The Portland daily press., 1879-11-10
by TELEGRAPH.
SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
A Prominent Citizen of PenObscot
County Murdered.
REVENGE AND ROBBERY THE MOTIVE
OF THE CRIME.
The Supposed Perpetrator Of the Crime
in Custody.
SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
Especial Despatch to the Press.

Especial Despatch 10 iSSs.J
BANGOR, Nov. S.-Soon after o O'Clock TINS
morning the body of James J. Norris, agent OF
the mills of Cutler g. Eddy of Bradley, was
found lying by the roadside in that town. Inc
skull was crushed in and the throat cut. MI.
Norris had evidently been dead five OF SIX
hours Mr.. Norris was last seen alive about
o'clock in the evening when he left his board
ing place to go to his Office at the mil,a distance
of a quarter of q mile. 1t is supposed that he
remained there until about 9 o'clock, when he
started for his home and was waylaid by some
person lying in ambush. The weapon used by
the murderer was an axe and the blow had
been inflicted from behind.
Everything of value was removed from Mr. =.
Norris's person and the murderer took the
KEYS, went to the office, opened the safe, secur-
about $1,000 and made his escape. just S31l 81
of this money belonged to Messrs. Cutler q
Eddy. proprietors of the mill where Mr.. N or
ris was foreman, the balance was the town
of Bradley Mr.. Norris being Collector
and Treasurer. After taking the money the
murderer threw the keys away and it was nee
essary to get machinist to open the safe.
Suspicion was Immediately directed to
Frenchman named Bouleau, who bore
bad reputation and whom Mr.. Norris had re-
Gently discharged from the mill. This sus-
picion was strengthened by the fact that dur
ing the night he crossed the river to West
Great Works and took the first train in the
morning for Bangor. The station agent SAID
he wanted his baggage checked for Canada.
On the Frenchman's arrival in Bangor he took
passage on the Maine Central railroad, saying
that he was out of work and was going to
Canada Soon after he left it was decided to
arrest him and the authorities at Newport
were telegraphed to secure him at that place.
He was arrested and brought back to Bangor
and lodged in Jail.
Sufficient evidence was found on his person
to convict him. His clothes were stained with
blood in several places and one rubber had
large spot of blood on it. A small leather wal
let containing some $50 was found in his pants
pocket and some $13 in his vest pocket The
wallet also contained slips cut from news
paper announcing the marriage of the victims
son, Mr. Charles Norris, now residing out
West; also slip upon which was written the
names and dates of birth of the several mem
bers of the Norris family. A plan of the town
of Bradley was also found in his possession,
one that Mr. Eddy is able to identify as the
one always kept in their safe.
Bouleau talks but little and has nor regard
for the truth when answering questions, trying
to make the officers think he knows nothing
about the affair. He was discharged from the
mill Thursday and took two trunks away from
his boarding place Friday, claiming that he
slept beside the furnace where the refuse mill
wood was burned that night These trunks,
which were checked for Portland, were re-
turned this morning, and contain nothing OF
importance. AS nearly all the money
taken is missing it is thought
other parties must be implicated in the affair,
and it is understood that another Frenchman
went on the same train bound for Quebec. The
axe with which the murder was committed
was found in the mill pond this afternoon with
blood stains still on it. The axe has been
Wednesday. 1t is now in possession of the
coroner, who is holding an inquest.
Mr.. Norris, the victim of the murder, was
about g. years of age, and was well known and
highly respected all over Penobscot county. In
past years he had been engaged quite largely
in numbering, but several years ago failed and
retired from business on his own account
BANGOR, Nov. City Marshal Reed re-
turded from Bradley this evening and states
that the wallet found on the prisoner and taken
to Bradley by him (ReeD was Immediately
identified by parties there as the one carried
bxy Nv Norrio