Donald Morrison
Or outlaw vigilante - 1857 - 1894
Legend Donald " Robin Hood" Morrison was born in 1858 in Lac- Mégantic, into a family of Scottish settlers . About 1876 , he moved to Western Canada and the United States , where he worked as a cowboy. In 1881 he is back in the Eastern Townships. In 1886, Morrison loses his family farm after a financial dispute with Major Malcolm McAulay , the strongman of the region.
Donald Morrison began a personal crusade against scammers and new landowners . He went then guilty of vandalism and arson . As there were no police in Lac- Mégantic , the municipality undertakes the U.S. constable Lucius Jack Warren Donald, $ 2.50 per day, plus a premium of $ 25 for the arrest of Morrison. But it is Morrison who kills Warren June 22, 1888 .
Eyewitnesses (except one person) , claim that Morrison fired in self-defense. However, we must admit that Warren did his duty as a police officer arresting an alleged crime.
Donald Morrison
Then the justice eludes attempts to arrest for two years thanks to the solidarity of farmers. About four hundred and fifty policemen Provincial Police seek it , and a high premium $ 3,000 is offered for his arrest.
Canada avidly reads newspapers covering the event each day.
Public opinion is divided : most newspapers and magazines consider Donald Morrison speaking like a bandit , while almost all the English newspapers are as innocent , protected by his Scottish neighbors, a sort of modern Robin Hood. The Montreal Daily Star newspaper published two interviews with journalist Peter Spanyard Morrison , which caused a sensation.
Meanwhile , general battered are conducted against him, and all the woods , ditches and even suspected houses were searched thoroughly . Dugas J. proclaims martial law in the District and forbidden to stay or to feed the off-the- law.
Some people have spent a few days in jail for violating the law or have declared their support for Morrison. For example , DK MacDonald, operator Canadian Pacific Railway , was posted on the door of the cabinet tickets Station Spring Hill, a portrait of Donald with the words " a good man ".
It's Easter Monday , April 21, 1889 , the constable Peter McMahon and guide Leroyer Morrison hurt his leg and catch it when he visits his parents. It is considered to Sherbrooke and sentenced to 18 years hard labor .
In the Montreal Jail , Donald Morrison refuses food and medicine. Following a petition of several hundred citizens , the Ministry of Justice signs his release and Morrison was released June 19, 1894 . He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital , where he died following a lung disease then called consumption.
Donald Morrison became a legendary figure in the Eastern Townships , Quebec. His story was told in the poem vividly Donald Morrison, the Canadian Outlaw , Oscar Dhu , known as Angus Mackay (written in 1892). Several other works have been dedicated to the life of Morrison , including the novel by Bernard Epps , The Outlaw of Megantic .
That one day has not heard of " Outlaw " Lac Mégantic, Donald Morrison , the young Scot, whose colorful history and surprises made him a hero in the " Highlands " of Quebec.
This whole thing started around 1883. Murdoch Morrison , father of Donald, poor and miserable struggling with ever increasing financial difficulties colon , even if one day to give a mortgage on his land in order to meet its obligations.
During this time, Donald wanting to help his father decided to leave for the West to find work as a producer of cattle (that is to say, he held the position cowboy , he moved herds place to place ) . Regularly , Donald was sending money to his father that he can make the payments on earth. But uncompromising , the creditor Murdoch Morrison , advised him to immediately pay eight hundred dollars he owed, or failing to vacate the land.
Murdoch then informed his son of the legal proceedings against him. Donald took the first train and went home .
THE outcome of the trial , the Morrison lost their cause and had to leave the land . Donald , outraged by this decision, lost all confidence in the justice and the Duquette family, who occupied the land since the departure of Morrison began to experience several problems.
First, Duquette barn was burned and then a bullet fired outside almost reach Ms. Duquette while she was in the kitchen adjust the hand of the clock .
All these incidents , it is certain that Donald was the first to be suspected of being the author , and an arrest warrant was issued against lui.Récalcitrant and ironic, Donald was ignored this procedure , claiming that could never stop until the day when an American named Warren bailiff went to Lac Mégantic with the idea of putting an end to all the insolence of Morrisson .
Lac-Mégantic 1910
Or outlaw vigilante - 1857 - 1894
Legend Donald " Robin Hood" Morrison was born in 1858 in Lac- Mégantic, into a family of Scottish settlers . About 1876 , he moved to Western Canada and the United States , where he worked as a cowboy. In 1881 he is back in the Eastern Townships. In 1886, Morrison loses his family farm after a financial dispute with Major Malcolm McAulay , the strongman of the region.
