Letter from Thomas E. Stone to William Loeb
Thomas E. Stone, White House Chief Usher, explains his observation of the Mrs. Morris Incident to William Loeb.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-16
Your TR Source
Morris, Laura A. Hull, 1852-1917
Note regarding Mrs. Minor Morris
William T. S. Rollins claims to know a physician who would testify regarding the mental health of Mrs. Minor Morris.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-17
Creator(s)
Statement of A. E. Morris and C. H. Murphy
Private A. E. Brown and Private C. H. Murphy provide statements regarding the removal of Mrs. Minor Morris from the White House. Brown describes Morris striking him and Sergeant Gallaher. Murphy describes Morris kicking Mr. Frech.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-18
Creator(s)
Letter from Eugene A. Gimbel to Theodore Roosevelt
Eugene A. Gimbel writes to President Roosevelt offering his sympathy and support in the wake of the media and public backlash concerning the Mrs. Minor Morris incident.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-18
Creator(s)
Letter from R. E. Holloway to Theodore Roosevelt
R. E. Holloway sends President Roosevelt background information that bears on the character of Laura A. Hull Morris. Holloway indicates that Morris was previously married to J. D. Highleyman (actually Samuel Locke Highleyman). While Mrs. Highleyman, Morris allegedly occupied a sleeper berth on a train with a man who was not her husband. Holloway believes it proper to provide this information in case there is an investigation. He includes names of individuals who will corroborate this story.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-18
Creator(s)
Statement of George Gray Knowles
George Gray Knowles reports that Mrs. Minor Morris was the reason for his wife having to leave their apartment in Washington, as Morris treated her badly. He also provides the names of others who could testify to similar facts.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-18
Creator(s)
Letter from Rosa Pearle to Benjamin F. Barnes
Elizabeth Jane Dugan (under the pseudonym “Rosa Pearle”), editor of Rosa Pearle’s Paper in Sedalia, Missouri, writes to Benjamin F. Barnes, providing extensive detail about Laura A. Hull Morris, the woman at the center of the Mrs. Morris incident. Dugan discusses Morris’s immoral and adulterous behavior, drunkenness, and “loud” manner. She supports President Roosevelt and criticizes Senator Benjamin R. Tillman for his derogatory statements concerning the president and the situation.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-18
Creator(s)
Letter from E. Philbrook to Theodore Roosevelt
E. Philbrook writes to President Roosevelt regarding the Mrs. Morris Incident and individuals who oppose the treatment of the finely-dressed Morris. Philbrook states that attire does not pardon unbecoming behavior and that if people are held to different standards due to their attire, “then are we going back to those feudal ages.” She commends Roosevelt for not discriminating and showing preferential treatment to Morris.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-18
Creator(s)
Letter from Gifford Pinchot to William Loeb
Gifford Pinchot explains to William Loeb what he witnessed in the Mrs. Minor Morris incident. Pinchot reports that Laura A. Hull Morris was gently but firmly escorted from the White House with one guard on each side. At no point was she dragged and he does not believe the matter could have been handled any other way. Pinchot saw no “unnecessary roughness” and he believes her quiet removal was the “right and kind thing” to do.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-18
Creator(s)
Statement by John H. Stokes
John H. Stokes, manager of the Portner, provides a statement regarding Mrs. Minor Morris who, with her husband, was his tenant during the winter of 1902-1903. Stokes found Mrs. Morris to be “a very difficult woman to deal with.” He released the Morrises from their lease before its term was up because “her conduct finally became so unbearable.” Based on his knowledge of her, Stokes is not surprised at her having had to be removed from the White House by security officers.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-18
Creator(s)
Letter from Richard Sylvester to William Loeb
Richard Sylvester, superintendent of police for Washington, D.C., writes to William Loeb regarding the Mrs. Minor Morris incident. Sylvester provides background information about her based on statements from professional and family acquaintances. He includes the report requested.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-19
Creator(s)
Statement of James H. Price
James H. Price of the Washington Times reports that Mrs. Minor Morris, since the incident in which she was removed from the White House, gave him an envelope containing $10. Price returned the money to her, saying he could not accept it. Price states that Mr. Mitchell of the Star had also received money from Morris which he returned.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-20
Creator(s)
Letter from Everett Darius Barlow to Theodore Roosevelt
Everett Darius Barlow writes to President Roosevelt expressing his support in the Mrs. Morris situation.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-15
Creator(s)
Statement of Marilla Thornburgh
Marilla Thornburgh, matron at the House of Detention, provides a statement regarding the removal of Mrs. Minor Morris from the White House. She details her interaction with Morris at the House of Detention, and comments on her mental state and details their conversation.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-12
Creator(s)
Letter to Theodore Roosevelt
Unknown person writes to President Roosevelt, criticizing him and demanding an explanation and apology regarding the Mrs. Morris scandal. The author threatens to assassinate Alice Roosevelt at her upcoming wedding unless Roosevelt meets these demands.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-13
Creator(s)
Statement of A. E. Brown
A. E. Brown provides a statement regarding his involvement and observation of the removal of Mrs. Morris from the White House. Brown describes Morris behaving violently and slapping Sergeant Gallaher. He also reports the actions of Sergeant Bryan, Private Frech, and head usher Thomas Stone.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-13
Creator(s)
Statement of A. H. Feathers
A. H. Feathers, messenger in the office of the Disbursing Clerk, provides a statement regarding the removal of Mrs. Minor Morris from the White House.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-13
Creator(s)
Statement of Jacob P. Frech
Private Jacob P. Frech provides a statement detailing the events of, and his involvement in, the removal of Mrs. Minor Morris from the White House.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-13
Creator(s)
Statement of C. H. Murphy
Private C. H. Murphy of the Metropolitan Police Force of Washington, D.C., provides a statement regarding the removal of Mrs. Minor Morris from the White House. He mentions that Morris kicked him in the shin.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-13
Creator(s)
Statement of Joseph S. Wall
Doctor Wall provides a statement regarding his examination of Laura A. Hull Morris after her removal from the White House. Wall states that she contained a degree of “hysteria” that made him think she was not of “sound mind.” However, he concedes that her state may be due to her arrest. Wall also mentions that Morris was not upset with the guards who removed her but with Benjamin F. Barnes who ordered her removal. In Wall’s professional opinion, Morris is “eccentric.”
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-14