1896Apr23Herald

DOUGLAS COUNTY HERALD

APRIL 23, 1896

Last Thursday evening about five o'clock, a man by the name of Matthews shot and killed Rev. Morgan, a highly respected citizen and minister of the gospel. He was living on the Hammonds place. There had been trouble between Matthews and other parties about a racket some time previous. The murderer is still at large.

MURDER

    Considerable flurry was caused on our streets Thursday when the news was brought to town that W. B. Mathews had shot and killed R. H. Morgan in Spring Creek township. Upon investigation we find that the report was true, and the facts in the case, as near as we can learn, about as follows: Mr. Mathews and Mr. Morgan have been lawing over where a public road should be located, and each have built a stone wall across his half of the road, thereby entirely closing up the road.

    At the last term of court, Morgan and Mathews were both tried for obstructing the highway, Morgan was found not guilty but Mathews was found guilty and the court also ordered the stone wall taken out of the road, which was done by the proper officers. Last Thursday Morgan was out on his road removing the rock of the stone wall that Matthews had built and which was torn down by the officers. He had not been there long when Mathews came out to the same place and ordered or demanded Morgan to not touch that wall or those rock. Just what was said by each of them we have not heard, but understand they quarreled for sometime, until finally Mathews told Morgan not to touch a certain rock. Morgan did not heed the command but stooped down to pick up said rock when Mathews drew up his shot gun and fired. The gun was loaded with buckshot and Mathews so close that entire load entered Morgans left side killing him almost instantly.

    As soon as he did the shooting Mathews ran back to his home, and that was the last seen of him by any one but his supposed friends. Just whether he is still hiding in that section of the country or whether he has left for parts unknown is not known by the officers. Word was sent to Ava Thursday night and sheriff Herr immediately went out there and has been on the look for him ever since. Constable Hailey is also in that section looking for Mathews, but he is going to be pretty hard to find, for the reason that he has a great many friends who will help to conceal him. This is a very sad affair and one very much to be regretted as both men have a great many warm friends in that community.

Back