The Toledo Blade
March 10, 1961. p. 2.
Major Morgan
Accused Of Turning Against Regime
HAVANA, March 10 (AP)—Maj. William Morgan who forsook his American citizenship to fight in Fidel Castro’s army, last night was pictured by his former chauffeur as turning double agent against the revolutionary regime.
The Castro regime, which once built up the 31-year-old former U.S. paratrooper as a national hero in Cuba, is demanding the death penalty in trying him now on charges of aiding anti-Castro rebels.
Major Morgan, from Toledo, was outwardly calm in the courtroom in denying the charges.
Mario Marin, who once served as Major Morgan’s chauffeur, took the stand as the final defendant among 13 called before a military tribunal at La Cabana fortress.
Mr. Marin testified that Major Morgan had conspired against the regime, had shipped arms to rebels in the Escambray Mountains and had been in contact with the rebels.
The prosecution demanded a firing squad death for Major Morgan and 30-year prison terms for Mr. Marin and the other defendants.
Mr. Marin was seized last month as an Escambray insurgent.
The court recessed after Mr. Marin’s testimony when the lawyer appointed to defend both Mr. Marin and Major Morgan and his legal role was now incomparable. Luis Carro, the lawyer, termed Mr. Marin’s testimony “a hidden ball trick.”
Earlier Major Morgan took the stand and was asked if he sought help from the now closed U.S. embassy after his arrest last October.
“No, and I wouldn’t accept it if they did,” Major Morgan replied.
He described two executed insurgent leaders whom the government said were his contacts as “personal enemies of mine.” He also testified he used a hand-drawn Escambray map found in his home to help break up anti-Castro conspiracy that originated in the Dominican Republic.
Major Morgan had given surprise testimony in 1959 against several Cubans and helped convict them of that conspiracy. His role then as a double agent for Mr. Castro who lured the conspirators into a trap had made him a national hero.