Morris, Charlie (1907)

MORRIS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 9/14/2018 at 16:16:58

The Grinnell (IA) Herald
Oct. 29, 1907

C.H. MORRIS DIES

Last Saturday at 10:30 o'clock, Charlie Morris, as every body in Grinnell knew him twenty years ago, died at Mercy Hospital. The assassin's bullet had done its work only too sure and another man has gone all too early in life to his final rest, a victim of his philanthropic effort to rid his mining camp of a bootlegger's joint.

Mr. Morris as a boy and student lived with his mother and sister, and by hard work and close economy succeeded in making his way thru college with the class of '84. He secured a position soon after with a Des Moines firm and a year or two later his mother and sister joined him in Des Moines. His success soon put him in the ranks of the mine operators. He prospered and from the poor boy of 25 years ago he dies at the age of 47, one of the largest coal operators in the capital city, respected by all, his death mourned as a great loss, a martyr to principle.

Genial, always likable, he left hundreds of friends when he left Grinnell and thousands regret his death. Des Moines loses a valuable citizen, Iowa College one of its best and most popular graduates, and all who knew him a warm friend. He died a martyr to philanthropy and principle.

To protect the men in his employ he proposed to buy the bootlegger's joint and clean up the camp, and while negotiations were in progress the fatal bullet was fired. All who knew Mr. Morris, remember his easy-going way, and know he did nothing to incur the hostility of the assassin, except to offer to purchase his building. It was a manly effort murderously rewarded. And as if to prove still further his love of law and order, and his charity toward even his enemies, after two shots had been fired into his body he wrested the pistol from the assassin and not only did not turn it upon his assailant, but allowed him to escape.

No act of years could prove better the manly, forgivable character of Mr. Morris. His life was a manly one, his death cruel beyond description. But thru all the misfortune of his death shines the light of a true heroism, a lofty charity, and the unimpeachable integrity of one of Iowa's noblest men.

The sympathy of Grinnell friends rose out to his aged mother, his sister, his wife and two children.