Morrison’s major advantage over the authorities was the of the local Scottish community, including their shared tongue of Gaelic.
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A small log cabin sits at the site of Donald Morrison’s capture
On one occasion, Morrison came close to capture but was able to escape the attentions of the authorities when he was warned in Gaelic, ‘Pull your feet in, Donald. They’re sticking out from under the bed!’
A temporary truce in the search was negotiated and Morrison went to visit his parents in April 1889. But he had been tracked by a police officer and local guide.
When he emerged from their cabin, they shot shot Morrison and took him to prison on a specially-arranged train.
Five months later he was put on trial and found guilty of the manslaughter of Jack Warren.
He was sentenced to 18 years hard labour but did not survive long enough to see out his sentence after contracting tuberculosis. He died in 1894.
Morrison’s body was returned home for burial. Today, in a cemetery near the town of Milan in Quebec, sits a stone marking his grave. The name ‘Morrison’ is carved subtly out in the granite; underneath sits an image of his face alongside his striking nickname: The Megantic Outlaw.
