Killers of the Flower Moon

by

David Grann

Kelsie Morrison Character Analysis

A notorious bootlegger who agrees to work as a bureau informant—but ultimately double-crosses them by working as a double agent for Hale. It is eventually revealed that not only did Morrison kill Anna Brown, but was also once married to an Osage woman—William Stepson’s widow—who, just like her former husband, died of a suspected poisoning. Morrison admitted, later, to killing his wife for her headright—and once imprisoned for his crimes, sought to extort money from Tillie’s children from a previous marriage.
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Kelsie Morrison Character Timeline in Killers of the Flower Moon

The timeline below shows where the character Kelsie Morrison appears in Killers of the Flower Moon. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2: An Act of God or Man?
Racism and Exploitation Theme Icon
American Entitlement, Greed, and Corruption Theme Icon
...not just leniency but “free reign” to gamblers and bootleggers in the area—men like Kelsie Morrison and Henry Grammer, notorious moonshine runners. (full context)
Chapter 12: A Wilderness of Mirrors
American Entitlement, Greed, and Corruption Theme Icon
...of the investigation. Two private eyes expose and apprehend one of the operation’s informants, Kelsie Morrison, and it becomes clear that agents’ reports are leaking and being stolen. White takes to... (full context)
Chapter 17: The Quick-Draw Artist, the Yegg, and the Soup Man
American Entitlement, Greed, and Corruption Theme Icon
History, Truth, and Lies Theme Icon
Another informant, Kelsie Morrison, warns White and his agents that Hale knows they are onto him—sure enough, Hale has... (full context)
Chapter 18: The State of the Game
Racism and Exploitation Theme Icon
American Entitlement, Greed, and Corruption Theme Icon
...goes back to Burkhart to question him about Anna’s murder, and Burkhart reveals that Kelsie Morrison—the bootlegger and informant—was the one to put the bullet in Anna’s head. The authorities set... (full context)
Chapter 19: A Traitor to His Blood
American Entitlement, Greed, and Corruption Theme Icon
As the trial continues, the prosecutors call as a witness Kelsie Morrison, one of their former informants. Morrison testifies that Hale plotted to eliminate the members of... (full context)
Chapter 20: So Help You God!
Racism and Exploitation Theme Icon
American Entitlement, Greed, and Corruption Theme Icon
History, Truth, and Lies Theme Icon
...crime a week after the shooting, with Mollie and her family, to identify the corpse. Morrison, the man who pulled the trigger and killed Anna, is convicted. After the trial, Mollie... (full context)
Chapter 26: Blood Cries Out
Racism and Exploitation Theme Icon
American Entitlement, Greed, and Corruption Theme Icon
Family, Legacy, and Trauma Theme Icon
History, Truth, and Lies Theme Icon
...of a suspected poisoning in 1922, Grann listens to Marvin’s story—a tale in which Kelsie Morrison, the man who murdered Anna Brown, enacted a years-long campaign of violence and theft not... (full context)