully grown black man, lived and worked on a plantation in
Fort Bend Co,, Tex, On the night of Jan. 1, 1898, he went to a house
on the planatation where Ophelia Williams and Henry Ellis lived t:
ther in a comon-law relationship, He knew that both were away from
the house, having just left Ellis who had told him that Ophelia was
attending a dance, and that Ophelia's 6«year-old blind daughter,
Fannie, was there alone, He raped the child and when she threatened
to tell her mother, he bludgeoned her to death with an iron ber, A
he was walking away from the house, Ellis approached and he told him
that he had gone bhere but could:not get in and had seen a man leaving
by the back door, They then entered together and found Fannie's body,
While they were going for help, Ellis accused him of the murder and he
admitted it, When Ellis attempted to place him under citizen's
he fled and went to another plantation where he: spent the night,
was taken into custody when he returned to his own cabin the next morn-
ge Morris, after being advised that whatever he said could be used
against him, made several.other confessions but at his trial he repud-
dated them, claiming thet he fad nade: shen under duress, His defense
consisted of attempt rove that Ellis had comitted the crine
but, the evidence Sines Gin cee herein eel ing eee eae est
sentenced to die, He was hanged at Richmond on Oct. 28, 1898, after
