The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-03-18
TRE noacaoss l1UKnER.

iishes ION and doeply interesting acoc,,rI
of the horrible murder which oooarrsd d slbou
the middle ofJauussy lastiel AIloons, on 10,
line Of the Pennsylvania Railroad, at .he 'foo
OF the Mountains. Since.th that time vasiou,
and oontradicsorS narratives hsvs been iaos
ing through ihs press ofthe State, but In q
'disjointed form, ihatto elici. the ruth wa,
Pnssrly impossible. The Journal has, how
ever, succseded Ia obtaining minute and
detailed sccount Of The whole affsif, from the
commencement to the present date, which
we Judge was written by officer Blackburn
formerly a reporter, and now hieh Constable
of Philadelphia:
WHO foRcRoss WAS.
Very near year ego, young man named
Samuel T. Norcross, Of affable manners,
kind and generous Disposition, and IN every
respec. perfect gentleman, LEFT his parents
and friends, al East Lexington, Massachu.
sstis, with the intention OF entering upon the
practice of medicine (his profession) a. Dun.
lsilb, opposite Dubuque, on the Mississippi
river. Probably there were ether views 10
his mind in reference 10 specuiatiug IN lands
and real estate. The place Of his desliua.
zion reached in safety, and under tbe care
and tuition of an M. D., Mr.. Norcross gave
every promise OF rising to emineace ia his
career. He was universally esteemed by
the many friends he had made. But after
oonlinuing for some time In the fulfllmeal
OF his professional duties, his health began
TO fail. An abcess in the side, with which
he was sfllicted, troubled him exceedingly,
and after season of doubt and indcis,on,
he at length determined by the advice aud
urgent request of bis family at home, 10 re.
turn 10 them and relnquish all the bright
prospscis that the West seemed 10 open to
his young manhood. He prepared 10 leave
Dunleith.
THE FATAL ACQUAINTANCE.
Then came one of those circumstances
that, insxplicsble and strange, sometimes
induce weak minds 10 assert sovereign
principle Of fatality. A very short time be.
fore he started for home, be became &C.
quainted with an outlaw from socieiy-a wi.
lain named David Siringer McKim. This
man, with the Ireachery of fend, wormed
himself into his confidence, and the unsus.
picious nature of young Norcross, could dis.
cern 10 guile. He fell into the snare, and
tie two became very friendly. At Dunleith
they were always toge,her-he serpent and
his victim. Nay, more,-so kind and so
much interest did McKim take in his friend,
'ha. he resolved 10 accompany him 10 the East,
aud, on account Of his illness, 10 see him
home in safety. Norcross was charmed BY
the sacrifice, and threw his heart and soul
into the friendship.
1.-THE THIRTY PIECES OF sILyER.n
In The early part Of January, the twain, in
company, left DunIeiih, the passage of both
having been paid by Norcross, with his ac-
cusiomed generosity. In his possession at
the time Of departure, as neat as can be as
cerained were between fifteen and t,usnty.
flee hundred dollars, in notes and gold, to-
geihef with two bonds of $500 each, and q
gVtd watch, lrinkets, &c. All these were on
his person. McKim had absolutely nothing.
I Bot at lhi, point We must explain that
McKim, in order the better 10 carry ont his
designs, was passing under the alias Of DAN
lei S. Mckinney, and as such, had introduced
himself 10 Norcross.
THE TRAVEL EASTWARD.
What thoughts passed through the minds
Of the two travellers as they journeyed on
ward day by day, no mortal pen can reveal.
While the one, unsuspicious and contiding,
a. the shades Of night covered the earth, fell
into the sleep Of innocence, the other, de.
wonlike, no doubt was revolving in his fer.
tile brsin every possible scheme 10 take the
iife-lo murder bis companion--so future
events at least indicate. Sill the iron horse
joumed forward, unaffected, and all unheed.
ing the potent passions of the inmates of ils
lengthy burden.
pfABoLIcAL scHEMs--sos-ExEcur1os.
Pittsburg was reached the night of Jsnu.
ery 14th, 1857, and the couple proceeded to
The Eagle Hotel, aud engaged q double bed.
ded room. Now mark the actions of Me-
Kinney! Before retiring 10 rest, he went TO
the landlord Of the hotel and told him that
his friend (Norcross J was very eccentric,
and was accustomed TO make much noise
during the night by soreaming, walking
around and ut.ering frishtful CRIES. He (the
landlord) must not be alarmed il Norcross
should do so that night. What does this in-
dicaie, but that il Was the intention OF. Mo.
Kinney 10 murder bis friend al night, and
prevent any alarm being communicated TO
the household, by thus telling the landlord q
false story, calculated 10 allsy suspicion
should there be any noise ir the commiilal
Of tho deed Was ever inference more
plain, or induc.ive evidence more positive 7
But yet, from some cause, the crime was moi
committed, and The victim was suffered 10
live get awhile longer. On the morning of
the 18th the party left Piitshurg for Philadel-
phia, thsir two trunks being checked througk,
and the checks taken in Charge By Mckinney.
Nonross, all this time, be Il borne in mind,
was paying every expense incurred by bis
friend (?)
sfs THE MURDER.
Before daybfesk, on The i6ih Of January,
the ears arrived Al Altoona, and Norcross
and McK;oooxr rot asst ,oa etrrl e. :. a.