Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-05-09
ding in Chester. He was attircd in neat

black suit, and looked very well.
The prisoner has engaged Messrs. Ho-
fus, Banks and Jolly TO defend him.
These men will do their best for their
client. Mr.. Hammond, the District attorney
will be assisted in the prosecution by w.
A. Stokes, ESQ., N--4
The atrocity Of the crime invested the
trial with great interest, and many lawyers
and others from neighboring towns are in
the place. q
After the District Attorney had concluded
his opening remarks, the first witness, John
Callahan, was called ....
John Callshan sworn-I live in Logan
township, two and half miles above
Altoona on the morning Of the 10th o.
January last, as I was going to work about
seven o'clock, when I got into this cut, |
saw man in the ditch on his knees he
was on his two knees, wavcring back and
forward with his back to Altoona before
rerchel him 1 tho't it might be our
watchman, when got close l found his
cap off his head it was kind of skin cap ;
he was uitoring some words, but do not
know what he meant to say; | saw, as he
was raising his head, the cut across his
throat;'I passed but few remarks; it was
pretty large cut, pretty near clear around
the throst; under his ear, about his jaw
there were cuts, but do not know whether
one or two; l did not remark which side
Of the head they were on Mr.. McKonnan
md his men informed of what had seen,
and my foreman and his men came up;
locomotive came along, and we took the
body t. Altoona, and a party ofus remained
at the scene one of them found razor and
club upon the ground; after the razor
was found they wanted me to go to Altoona
and take the razor; I did SO, and gave it
10 some one there was travelling bag
found also upon the ground ;it looked like
a fiddle with a green cover on it; | do not
know what else was found. The razor
found by Norcross' body was shown witness.
and he remarked that it looked like the
one he had seen The club, stick about
two inches in thickness and four feet in
length, the witness also thought was the
same. The carpet bag and fiddle bag, to
the best Of his opinion, he thought the same;
also shawl that had been around Nor
ross.
Cross-examined,-No one went with me
| to Altoona with the razor. 1t was between
one and two hours after I saw the body
that the razor was foupd. cannot say
that is the club.
Thomas McKernan, cross examined
I'bcleve all the articles before me to be
the same from their general appearance
I am sure it was blood I saw upon the rail
picked up the club and examined it; pu
it back where it came from have no
seen the articles since until this week
recognize the vest by the color and tn
stuff I recognize the razor by its colo
and the blood upon it. (Razor shown him.
think it is still blood upon it. (Witnes
described dress of Norcross.) The shaw
was upon the man, across his breast, an
clasped in front his boots never saw
unless I saw them on Norcross; Norcros
l should judge to have been about five fec
seven inches in height.
Valentine Diller testified to'the fndin
, of the body, its removal to Altona, and th
blood found on various parts of the tract
lie identified all the articles except til
coat. His cross-examination elected notl
ing worthy Of note.
e John M'Charters sworn-Keeps IL
Eagle Hotel in Pittsburgh; identified Fc
I Lake Bank bill as one he had given
, change to man named Norcro3s in pa,
f mcnt of bis bill, Hotel register of IL
Eagle Hotel produced.] Norcross can
to my house on the l4th, had his nam
registered, and, also, as hes aid, that of h
friend, David Mckinney, of Philadelphia
saw Norcross and defendant in compan
frequently when former paid the bill, sa
a twenty dollar gold piece in his possessio
and other money.
t Samuel Ministers, clerk of the Hott
E. testified to Grst seeing Norcross and defer
dant at the hotel in the morning, aft
coming out from breakfast. That McKi
leaned over the counter and told hir
confdentially, that he had great troub
=. with Norcross that he was subject to fl
and at times it would take two or thr
!. men to hold him; that the night previo
he, Norcross, had slipped out of bed, al
awoke him-the defendant-by attcmpti
II to beat his brains out against the wall.
u Witness was further informed by delenda