Litchfield enquirer., 1861-07-25
NOODBURY

A horrible murder was committed in Hartle Plain District on Wednesday, 17th inst about 9 o'clock F. NJ, As various reports afoat, we give the following brief statement before the Jury of Inquest, whose report will be found be- low.
 Matthew NJ Morris, the murdered man, a very respectable citizen, of ample means, and very peaceable man, called at the house of his sister, Mrs. Osborne, where the family, including Char les Fox, the murderer, were at supper. Morris sat smoking a cigar, and conversation arose between him and Fox about moving. Morris mentioned several, who could out-now him, 10 which statements successively, Fox gave the le Very soon he left the table, went out on the piazza, and took up his coat, and laid it down again. He returned to the door of the room, where Morris was still sitting and smoking and told him if he would come to the door, he ''woud | fix him." Morris replied, that he knew he would do nothing 10 him. Then Fox said if he would come there he would ..set his ears up.' Morris went towards the door laughing, and Fox com menced striking him on both sides of the head and almost immediately, commenced thrusting at him-Morris then seized him, and he fell over chair on his back-Morris seized and held up 1 his feet so that he could not strike him again; but he sat up and thrust him again with dirk | jack-knife, which he seemed to have had ill his hand all the time, (though the witnesses did not see it, it being rather dark at the time,) saying 'slet me up.' At the instant he made the last thrust, saying "let me up" Morris faltered, fell on his face, gasped or times, and was dead. 1 The knife at the last thrust entirely severed the main artery under the collar bone on the right side, called by the doctors. the rena cara. Fox immediately walked out, and hid his knife in the corner of the yard, where it was found the next morning, almost entirely covered with blood. He then took his scythe, and started for Roxbury, but being called back by neighbor, who had arrived, he remained till Sheriff Minor came an1 arrested him. He has been brought to Litchfeld jail to await his trial in September.- The jocose remarks of Morris constitute pro vocation to take mans life, and it has been learned that Fox had an old grudge against 1 him
 To William Cothren, Esq, Justice of the Peace for Litchfeld County, residing in Wood bury
 You having summoned us jury of inquest to inquire into the cause and manner of the death of Matthew M. Norris late of said Wood bury, which sudden and untimely, and the manner of which was not known, and we having carefully examined into the circumstances of said case, do find that the said Matthew NJ Nor ris came to his death by the hand of Charles Fox of said Woodbury, by the use of deadly wea- pon, to wit, pocket, or dirk knife
 Dated at Woodbury, July 18th, A. D. 1861. | Berlin Thomas, II: W. Shove, l s B. Farchill, Cerens Saxton, Alfred Birch, George Roswell, | John W. Rogers, Alexander Gordon, Vim. II. Allen, PEiaeas A. Judson, Vim. B. Bryan, II. C. Judson. f :. JURORS OF INQUEST UNDER OATH A case of smallpox, which made its appea- rance at the north end of Main Street, terminal ed fatally on the 21 inst. The event has caused much excitement, and stringent measures are being taken to confne the contag zion to it's pre- sent locality. The subject was an Irish girl in the employ of R. Sherman, Esq, and recently