Mike Morgan, 1912 December 13

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| ROGUE RIVER COURIER and THE OREGON OBSERVER,
COURIER, 11-6-191111-7-1911; 11-8-19 ~13~1912

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MORGAN, Mike

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elderly John E. York. On duly 13, 191f, they were camped on the Rouge
River near Vrant's Pass in Josephine Coe, Ore. They went into town
and both got drunk before they returned. That evening, Morgan hit
York over the head with a stick and killed him. He dragged the body
to the river, wrapped am# chain around it and threw it in before
taking York's horses and wagons and leaving. York's body was disoov-
ered a few days later and Morgan was arrested in Glendale where he was
still in possession of the slain man's team. He confessed, but claim-
ed that the killing was self-defense as York, who was a much larger
man, had attacked hime Convicted and sentenced to hang, it was gener-
ally felt that Morgan would receive executive clemency as most people
believed that his crime was unpremeditated. The Governor refused to
Sign the death warrant for him and some others while a referendum was
conducted and when the people voted to retain capital punishment, he
Signed all of the death warrants, stating at the time that he did not
believe that Morgan deserved to die but that he was following the will
of the people. Morgan and three others were hanged at the Oregon
State Prison on Dec. 13, 1912.

Morgan, alias Hallie Wilkes, a white in deserter, was employed by

MORGAN, Mike

elderly John E, York. On July 13, 191f, they were camped on the Rouge
River near Yrant's Pass in Josephine Oe; Ure. They went into town
and both got drunk before they returned. That evening, Morgan hit
York over the head with a stick and killed him. He dragged the body
to the river, wrapped axst chain around it and threw it in before
taking York's horses and wagons and leaving. York's body was disoov-
ered a few days later and Morgan was arrested in Glendale where he was
still in possession of the slain man's team. He confessed, but claim-
ed that the killing was self-defense as York, who was a much larger
man, had attacked him. Convicted and sentenced to hang, it was gener-
ally felt that Morgan would receive executive clemency as most people
believed that his crime was unpremeditated. The Governor refused to
sign the death warrant for him and some others while a referendum was
conducted and when the people voted to retain capital punishment, he
signed all of the death warrants, stating at the time that he did not
believe that Morgan deserved to die but that he was following the will
of the people. Morgan and three others were hanged at the Oregon
State Prison on Dec. 13, 1912.

Morgan, alias Hallie Wilkes, a white rhe deserter, was employed by

MORGAN

kes, a white army deserter, was o
On July 13, 191f, they were camped on the Roug
River near Yrant's Pass in Josephine Co., Ore. They went into town

Morgan hit
aie head with a stick and killed him, He dragsed the body

wrapped amt chain around it and threw it in before
ost one horses and wagons and leaving. York's body was disoov-
ered a few days later and Morgan was arrested in Glendale where he vas
still in possession of the slain man's team. He confessed, but claim-
ed that the killing was self-defense as York, who was a much larger

in, had attacked him, Convicted and sentenced to hang, it was gener-
aly felt that Morgan would receive executive clemency as most people

deved that his crime was unpremeditated. The Governor refused to
Bes the death warrant for him and some others while a referendum was
poate and when the people voted to retain capital punishment, he
1 of the death warrants, stating at the time that he did not
belleve that Morgan deserved to die but that he was Zollowing the will
of the people, Morgen ani three others were hanged at the Oreg
State Prison on Dec. 13, 1912.