Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-03-21
cross was charmed by the sscrifice aud threw
his heart and soul into friendship.


In the early part Of January, the twain, in
company, left Dunleith, tho passage of both
having been paid by Norcrcss, with his ac
customed generosity. In his possession at
the time of his departure. asaear rs car be
ascertained, were between ecn oad tscaqiy
tfcc hundred dollars, in uotes aud gold, to-
gether with two bonds Of $500 each and n
gold watch, trinkets &c. All these were on
his person. McKim had absolutely nothing.
But at this point we must explain that
Mckim, in order the better to carry out his
designs, was passing under me alias Of Dan
iel 5. Mckinney, and as soch, had introdu-
ced himself to Norcross.
TIE TRAVEL EASTWARD.
What thoughts passed thro the minds of
the two travellers as they journeyed onward
Gay by day. no mortal pen can reveal. While
the one, unsuspicious and confding, as the
shades Of night covered the earth, fell into
the sleep of innocence, the other. demonlike,
no doubt was revolving in his fertile brain
every possible scheme 20 take the liie-to
murder his companion--.so future events at
least indicate. Still the iron horse journey
ed forward, unaffected, and all unheeding the
potent passions Of the Inmates Of its lengthy
burden.
DIABoIICAL sCHEME--NoN-ExEc
Pttsburg was reached tbe night of Janu-
ary l4th, 1857, aud the couple proceeded to
the Eagle Hotel and engaged double bed
ded room. Now mark the actions of Nc
Kinney Before retiring TO seSt, herent to the
landlord Of The hotel and iold Rim that his
friend (NorcroSS) ,cdS ve,y eccentric, and was
accustomed 10 make much noise during the
night by screaming, ,caikino around and utter
ing frigktfM cries. He tH, tddicrd) must
not bs alarmed If Norcross houtd do 50 that
ntgMi What does this ind};ate, but that it
was the intention OF McKihhey TO rnurder his
friend at night, and prevent any alarm being
communicated to the household, by thus tell
ing the landlord false story. calculated to
allay suspicious should there be any noise in
the committal Of the deed Was ever infer
ence more plain, or inductive evidence more
posiliye2 But yet, from soba cause, the crime
was not committed, and the victim was suffer.
cred to live yet awhile loager ON the morn
ing Of the 18th ult., the party left Pittsburg
for Philadelphia. their two trunks being
checked Grough, and the checks taken in
charge Jy Mckinney. Norcross, all this
time, be it borne in mind. was paying every
expense incurred by his friend. (2)
TIE MuRpER.
Before dayhreak, on the 9Th ult, the cars
arrived at Altoona, and Norcross aud Mex in.
ney got out, and stood for e time upon the
platform station. The dead tell no tales, and
we cannot say what excuse the villain invent
ed to induce the poor enfepbed Norcross to
walk with him up the railroad track towards
the east Tor the distance Of about q mile
Perhaps he told him that they would 90 to
the house of friend, and remain until the
departure of the next train, sad rest them
selves. Certain it is that the yvere seen to
walk along in cornpqay, by TIVE alnn who were
going to wUTW "a. ~--- Gai2 siAey passau
from ali mortal eyes, aud beseath the canopy
Of Heaven, at Il spot where no ear could hear
a cry Of agony--no hand assist the suffering,
the victim was felled to the earth by the man
upon whom lie had bestowed the kindest
feelings Of his heart The instrument Of mur-
der was that Of Cain, billet Of wood from q
pile and with this by repeated blows upon
the head, Mckim or Mel lnney murdered Sam
uel Il. Ncrcross in cold blood But he did
rorethought, drew the body across the rails
Of the track, so that it would be run over, aud
the belief induced, when it was found, that
the individual had been run over by the cars.
Not satisfied with this, he with razor cut
strumenL beside him, in order to make it ap-
pear, if the body was discovered before the
passage of any train, that suicide had been
committed. Yet the victim 'cds not dead
strange to say Mcki i'm then rited the pock
cts of the man Of every valuable, Including
the money and bonds, and secreted himself
in the neighborhood, probably impelled by
the awful feeling that appears to be Inherent
in those who lift their hand against their broth
er, to inger near the spot Of the occurrence
DISCOVERY or TIE VICTIM.
Probably it might have been an hour after
ward, that some workmen coming along the
railroad with gravel trucks, discovered tie
form Of human being few yards from tht
iron rails. They went TO it, and just as the!
arrived Norcross for it was he, made las
effort to raise himself, and uttering family the
single exclamation, My God" fell back. He
lived but little while longer. In the aw
fu agony be had dragged himself TO the place
where found. The body was taken to Al
toona. The finding Of the razor had induced
! the belief that the man had committed suicide
The Coroners Jury assembled.-The pos
mortem examination revealed the fact tina
| the deceased had come to his death By biOw.
! on The head by club aud not by the wounds o
! the razor-ior no important artery was Sc
yered. The excitement at Altoona becam,
at once absolutely appalling The word
/ "lynching' and changing" were common ant
| at the very time the murderer UGs hGngin.
around the torn, awaiting the course of events
! As soon US he saw that the murder was dis
covered, he Hed-with the celebrity of guilt
as though the avenging angel was in pursuit
THE COMMUNITY AROUSED.
! But the storm was raised. Ferdinand Il
Hayes, gentleman of the highest intellgenc,
and SKILL acting as spscal detective OF th
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, commences
an investigation OF the matter The Govern
! or of Pennsylvania offered reward Of $500
/ afterwards increased to Sl000,) the Govern
| or of Massachusetts, offered $1,000 and tn
citizens Of Altoona farther SUN Of $780,
The Railroad Company and tie relatives G
the murdered man expended money frsel
and the community was awakened. No ston
was left unturned.
FLIGHT OF rHg OUTLAW.
The guilty man hed to Reading, PennsylvO
MA, with the ill-gotten spOilS. How he reach
ed there is not known. On the 20th of Jar
uary he sueaked into the borough, and wen
directly TO house of iil-iame, kept 10y on
Susan Emore, No. l, Walnut street, at tha
place. lie engaged boarding there, and la'
| ished his money on amusements, such q