A sensational tragedy

The story of a sensational tragedy has been revived by a letter received one day last week by a Gainsborough firm of solicitors from the Home Secretary. Some six months ago a man named Morley was drinking in a public-house in Gainsborough, when he was seized with convulsions, and died immediately. It was rumoured that a white powder had been administered to him by a companion, and a man named Alexander Morgan was arrested on a charge of wilful murder. It was proved that Morgan had purchased strychnine, and was drinking with Morley shortly before the latter’s seizure. Morgan was committed to the assizes, and on Nov. 24 was found by the jury to have administered poison to the deceased man. The verdict being equal only to one of manslaughter, the prisoner was sentenced to 12 years’ penal servitude. His brother has since taken steps to move for a reduction of the sentence, and Mr. Asquith has promised that the prisoner’s case shall be brought under review when he shall have served five years of his sentence.

(Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper, 4th June 1893)

Proposed revision of sentence

Context Note: Alexander Morgan was still in HMP Dartmoor by 1901.

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THE GAINSBOROUGH POISONING CASE.

PROPOSED REVISION OF SENTENCE.

Alexander Morgan, of Gainsborough, who was sentenced to 12 years’ penal servitude at the Lincoln Assizes, in November, by Judge Kennedy, for having poisoned by strychnine his boon companion, Tom Morley, a Hull grocer, who died in terrible agony, has a chance of being released before the expiration of his term of imprisonment. The judge summed up greatly in favour of the prisoner not having been actuated by malice aforethought, and on his being found guilty of manslaughter the sentence of 12 years’ penal servitude was thought a severe one. Petitions were at once set on foot for the remission of the sentence, and the following letter has been received by Messrs. Robbs and Forrest, of Gainsborough, the prisoner’s solicitors, from the Home Office:-

“Whitehall, 17th May, 1893. – Gentlemen, – With reference to your letter of the 15th March last, forwarding a petition from John F. Morgan, Trinity-street, Gainsborough, praying for the reduction of the sentence of 12 years’ penal servitude, passed at the Lincoln Assizes, on the 24th November, 1892, upon his brother, Alexander Morgan, for the manslaughter of Thomas Morley, with a letter from Mr. Henry Stanger, counsel who defended the prisoner, supporting this prayer, I am directed by the Secretary of State to inform you that, after careful consideration of all the circumstances of the case, and communication with the learned judge, he has felt justified in directing that prisoner’s case shall be brought under review when he shall have served five years of his sentence. It must, however, be understood that no pledge or promise is given as to the decision which may be arrived at when that time comes. – I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, E. LEIGH PEMBERTON.”

(Lincolnshire Echo, 26th May 1893)

Assaulting John Ramster

GRIMSBY BOROUGH POLICE, JUNE 25. – Before the Mayor (Captain Reed), and Alderman Skelton.

[…]

– Alexander Morgan, fish dealer, was summoned for an assault upon John Ramster, fisherman. The parties had been in business together, but had dissolved partnership, and on Tuesday they got to words about the repair of some kits. From words Morgan proceeded to blows, and knocked Ramster down, nearly knocking him in te dock. Fined 15s., or 14 days’ imprisonment.

(Lincolnshire Chronicle, 3rd July 1874)

Travelling without a ticket

LINCOLNSHIRE.

A GRIMSBY FISH DEALER FINED. – At the Gainsbro’ Police Court, yesterday, Alexander Morgan, a Grimsby fish seller, was charged with travelling without a ticket from Grimsby to Gainsbro’, on Dec. 3rd. Fined £1 and costs, or in default, one month’s imprisonment.

(Sheffield Independent, 21st December 1881)

Alleged fraud

District News.

GRIMSBY.

ALLEGED FRAUD. – At the Borough Police-court, on Monday, Alexander Morgan stockerbait buyer, King Edward-street, was charged by Alfred Doust, fish salesman, with obtaining two boxes of fish, value 12s., by false pretences. Mr. Mountain was for the prosecution; Mr. Brown defended. Alfred Doust said that on Thursday, the 29th July last, he was selling fish by Dutch auction on the pontoon. The conditions of sale were that the money was to be paid before the fish was removed. Prisoner bought a quantity of fish, and when told that the terms were cash, prisoner said, “All right.” Shortly afterwards prosecutor met the prisoner, who, referring to the purchase, said he had made it all right with the prosecutor’s clerk, but prosecutor found that the fish had not been paid for. Detective Scott deposed to apprehending the prisoner. Morgan, when the warrant was read, said it was all right. Doust had said he should do what he could to him. If he had had the money he would have paid for it. Mr. Brown, addressing the Bench, said the magistrates were bound to satisfy themselves that there had been any false pretence to constitute a fraud before they could commit the prisoner for trial. There was no false pretence in this case. Prisoner said he would pay for the fish, and did not. It was simply breaking a promise. Besides, he submitted that there was no proof that the prisoner had got the fish at all. The Chairman, in discharging the prisoner, told him that he had a very narrow escape indeed. If a similar case was brought before the court again the magistrates would certainly deal very severely with it.

(Hull Packet, 20th August 1880)

Marriage of Sarah Thompson and Alexander Morgan

Lincoln, Friday, Aug, 1.

MARRIED.

At the parish church, Grimsby, […] on the 23d, Alexander Morgan, to Sarah Thompson; […]

(Stamford Mercury, 1st August 1873)

Poisoning by strychnine – 2

GAINSBOROUGH POISONING CASE.

At the Gainsborough Police Court, on Monday, before Mr. Francis Gamble, Alexander Morgan, a Gainsborough and Grimsby fish dealer, was charged on remand with having wilfully murdered a Hull grocer, lately resident in Gainsborough, named Tom Morley. Morley and Morgan had been drinking for a long time, and on August 16th Morley died in the Newcastle Arms public-house, Gainsborough, in terrible agony, having evidently been poisoned by strychnine, which he declared had been given him by Morgan. It has transpired that Morgan, on the 13th of July, was found wandering in the streets of Sheffield, and was sent to the Fir Vale Workhouse, being then apparently in an unsound state of mind, and after detention for five days he was discharged. The evidence given chiefly related to conversations Morgan had with various people about the matter. He told some folks that he gave Morley the stuff as an emetic to settle the drink, and said he took more of it than Morley did. To Police-constable Chapman he remarked, “I gave him the powders to sharpen his appetite.” When in the guard-room prisoner further said, “It’s a queer thing when a man gets so that he does not care for his own life or anyone else’s.” Prisoner afterwards said to Police-constable Holliday, “Hallo, old chap, shall you come and see me ‘topped?'” and pointing to his neck – “I mean here.” Prisoner was again remanded.

(Leeds Times, 10th September 1892)

Poisoning by strychnine

On Tuesday evening a betting man named Morley, aged about 40, of Gainsborough, died suddenly, it is believed, from poisoning by strychnine. A man named Alexander Morgan (42), with whom Morley had been at a public-house, has been apprehended, and was yesterday remanded by the magistrates until Monday. The Coroner’s inquest was also adjourned to that day, after medical evidence, following the post-mortem, had been given.

(Leeds Mercury, 18th August 1892)