Donald Morrison began a personal crusade against scammers and new landowners . He went then guilty of vandalism and arson . As there were no police in Lac- Mégantic , the municipality undertakes the U.S. constable Lucius Jack Warren Donald, $ 2.50 per day, plus a premium of $ 25 for the arrest of Morrison. But it is Morrison who kills Warren June 22, 1888 .
Eyewitnesses (except one person) , claim that Morrison fired in self-defense. However, we must admit that Warren did his duty as a police officer arresting an alleged crime.
Donald Morrison
Then the justice eludes attempts to arrest for two years thanks to the solidarity of farmers. About four hundred and fifty policemen Provincial Police seek it , and a high premium $ 3,000 is offered for his arrest.
Canada avidly reads newspapers covering the event each day.
Public opinion is divided : most newspapers and magazines consider Donald Morrison speaking like a bandit , while almost all the English newspapers are as innocent , protected by his Scottish neighbors, a sort of modern Robin Hood. The Montreal Daily Star newspaper published two interviews with journalist Peter Spanyard Morrison , which caused a sensation.
Meanwhile , general battered are conducted against him, and all the woods , ditches and even suspected houses were searched thoroughly . Dugas J. proclaims martial law in the District and forbidden to stay or to feed the off-the- law.
Some people have spent a few days in jail for violating the law or have declared their support for Morrison. For example , DK MacDonald, operator Canadian Pacific Railway , was posted on the door of the cabinet tickets Station Spring Hill, a portrait of Donald with the words " a good man ".
It's Easter Monday , April 21, 1889 , the constable Peter McMahon and guide Leroyer Morrison hurt his leg and catch it when he visits his parents. It is considered to Sherbrooke and sentenced to 18 years hard labor .
In the Montreal Jail , Donald Morrison refuses food and medicine. Following a petition of several hundred citizens , the Ministry of Justice signs his release and Morrison was released June 19, 1894 . He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital , where he died following a lung disease then called consumption.
Donald Morrison became a legendary figure in the Eastern Townships , Quebec. His story was told in the poem vividly Donald Morrison, the Canadian Outlaw , Oscar Dhu , known as Angus Mackay (written in 1892). Several other works have been dedicated to the life of Morrison , including the novel by Bernard Epps , The Outlaw of Megantic .
That one day has not heard of " Outlaw " Lac Mégantic, Donald Morrison , the young Scot, whose colorful history and surprises made him a hero in the " Highlands " of Quebec.
This whole thing started around 1883. Murdoch Morrison , father of Donald, poor and miserable struggling with ever increasing financial difficulties colon , even if one day to give a mortgage on his land in order to meet its obligations.
During this time, Donald wanting to help his father decided to leave for the West to find work as a producer of cattle (that is to say, he held the position cowboy , he moved herds place to place ) . Regularly , Donald was sending money to his father that he can make the payments on earth. But uncompromising , the creditor Murdoch Morrison , advised him to immediately pay eight hundred dollars he owed, or failing to vacate the land.
Murdoch then informed his son of the legal proceedings against him. Donald took the first train and went home .
THE outcome of the trial , the Morrison lost their cause and had to leave the land . Donald , outraged by this decision, lost all confidence in the justice and the Duquette family, who occupied the land since the departure of Morrison began to experience several problems.
First, Duquette barn was burned and then a bullet fired outside almost reach Ms. Duquette while she was in the kitchen adjust the hand of the clock .
All these incidents , it is certain that Donald was the first to be suspected of being the author , and an arrest warrant was issued against lui.Récalcitrant and ironic, Donald was ignored this procedure , claiming that could never stop until the day when an American named Warren bailiff went to Lac Mégantic with the idea of putting an end to all the insolence of Morrisson .
Lac-Mégantic 1910One day , while Donald went to the village, Warren informed of the arrival of the " Outlaw " , went to meet him . As the two men were face to face, Donald Warren motioned not to approach . Despite this warning as Warren would pounce on him with extraordinary rapidity Donald drew , drew ..American collapsed on the floor , dead!
It is followed by a fantastic hunting man like no one had ever seen in our little corner of Quebec. More than 450 officers from the Provincial Police were dispatched to Lake Mégantic and a premium of $ 3,000 was offered to anyone who succeeds in capturing the " Outlaw " .
But a vast network of Scottish accomplice had already formed in the Eastern Townships Wotton, Marston , Hampden, Lingwick and Winslow in order to avoid the Donald forces .
For over two years, we did research , but in vain Donald remained untraceable, his close friends warning at the slightest danger .
Morrison Park in Milan , Quebec
Then one winter day when Donald was a visit to his parents , Inspector McMahon, who had fomented an ambush , watching the man out of the parental home . Noticing he fired, wounding him in the leg and captured . Donald was brought to Sherbrooke, where he was to stand trial for the murder of Warren bailiff .
