Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-11-10
LATER. The murder of James J. Norris

LATER. Inc mufuer OF James u. MOTIFS
at Bradley, Friday night, caused great excite
ment in this vicinity. The victim was found
Saturday morning lying some twenty feet
from the path leading from the mill to the
boarding house. His throat was cut from
ear to ear, a frghtful wound on the back of
the head at the base of the brain, another
over the left eye, and one near the left ear,
either of which would have caused death.
Mr.. Norris, who lived at the boarding house,
was in the habit of going to the Office even
ings, sometimes working late and as he was
returning from the Office this night the muir
derer attacked him near an old vacant house,
where he accomplished his bloody work.
Everything of value was removed from his
person, and the murderer took his keys,
went to the Office, opened the safe, secured
about $1,000 and made his escape. just
s37l.34 of this money belonged to Messrs.
Cutler & Eddy, proprietors of the mill where
Mr.. Norris was foreman, and the balance to
the town of Bradley, Mr.. Norris being col
lector and treasurer After taking the money
the murderer threw the keys away, and it
was necessary to get machinist to open the
safe.
Frenchman named Joseph Bouleau was
arrested Saturday morning on the train at
Newport on suspicion, and brought to this
city, where sufficient evidence was found on
his person to convict him. His clothes were
stained with blood in several places, and one
rubber, which he wore over his boots, had
a large spot of blood on it. A small leather
wallet, containing some sixty dollars, was
found in his pants pocket, and some thirteen
dollars in his vest pocket. The wallet also
contained a slip cut from newspaper, an
nouncing the marriage of the victims son,
Mr.. Charles Norris, now residing out west;
also a slip upon which was written the names
and dates OF birth Of several members of the
Norris family. A plan of the town Bradley
was also found in his possession-one that
Mr.. Eddy is able to identify as one always
kept in their safe. Bouleau talks but little
and has no regard for truth when answering
questions, and is trying to make officers think
that he knows nothing about the affair He
has been employed about the mill for some
two years, off an on. Among the citizens
of Bradley he has the reputation of being a
desperate character.
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 refuse mill wood is
burned. that night. These trunks which
were checked for Portland, were returned
this morning, and contain nothing of impor-
lance. As nearly all the money taken is
missing it is thought that other parties must
be implicated in the affair, and it is under
stood that other Frenchmen went on the same
train bound for Quebec.
The axe with which the murder was COM
mitted was found in the mill-pond this after
noon with blood stains still on it. The axe
has been identified as the one stolen from
the mill last Wednesday 1t is now in the
possession of the coroner, who is holding an
inquest.
The victim, Mr.. Norris, was sixty years
old and highly respected by all who knew
him. He has five sons who are all out west.
City Marshal Reed has returned from Brad
ley and states that the wallet found upon the
prisoner and taken to Bradley by him (Reed)
was Immediately identified by parties there
as the one carried by Mr.. Norris.