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‘The Last Gallows’ documentary debuts June 23

Documentary details last public hanging in W.Va.

John Morgan on the gallows Dec. 16, 1897, awaiting the executioner at the last public hanging in West Virginia, which was in Ripley. The event is the subject of “The Last Gallows: John Morgan’s Farewell,” a documentary produced by the Ripley Convention & Visitors Bureau, that premieres 7:30 p.m. June 23 at Ripley High School. (Photo Provided)

RIPLEY — A documentary about the last public hanging in West Virginia will premiere 7:30 p.m. June 23 in the Alumni Auditorium at Ripley High School.

“The Last Gallows: John Morgan’s Farewell” was produced by the Ripley Convention & Visitors Bureau and tells the story of John Morgan, who was accused of the hatchet killing of three members of the prominent Pfost-Greene family in Jackson County on Dec. 3, 1897, and was hanged for it on Dec. 16, 1897, in Ripley.

Four showings of the documentary have been scheduled in Ripley. While the premiere is June 23, additional showings are 2 p.m. June 24 at the high school and 2 p.m. June 30 and July 1 at the Alpine Theatre in Ripley.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students. It is not recommended for children due to the depiction of violence. For more information, call 304 514-2609.

The mystery in the case was why the 22-year-old orphan brutally slaughtered three members of the Pfost-Greene family who had cared for him.

John Morgan

“It is a tragic, but fascinating story that gained national attention and had legal ramifications across the state,” said Mike Ruben, director of the tourist bureau. “This event took place 120 years ago, but it continues to be a topic of discussion.”

Some attribute the brutal hatchet attacks to mental illness while others allude to money matters or a love interest.

Morgan’s trial in the Jackson County Courthouse attracted newspaper coverage from New York, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. The murders took place in southern Jackson County during the early morning hours of Dec. 3, 1897. Circuit Judge Reese Blizzard presided.

Morgan was captured, indicted, tried, convicted and sentenced to hang within a week.

Businessman O.J. Morrison sold his book about the murders, “The Slaughter of the Pfost-Greene Family,” at the hanging.

The execution attracted a crowd of 5,000 spectators to Ripley, a town of 500 people at the time.

The documentary, which includes local residents was filmed and directed by Carson Broom with Stephen Hanson. Leading roles are portrayed by theatrical majors Jeana Mahan and J.J. Mahan and recent media graduate Matt Groves.

An on-screen analysis was provided by Merrilee Matheny, author of the soon-to-be-published book, “Swift Justice,” and historian Mike McGrew.

“It is exciting that Jackson County talent was used in the telling of a story that is important to Jackson County history,” Broom said.

The execution was the topic of “The Last Public Hanging in West Virginia,” a 1965 song written by Tom T. Hall and performed by bluegrass legends Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain Boys.

The more-current “Ballad of John Morgan” is used in the documentary. It was written by Matt Poff and performed by The Grass Stains.

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