[Marshall] Texas Republican, September 1, 1860
The report that a man was taken out of jail at Gilmer, Upshur county, and hung in the vicinity of the town, by a mob, turns out to be true. The hanging took place on the 14th inst. The man’s name was Morrison. He had been lodged in the Upshur county jail, charged with stealing a negro woman from a Mr. Farris, near Pittsburg, Upshur county. After he was placed in jail, seventy-five citizens of the counties of Wood, Hopkins, and Titus made their appearance, called a meeting of the citizens of Gilmer, and demanded that Morrison should be delivered up to them.
A public meeting was convened to consider its propriety. A. U. Wright was called to the chair and R. W. Ford appointed Secretary. Hon. Jonathan Russel, in behalf of the 75, explained the object of the meeting. It is alleged that Morrison had been engaged in inciting the negroes to insurrection in the above counties. We presume the people were satisfied of his guilt, for he was given up and hung. We expect he was a depraved, bad man. The Quitman Herald says of him:
“Morrison, from what we can learn, was about 28 years of age, rather small in form and fair complected. He was married to his wife in Indiana, but removed to this State from Kansas, (where he was a participant in the troubles with the free soil party,) and first settled in Montague county. He had been living at Winnsborough in this county for several months, and was a well digger by trade. Lately he had abandoned his wife and had been working in the neighborhood of Pittsburg in Upshur county. He confessed decoying off the negro and also to stealing a watch and other articles of value which were found as he directed.”
The wretch detected in burning or attempting to burn a town, or in inciting the negro population to insurrection richly merits death. Such a man is an enemy to society, and stands in the relation of a pirate. But it would be better for the community in every case where the law is effectual to punish crime, to permit it to take its course; and in all cases where the death penalty is inflicted, the proof justifying it ought to be published to the world. The parties engaged in the transaction owe it to themselves and to society.
The parties engaged in this affair, whose names are mentioned, are among the most respectable citizens of Upshur and wood counties. The Democrat states that the hanging of Morrison is universally justified. About two hundred persons witnessed the execution.