In the late afternoon of March 1, 1903, a violent struggle erupted within the walls of the Thurston County jail in Olympia, Washington, ending the life of a dedicated public servant. David B. Morrell, a 56-year-old White male and a respected jailer, was in the process of securing a cell door when he was ambushed from behind by a prisoner. The inmate wielded a lead pipe, broken off from a sink, and relentlessly attacked Morrell.
Despite the brutal assault, Morrell, a veteran of the Civil
War with two decades of service with the Thurston County Sheriff's Department, pursued his attacker down a hallway. In the ensuing struggle, the prisoner not only continued to beat Morrell with the pipe but also managed to take the jailer's own revolver and shoot him. The suspect then fled the jail, leaving the grievously wounded Morrell behind.
Following the deadly encounter, the escaped prisoner remained at large for six days. However, his freedom was short-lived. After his capture, he faced justice for the killing of Jailer Morrell. He was ultimately convicted of manslaughter and received a sentence of 20 years in prison. David Morrell, who had previously served as a Warden with the Seatco Territorial Prison, was a widower and left behind an adopted son. His death marked a tragic end to a long career in law enforcement.
