Richard Morris - Cook County State's Attorney

CONCLUSION
The evidence of petitioner’s guilt is overwhelming. He was seen driving Ervin
Shorter’s car about five minutes after Mr. Shorter was found murdered and no more than
two or three blocks away. Petitioner and his accomplice panicked when they saw police
and ran, and after capturing and subduing them, the officer found the keys to Mr.
Shorter’s car and the gun that killed him along the chase route. Petitioner confessed his
guilt to an assistant state’s attorney, and signed that confession.
What is equally clear is the evidence of petitioner’s brutality. Less than two days
after he participated in the murder of Frederick Jones, and in an effort to escape
prosecution for that offence, petitioner car-jacked and kidnapped Ervin Shorter. After
placing Mr. Shorter into the trunk of his car, petitioner drove him to an alley. Mr. Shorter,
52-year old working man with a wife and family, and who had done nothing to bring this
upon himself, lay on the ground, begging for his life, covering his face with his arms, when
petitioner coldly and deliberately shot two bullets into this head.
Petitioner is a career
criminal and multiple murderer, and he does not deserve clemency.
For all these reasons, the People of the State of Illinois respectfully request that
this Board and Governor Ryan deny executive clemency to Richard Morris.
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD A DEVINE
State’s attorney of Cook County
James P. McKay,
Gabriel DeMatteo,
William L. Toffenetti,
Assistant State’s Attorneys
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