Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1907 — STORY OF A DEAD THIEF [ARTICLE]

STORY OF A DEAD THIEF

Never Told the Truth About How He Lost the Use of His Eyes. HAD BEEN BLIND MANY YEAM Police Believe It Was a Mishap at a Safe Blowing—Family Comes Near Drowning. Indianapolis, Jan. 18. —When “Billy” Morrison died at the city hospital, after a linger illness, there died with him a secret of the true manner in whicht he lost his eyesight. There was circumstantial evidence that Morrison was in a “safe-blowing* in South Meridian street about 1869 or 1870, and that during the explosion he suffered Injuries to his eyes that resulted In, blindness. Even after becoming blind Morrison became a pickpocket, and for a theft in the Grand hotel he was sent to the penitentiary. Afterward he la said to have reformed and he dropped from the notice of the police many years ago. His Brother a Thug, Too. Morrison was a brother of “Pink” Morrison, one of the greatest safeblowers the country has produced. Both are Indianapolis boys and when entering a life of crime “Pink” went in for all it w*as worth. He joined • the famous Reno gang that cracked safes in many states. He was supposed to be with John Reno during a ‘’safe-blowing” in Springfield, 111., when about in cash was stolen. Reno was captured and sentenced to twenty-five years in the penitentiary. During his career “Pink” served three terms in penitentiaries in different states. When Billy Got His Bad Eye. About 1870 there was an epidemic of safe-blowing in Indianapolis, for which “Pink” Morrison received the credit. The actions of his brother were mysterious at the time and suspicion rested on him that he was implicated with “Pink” in the robberies. “Billy” pretended to earn a living as a teamster. One morning “Billy” was found searching for a physician. He had an eye in which there was a sliver of steel, which he said he got while hammering a kingbolt from his wagon. Career as a Burglar Short. The police at the time Insisted that the kingbolt was wrought iron and not steel, but “Billy” did not give them any satisfaction. The night before a safe had been blown. But as usual there was no evidence to show that “Billy" was implicated. The injury to ids eye affected the other eye and blindness followed.

INCIDENT OF THE FLOOD • • Family That Has a Close Call—Had to Take Refuge in the Garret. - Princeton, Ind., Jan. 18. Louis Morgan and family, residing in the Wabash bottoms, ten miles southwest of hero, bad a narrow escape tor their miles. The family was competed to take refuge in the attic on account of Llgh water, and at dinner the ilwr of the attic gave way. The family and household goods went crashing into the room below, which was covered with water to the depth of two feet. Luckily, Morgan’s two children alighted on a bed and escaped injury, while Morgan and his wife saved themselves by clinging to the timbers of the floor. An hour later, some neighbor boys came by in a skiff and Morgan hailed them, and the family was taken to n place of safety. It is understood the house was swept away later by the rushing waters.