Paris Morgan was the son of Thomas Browning and Susan Whitaker Browning. Paris Morgan was medium height, medium weight, and had gray eyes and brown hair. He worked as a farmer and a constable. Registration Draft WWI: 06 Sep 1918

He married Genetta Victoria Wysong on January 17th in 1899 in Lincoln County, West Virginia. The couple had eleven children: William Dennis, Walter "Enos", Elisha, Ollie, Thomas, Nellie, Henry Wilson, Lillian, Paris "Bradford", Clifton, and Tillie. Tillie died on the same day of birth.


In article from The Lincoln County Republican paper March 1914: Paris Browning or 'Pad' as he is commonly called, was indicted for murder by the Grand Jury now in session and appeared in open court and gave bond in the sum of $3,000 for his appearance at the June Term of the Circuit Court when in all probability he will be tried in all the crime of which he is charged.

In a article from The Lincoln County Republican paper June 1914: Constable Browning Found Guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter-35 Indictments Returned. Circuit Court convened here Monday with Judge Graham on the bench and several important cases have been disposed of. The trial attracting most attention was the case against Constable Browning, charged with the murder of Tom May. In this case the State was ably represented by Prosecuting Attorney Young, while the defense was represented by Smith &Steed, P. H. Napier and D. B. Daugherty. Browning was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter which carries with it a sentence of from one to five years. His sentence has not yet been imposed by the Judge.

In a article from The Lincoln County Republican paper June 1914: Paris sentenced for two years in the State Penitentiary. (He only served one year of his sentence.)

There are two stories on the case of Tom May getting shot.

The first story: they were drinking and were crossing the creek and they started arguing who was going to cross the creek first. I guess Paris won.

The second story: Tom was trying to steal Paris's Horse or Mule and Paris defending himself shot Tom. Whichever story is right Tom's fate was death.

Paris Morgan died in 1936 due to heart failure.