The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1871-02-09
4 Reformed Desperate.

Reformed Desperate.
Edward Norton, the most MOTEL
criminal in the State Of New Jersey,
whose name was for years tho terror
Of Trenton and the surrounding county
has just been pardoncd on the expira-
ton Of half tho term for which ho
was sentenced lie has been for
long time the principle object Of in
terest to persons visiting the State
Prison. In 1855, when - years old
he found guilty by fourteen juries, on
as many indictments, without q single
recommendation to mercy and tho
extent of his sentences, could they
have been Unlisted, would have been
imprisonment for $50 years and fines
amounting TO over Twelve thousand
dollars.
The Court, ut the time Of his last
trial, sentenced him to so years i'm
prisonment On hearing his sentence,
he arose AMI called down such curses
upon the judge as made everybody in
the crowded courtroom shudder.
This was in January, 1856. For fvo
years this man was the terror Of his
keepers, as he had been of the citizens.
Scarcely had he been confined when
he succecced 10 escaping from his cell,
and sei2,ug large knife, forced an
entrance into the from, corridor, where
b, bsrricaied himself and proposed
10 fight his way out So greatly did
the authorities fear him that, without
any attempt to re-cnpturc him, be was
deliberativey shot down by n Deputy
Keeper, who aimed rife through tho
iron bars dividing the corridors. He
was then placed iu close confinement
a bail and chain were attached to his
egs, and he was closely guarded.
Yet be twice escaped aud, returning
to his old haunts spread fear through
the city. For FIVE years be was
chained d lwn and guarded
Ten years ago he prOfcssed to have
come under the influence of religion.
His conduct W on for him the con hdeuce
Of his keepers, and all the liberties Of
the prison were given him. His
known daring gave him authority
with the other prisoners. In 1868 q
portion of the prison was burned.
and 10 the confession the doors werc
thrown open and he prisoners throng-
ed into tho yards, An attack was Or
gani2ed, the prisoners agreeing to
force an escape At this junciure only
tho presence aud authority of Norton
prevented a terrible massacre. Tho
prisoners wero armed with implements
from the shops aud 500 desperate men
could easily have murdered the hand
ful Of keepers opposed to them had it
not been for the superior daring and
determinatiod Of Norton. This act
probably secured him his pardon.
From that time his position has been
almost that of deputy keeper. In
October last the Court Of Pardons
graeted him pardon upon halt his
sentence, which took place on the 10th
Of this month. During the last ten
years, all the meney he bad been ablo
to earn by working ovcr-hours, amount
ing 10 several hlndred dollars, has
been given to the support Of an aged
mother, whom bis disgrace had nearly
killed. The first thing Norton did af.
ter being freed was to walk up State
street to the house Of Chiei-Justice
Green. who had passed sentence upon
him, aud upon whom he had called
down such terrible curses. He re-
questod 10 SEQ the Justice. and on be-
ing admitted begged bis pardon, and
stated bis intention Of living thor
ougly reformed life. The Judge
greeted him cordially II is Norton's
inteniion to enter into business In al-
other State.