At the end of the investigation
Donald Morrison was found guilty of " manslaughter " . Jurors after twenty- three hours of deliberations commended the accused to the leniency .
Of note, never throughout the trial, the defense , represented by John Leonard , FX Lemieux and RA Greensheilds , did not raise the argument of self-defense.
Morrison was transferred to the prison of Saint- Vincent -de- Paul , who received a sentence of 18 years imprisonment. But after a few years, Morrison , spoke reduces disease , had to be rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital where he should give up the ghost a few days later .
Parc Morrison Milan, Quebec
There remains , the whole affair now date 118 years , an ever-present memory in the memory of all the Scots of Lac Mégantic and a small headstone bearing the likeness of Donald Morrison in the cemetery of Gisla located between the cities of Scotstown and Stornoway in the heart of what was once the " Highlands " of Quebec.
Letter from a resident to his brother Mr. Evangelist Sansfaçon from the diary
" The Illustrated Life" in 1889 expedition against Morrisson
The Abord A. Plouffe 3rd rank near the power
My dear Évangélisse ,
You do not need to take care of what there is in the newspapers about Morrisson . Whole affair is happening around here and I can give news better than anyone you.
Donald Morrison is an acquaintance of mine and we often kick slammed together by hunting parties at Lac Mégantic . This is an old Scottish country and he can barely say two words of French . This is a " Jack" which was not cold eyes. It is strong as a Turk and I'm sure it dip hot soup to those who want to grab it . With that it is fine as silk , and slip into the hands of policeman as an eel. Before yesterday I met in the hostel in Springhill and we pulled together a button .
While talking with me he told me his case. He wants
go to an outlaw , as it is called in the newspapers, but he claims he did not commit murder. A bailiff wanted to show awkward in his house. He came to the carry handle and to show "smart" he had the imprudence to aim with a gun . Morrison saw it had been shot . It seems that the people would have died instantly. Morrison claims that the officers are not of the world and we should not take it for that. I advised him to get caught by men judge Dugas, and he told me he had seen in the Star Witness and there were bugs in the prison, musty and that it would not be pensioned . By releasing me to go to his sugar shack he told me he would make a good sweat to the police.
I told him he should not come and ask me to cover because if the police men came to meet , there would be gun shots fired and that it would scare children , especially my youngest falling into confusion whenever we talk a little loud in the house.
Donald Morrison is gone and I have been heard in the village. When the judge came by Dugas home with his soldiers, I guarantee it has épeuré inhabitants . It was almost as bad in 1837 and 1812 when the " Colonel Jevousaluemarie " worked against the Bastonnais .
The police were armed with rifles and pistols that was really scary to see. And then it was , looking here , looking there, no business , no more than Morrisson on the "hand" . There was among them a great Scottish sergeant with Vèze . I asked him why ? He replied that it was to play a "tune " into the wood and it would dance Morrisson . He fills his bag with wind and believes he will take her man. I think it would be better to fill the pocket of his Vèze with "hot scotch " and " porridge " ! With that he would have more chance of catching her Jack .
Today there are no less than four to twenty men, I believe, who are hunting Morrisson . They revive in every nook and racoins woods. When they return to the village, one resident said: Eel burns ! And that's all. When they can return to Montreal as the hunters who had spent six days hunting ducks without having killed anything , tell their friends . " We do not kill , but it was nicely heated them behind ."
When Dugas J. saw that he was out to lunch with his soldiers , he thought he would do well to put religion in its case. Religion , you will see how it was done. He went to the Protestant ministers and asked them to read a command from the pulpit to defend people to give cover or dining Morrisson . I will not care. The ministers were all bad religion and , you know , it has not produced any good effect. Go and talk of excommunication to Protestants .
Today it is a real picnic in the county. Quebec soldiers brought meat with them and several bottles of oat syrup. When they spent the day to hunt in the woods , they come in all out of breath and covered in mud from head to foot village. They look real Mardi Gras . In the evening they play at the "all- four" and brisque . Most silver play the " hearts " for coppes , by rinsing the slab neck.
I will tell you frankly my opinion on Morrison . I think it is too sharp to the police. He speaks to the devil that man . Wizards like him, I think that there is no one like him in the country.
GESLA cemetery between Stornoway and Scotstown
And my dear , tell me . Do you think we hang this man has taken when the ? Limpet ! my friend. He never found a jury , if there is a Scottish in, which only found guilty of assault. Jurors English , Scottish and " Canayens " it will never give .
Let things be . But I see you next time in Abord- to -Plouffe , you shall give me news of Morrison . It will be what I say. Happens to make him a suit pocket , no verdict. Compliments you.
Your friend,
Come Bellehumeur
Alain Laprise 21 / 03 / 2014
