The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-14
GEO. NORRIS ON TRIAL.


crowd of eager spectators brought together
by the Morris murder trial. The case is fresh
in the minds of the public, it having been but
short time since the bloody deed was COM
mitted.
He pleaded guilty, but the plea was not &C.
cepted by the Court. When the Clerk was
calling the jurors Morris refused to stand up,
and one Of the deputy sheriffs attempted to
make blm. Morris only turned around, and
free fight ensued, in which neither party
was hurt. At 1l:3O jury had been empan-
neled. Col. S. n j. Smith appeared on be-
half of the State. and Gen. Hugh j. Campbell
tor the prisoner.
The first witness called was Coroner Lee
Blanc, who testified that he had held the in
quest on the body of Sarah JONES' whom he
found dead IN the yard of the Parish Prison.
large sized butcher knife was shown the jury
and Identified by the Coroner as the knife
shown to him at the inquest, and said to have
been the weapon used by Morris.
DR.. Schumacher was next called. He said:
held the autopsy on the body Of one Sarah
Jones, and found fourteen wounds, Of which
three were mortal, the other eleven were not
much, out the main cuts were in the neck,
abdomen and spine. 1t was ghastly sight.
Either one of those wounds would have
caused death.
Officer Larkin was next called, and his
testimony was similar to that published in
the BULLETIN of the Both of November.
Joseph Joseph, the man who kept the
house in which Sarah Jones resided, also
testified. His testimony was the same as
given at the Coroner's inquest.
When this witness had concluded, Morris
rose and stated to the Court that he was not
being treated like man, but like dog; at
the same time using obscene language
He was soon quoted, and the trial pro.
ceeded.
The next witness that testified was Jose
phine Joseph. She said: On the 3Oth day O!
November last l resided on st. Louis street.
The night before the murder, that man there
pointing to Morris] came to my house and
asked me if Sarah Jones was in. Sarah told
me not to let him in. He then demanded an
entrance en- Sarah Jones came in my room.
When he saw her he said: "Pet, come out
I only want to speak to you, as 1 am going to
leave the city tomorrow morning."
Sarah then said: "George get away, 1 do
not want to see you;" but Morris begged aud
insisted, and was about to run in my room,
when called my husband. When my hus-
band came, he asked Morris what he wanted !;
his answer was to see Sarah. He told him to
g. away and come next morning; he walked
off piece. singing 'Mollie Darling He
came back at o'clock next morning; Sarahs
friend had just got up and took the Clai-
borne car to go down town. / noticed Morris
sitting on barrel at the corner; then sent
my husband to see whether he was the man
or no."
When Sarah heard that it was Morris she
opened the door, saw it was and ran in the
s cond room. Morris then came to my door
and knocked. l came out and asked him
what he wanted; he said he wanted to see his
honey. / asked him who was his honey; he
said his darling Sarah Jones. refused him
admission, he rushed towards me, broke open
two doors and followed Sarah through the
alleyway with knife in his hand, when he
got her on the other side of the street he
commenced stabbing her.
After he had finished he sat down on the
curbstone, and tried to break his knife. He
stopped, and then cut hey throat from ear to
ear.
Questions by thu Attorney General:
Did you ask Sarah Jones who Morris
was?
A. Yes, sir. She told me that that was the
man she quit for the one she had now.
The AcuDg Attorney General then rose and
stated to the Court that the State rested its
case here, and the defense opened with Mr..
I. johnson, deputy keeper Of the Parish
Prison.
When this witness took the stand Gen.
Campbell raised the question regarding the
prisoners insanity. He also stated that the
defense would attempt to prove nothing
but it.
@ Mr. johnson, tell the jury, to the best of
your knowledge, what your conversation was
with Morris regarding this case.
Attorney General-If the Court pleases, l
object, on the ground that the Parish Prison
has got nothing to do with the evidence in
the murder trial before this court.
Gen. Campbell said: eff the court pleases,
of course the conduct OF the accused in the
prison is admissible"
The Court then said: ESQ, then, Gen.
Campbell, you wish to establish the prison.
er's insanity by his own statements"
"No, sir; but by the testimony elected
from witnesses"
let it go in; so proceed, Nh. johnson.
After Morris had pleaded guilty Mr. Fitzpat-
rick asked him If he was not crazy. Morris
said: "No, he was not that kind of man to
play crazy: he also said that he had killed |
seven, and that she, tn emurdered woman,
was going to hell and him to heaven.
Attorney General-What is the general dis |
position Of his conduct when in prison?
A. Good, always obeying orders.
u. have you ever seen anything In his &C.
lions different to that of any other prisoner?
A. No, sir.
Sidney Gill, another keeper of. the Parish
Prison, was called. He testified to Morris's
good conduct while in prison, and said that
Morris had related several circumstances of
his past life, which was in every respect cor
rect.
Mr.. Ralph Hubbard, another deputy sheriff,
made several remarks about the conduct of |
Morris. He told me, at was not woman he
would kill this time, but man."
Mr.. Delet.ng said-I am operator at the
Fourth Precinct Police Station; when the
prisoner at the bar, Geo. Morris, was brought
in the station the morning of the murder,
some one who was standing behind the pris-
oner picked up largesized butcher knife.
Prisoner said 81 That's the knife, and am not |
even sorry for it."
He asked the crowd assembled if Sarah
Jones was dead yet, and if she wasn't he
would kill her TO- morrow, or the next day.
Corporal Frei'ag-I am corporal on the
nOlic0 fOrca. On tho rnnvnipO ~ Tho onth rs