The daily gazette., 1877-05-31
The Maryland Horror.
EXCITEMENT AT ANNAPOLIS.
The Husband Of Mrs. Norfolk Committed TO
Jdn-A Woman Said TO be at the Bot
TOM Of the Cdse-A Probable
pfeQ Of Insanity.

TIE Husband Of Mrs. Norfolk Committed TO
Jdh-A Woman, Said to be at the Bot
tom Of The Cdse-A Probable
Plea of Insanity.
ANNAPOLIS, May 29.-The shocking
murder of Mrs. Sarah Norfolk has caused
thrill Of horror throughout this commu-
nifty. A realization of the enormity of
the crime eliminated this morning when
1t was announced that her husband, Hem
ry Norfolk, had been apprehended aud
lodged in our cJuLty jail, sufficient evil
dence having been brought before the
coroner's inquest to justify his arrest as
the supposed brutal murderer of his in
nocent wife. He occupies the northeast
room on the second floor of the Jail, and
is unironed. Five other prisoners are in
the same room. He is about five feet
nine inches in height, medium build,
dark complexion and hair, rough, coarse
and cold features, aud bears himself
with the utmost stolidity. Additional
particulars point with almost unerring
finger to Norfolk as the cold blooded
murderer. He had been repairing a
fence, and about noon on Saturday re-
turned home and inquired for his wife,
and asked Mr.. James III. Stallings and
his wife TO go up the meadow-road to-
ward the tobacco-bed, while he himself
skirted the woods. Mr.. Stallings found
the body, face downward, with her head
resting on her arm. The basket of salad
had wilted, indicating that it had been
ga hered at an early hour. They report
cd the fact to Norfolk, but he appeared
unwilling to repair to the scene. When
finally he confronted the horrid spectacle
of his murdered wife, with her head bat
tered to a shapeless mass, he betrayed
not the least emotion. An inquest was
Immediately begun. Norfolk could only
give satisfactory account for about an
hour Of his time from leaving his home
at to his return 1T noon. He sad he
had been cutting poles to mend fence,
which occupied about forty five minutes
admitted that he cut the poles with the
axe which is now in possession of Sheriff
Nutwell, and the tracings of the gaps in
the poles cut and the club, with which
the unfortunate woman was battered 10
death eorresponded exactly.
On Friday, the day previous to the
murder, while Mr.. Stallings and Norfolk
were at the tobacco-bed, where the body
was found, the prisoner asked Mr.. Stall
ings would he take care of his young
babe if his wife should die, and then
said 'tWe are here alone if should
kill you do you think any one would
ever find out that did it ?" 1t is said
that the prisoners mother remarked
about three months ago that she thought
her son was going crazy. At the funeral
he appeared perfectly callous, and did
not go into the church until reminded of
the impropriety of his conduct. Spots
like blood were discovered upon his shoes
and pants, and they have been sent to
Professor Aiken for analysis. During
the investigation Norfolk asked the Off
Gers TO arrest two negroes who had been
working in a field about one hundred
and fifty yards from the clearing, but
there were no circumstances to indicate
that they were guilty, The tobacco bed
was in the middle Of large clearing, aud
dry leaves were lying thickly on the
ground. 1t is evident that the doomed
woman could have heard any one ap-
preaching from any direction. Had an
other than her husband approached her
with club, she would doubtless have
cried out aud attracted the attention OF
those working near. The plea of insani-
ty may form a feature in the forthcoming
trial, but it is darkly rumored in the
neighborhood of the atrocious crime that
there Is woman at the bottom of the
tragedy. The prisoner has retained Jas
Revell and S. Thomas Mccullough as
couDSel