Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-12-08

So&AsO SJ10boo Su0 OSOtSS ANOttto uvSo iu SF"e
of the store, not more than two hundred yards;
when Ball got within thirty yards Of the main
rad, coming towards the store, l was in the
public road; l called to Bell and told him
Norris was coming; Bell replied, 81 don't
caro- d-n if he is, will fight him if he
comes after me-" after telling him that, went
to the store; Bell continued on and had cross
ed the public road coming in the direction OF
the store when Ltold him if he was going to
fight he must not come any closer to the store;
Bell then stopped; by that time Norris had
got to the fence; the fence was not over ten
or fifteen yards from the centre OF the road !;
as Norris was getting over the fence he re-
marked, whats the matter Walbert ?"-just
in that way; both were then equidistant from
the road afteE Norris made the remark, both
parties advanced towards each other, meeting
nearly in the centre of the road Norris then
took his pistol out, from under his coat or arm
| think and deliberately shot him; they were
just near enough to each other to allow Norris
to strsighten out his arm; after shooting, Nor
rio went of towards his home and immediate.
ly returned towards the store my son pro-
posed to shut the door and did SO; when
Norrie came up said, "You seem to be des-
perate. you have killed that man, haven't
your" Norris replied, eyes, have killed
him: and intended to kill him )" Bell was
shot Immediately under the navel and didn't
live over twenty minutes; he took two steps
after be was shut and eased himself over on
his hands and knees and stretched himself out
on the ground on his belly; it is forty-6ve
strides from the piazza Of the store to the
road;-I was standing in the store door when
AI4 .lr hn foil ooIi folk in
front Of the store; as soon as Norris left Bell
called me, saying, "Oh, Captain )" went to
him and said, "Walbert, are you shot?" he
said, "Ycs, sir, have it into me" and asked
me to send for doctor; this was all he said,
he was dying then; sent for DR.. Smoot.
Cross examined-Norris' house is not over
two hundred yards from the road and nearly
opposite the "Lot;" Norris house and the
store are both OH elevations, ravine between;
when he knocked at the door, | said, wash.
am afraid to let you 10, you seem to be des-
perate," but Immediately let him in; the piaz-
Z, is eight feet wide; when he came in be
seemed greatly excited but had no pistol r
other weapon on him; staid only Eve minutes
and went up the road; the quarrel Was slight,
neither seeming disposed to fight; when Bell
went towards the house he talked and seemed
to cool down; when they met 10 the road,
Bell had nothing 10 bis band the coroner's
jury met next morning. Bell had nothing a.
bout him; was tainly dressed; both were un-
der the influence Of liquor, although didn't
SEQ either drink they were both apparently
on friendly terms; noticed no gestures on
the part Of Bell as be approached Norris;
Bell was evidently disposed to make up; Bell
was coming towards the store when he said,
Il will fight him If he comes after me-" that
was the only expression heard; / stood in
the store door aud heard and saw all that
passed. r.s e.;ya5e- .i $50. 49,
Rufus Perry. for State, was the next wit
ness. He testified: On the 9th Of Novem-
Der had been from home; returned about Al
o'clock; saw Bell and Norris disputing; the
fence was between them; Bell came to me and
said, "Dr. Wilmer gave Norris twenty-five
dollars for breakfast" and then said some
thing about Norris pocketiug it; Bell then
went back to the fence where Norris was and
they disputed; Norris started towards bis house
and Bell started to follow; Norris ordered him
not to come; Bell said be would 60 on bis
good behavior, both moved on, Bell walking
moderately, Norris very fast; Norris went
into his house and came out with gun IN
bis hands and ordered Bell to halt; be said it
be (Bell) advanced any further be would shoot
him; Bell did halt and they seemed to disput'
for Eve minutes; Norris then sent the gun
back to the house, Bell then advanced close
to Norris and they talked together in very
low tone for FIVE minutes; Immediately after
wards Bell came back towards the store, talk
ing violently and gesticulating as if be was an
cry with some one; Bell said any man who did
lso-aod-so) was id son OF BIB; Norris
demanded what be said; Bell con-
tinued towards the store; Norris went back
into the house and came out immediately; saw
him run something into his bosom; he then
pursued Bell; Bell got to the road first and
attempted to come to the store; Pa told him
if they were going to fight, they must end it
in the road; Bell then threw down small
stick, which he had on bis shoulder with
small bundle on it, and walked into the road;
the moment be got there Norris walked d.
rectly up to him. pulled his pistol out Of his
bosom and fred at him. killed him, then turn
ed and walked home again; Bell then called
my father apd we both walked down there;
he was then on the ground; laid himself down;
be didn't fall; the ball struck him just under
the navel; supposed he lived thirty minutes;
went back to the store aud saw Norris COM
ing again towards the store; we shut the door
and refused to let him 10; after short time
Pa let him in; one of US said, ''You have killed
that poor fellow down there and we are al
most afraid to let you in" be said "If
didn't kill him / intended to-" examined
him but found no arms.
Cross examiued-Bell and Norris were both
at the store that morning; left about P. NJ;
saw them take drink together; Norris Offer
ed no objection to bis being searched; wanted
US to take off all his clothes; he didn't seem a,
all frightened; staid 10 the store about Eve
minutes do not drink; he started up the
road Immediately after we advised him to -
10 Smoot 1.-THE officer: Norris did not say that
Bell had knife in his hand; saw Bell pu:
down bis stick and bundle; in the store Nor
ris said "If have not killed Bell Intended
to do it, did not think him excited; was
cool as usual; closed the door for fear he
might shoot me; had dispute with him
myself previously; when Norris went after the
gun, I, from curiosity, went up on tue bill
after Bell laid down his bundle he advanced
towards Norris in friendly way; if Bell said
anything did not hear it; after Norris came
to the store don't think father left me until
Norris left. T4
Redirect examination-I am not positively
certain that father staid 10 the store with me