1939-11-04 — Page 15

› THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 4, 1939 -

TO-DAY'S STRANGE STORY OF REAL PEOPLE

NO. 99-REMARKABLE CASE OF JAMES MORGAN

Here is the story of a stonemason who once had America by the ears and out of whose mysterious case grew a strong political party which threa- tened to elect a President of the Unit- ed States.

I

His name was James Morgan. He piled his trade in Batavia, N. Y. but did not gain a very enviable record for steady habits. He was wont to look upon the wine when it was not only red but yellow, and he did not feel deep pangs of conscience when he failed to pay his bills. He worked only when he wished to, and between employments, he roved about with a creefree heart.

He was a native of Virginia and had fought with Jackson at New Orleans, an experience which gave him much opportunity for boasting at the barrooms, where his score was chalked upon the shutter.

For some reason he grew to foster

a bitter hatred of the Masonic order, which before and since the episode about to be related has been viewed with general esteem. He was a man of 50 when his anti-Masonic bitter-

reached degree ness

of threats to publish a book exposing the secrets of the society. And although at first regarded as idle bluster, these threats materialized. The book was printed at Batavia in 1826, and immediately cause great local excitement. Most of the leading citizens there, as else- where, were Masons, and they resent ed Morgan's attack upon their bene- ficent brotherhood.

Shortly afterward, Morgan was ar- rested for debt. His troubles then commenced to multiply in rapid or- der. On September 11 a body of strange men coming from Canadaigua seized him and returned with him to that place, where he was put in jail on a charge of larceny.

POPPY DAY FUND, 1939

The Children:-Young children are only too often the innocent victims of the distress suffered by fathers who served in the War. While most Legion schemes of assistance indirectly bene- fit the children, there are various direct forms of help such as educa- tional assistance, obtained through the United Services Fund, costing £20,298 in 1938, board charges £7,448, after- care £2,020 and orphaned children £560. These figures refer to children of ex-Service men other than officers, the family work for whom is outlined in another section.

Contributions to date:- Previously acknowledged Jardine, Matheson & Co. A. M. Leuenberger

R. G. Everest

Dr. D. J. Valentine "XX”

D. M. B.

Mr. & Mrs. E. M. Bryden E. Ott

His Body Sald to Have Been Thrown Into Lake Ontario.

organized conspiracy, embracing many ] soner as long as he lived. There is secret agents and backed by money. another story that he had been taken Meetings were also in other places. in a rowboat out upon Lake Ontario, Public excitement spread throughout where, after his throat had been cut, the country and, agitators, who

his body was sunk. In later years a posed the masonic order, endeavoured wanderer 'from the Orient claimed | Annoymous. to inflame the multitude to a belief that he had met Morgan in Smyna, Lo Koon Hang that the brotherhood was responsible and his appearance in other foreign | Karsten Larssen for the crime, and all sorts of absurd states was reported from time to time. J. F. Grose theories were scattered broadcast. Old friends flew at each other's throats

op-

After public excitement had settled cepted the belief that the crime rest- down unbiased persons generally ac-

of calumnyed upon the shoulders of one person or a few individuals who had a per- sonal grudge against Morgan.

and both religion and politics became involved in the torrent and recrimation that resulted.

As a sequel to this excitement a strong political movement was start- ed and there came into being the anti- Masonic party, first known officially of in town meetings in the Spring 1827. Spell-binders, working in this party's interest, went about the coun- try.

After five years this movement had spread from New York State into other Commonwealths, with the result that in 1832 a national anti-Masonic convention was held in Philadelphia. William Wirt of Virginia was nomin- ated for President to run against An- drew Jackson and Henry Clay. In the succeeding election, Vermont was carried for the party, which polled a considerable vote elsewhere, but it soon went out of existence.

..

A corpse discovered at the mouth of the Niagara River a year after for a Morgan's disappearance was while believed to have been his. The Masons claimed that it was the body Thurlow of Timothy Munroe, but Weed, one of the investigators of the remarked: anti-Masonic movement, "It is a good enough Morgan for us until you bring back the one carried off!" According to one story, the vanished man had been sent into Canada and charged to remain there in silent exile the remainder of his days on pain of death.

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At 9 o'clock the next night those who had arrested him set him free, but he had barely passed out of the jail door when six mysterious per- sonages seized him and hurried him to a waiting carriage. In this he was driven hurriedly toward Roches- ter, but at various points on the road his captors were, by prearrangement, relieved by relays of fast horses, which rushed, the prisoner to Fort Niagara, a deserted military post at the mouth of the Niagara River. Here Morgan was locked up in the powder magazinė. Beyond that point his movements have never been traced,

Others said that he had been turned although the acumen of the most over to a band of Indians, charged shrewd minds of the nation were con- with the duty of keeping him a pri- centrated upon the mystery for а generation.

AB soon as it became definitely known that Morgan had disappeared the citizens of Batavia held a public meeting which appointed a committee charged with solving the mystery.

They unearthed evidence of what they claimed to have been a well

You cease to be of the younger generation if, parting with mater. Tal things no longer of gives you

pang

ST. VINCENT

DE PAUL BAZAAR

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which has been established in Hong Kong since 1863, is holding its Annual Bazaar in Kowloon to-morrow (Sun- day).

**The venue is the same as last year, opposite the Nathan Road front of the Peninsula Hotel.

It will open at 2.80 pm, and will remain open continuously until 11.

p.m.

Admission tickets which cost the nominal sum of 10 cents, also give o chance to win a valuable prize, In- cluding an all-wave Radio set.

The prizes are a special feature of the Bazaar for they are of very high. quality and cater for all tastes. Most of them are either made or given by: lady members of various Catholic or- ganizations; and they are uniformly attractive, while many of them áre of considerable value.

The feature of the Bazaar, which will appeal particulary to most people Is the fact that all the proceeds go direct to the poor who need help most. Everything in the Society in done by voluntary helpers and overhead x- penses are 'cut down to the smallest

BUDI.

In all probability the searchlight of truth will never penetrate the cloud which has so long hidden him from

his brother man.

$6,096

Ltd.

50

15

5

10

10

20

25

100

10

10

25

5

20

K. W. C.-In Memory of Lt.- Cdrs. Coppinger and Garnet

$6,401 Further donations will be gratefully received by F. G. Maunder, Secretary, & Haig's Fund, Hong Kong Earl Shanghai Bank Bldg.

Cheques should be made payable to Thomson & Co. and crossed Poppy Day Fund.

IS YOUR CHILD STURDY OR OUTGROWING HIS STRENGTH?

General Weakness and Weakness

during Pregnancy, Nervous Irritability, Infectious Diseases, Weak Bones &Teeth, Skin Troubles, Anaemia, Feminine

Complaints

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Many children grow fast without growing in strength. They are weak, listless and irritable; they learn with difficulty at school and are bad play- mates. The cause in most cases is

simply a lack of vital minerals in the body.

Give your children Kalzana, the mineral food for better health. Kalzana is just the food children

during growth, as it strengthens. the bones and teeth, overcomes irritability, and gives now health and strength. Kalzana will make your children sturdy again. You will be surprised how soon they enjoy playing with their friends again and how much more readily they learn at school.

KALZANA

THE MINERAL FOOD FOR BETTER HEÄLT

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