Posse Member Robert J. Morrison

Posse Member Robert J. Morrison

Mono County Sheriff's Office, California

End of Watch Saturday, September 23, 1871

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Robert J. Morrison

Posse Member Robert Morrison and Posse Member Mono Jim were shot and killed during a shootout with three men who had escaped from the Nevada State Penitentiary in Carson City, Nevada.

The convicts fled south and murdered three citizens they encountered. They were tracked into California by a posse from Esmeralda County, Nevada. Once in California, a new posse was formed by a Mono County deputy who took over the pursuit.

The posse located the convicts camped out near Monte Diablo Creek in Taylor Canyon and waited for daybreak to confront them. A shootout ensued in which Posse Member Mono Jim and Posse Member Morrison were both shot and killed.

All three were apprehended. Two of them were tried in a makeshift court in a remote cabin and executed the following day. The other escapee, who did not participate in the shootout, was returned to prison.

Monte Diable Creek was renamed Convict Creek in commemoration of the shootout. Two nearby peaks were renamed Mount Morrison and Mono Jim Peak in honor of the fallen posse members.

Posse Member Morrison was survived by his fiancee.

Bio

  • Age 38
  • Tour 1 day
  • Badge Not available

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Gun; Unknown type
  • Offender Lynched in 1871

escapee

Most Recent Reflection

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Most of society lives in a world that doesn’t recognize what gives them the comforts they live in. Because of you, and people like you, society can live that way.

You put the badge on to make the community a better place. You put the badge on for justice. You put the badge on to save life. You put the badge on for the principles it represents. The badges didn’t make you a hero, the badge was worn by a hero. To your family, and the generations that followed, thank you for your service. Be proud of this man.

Sergeant Christian Yanchula
Forensic Services
Indian River County Sheriff's Office

September 23, 2022

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