The daily gazette., 1880-07-19
Norris Pass Again.
ARRESTED IN NEW YORK, AT THE
INSTANCE OF A WOMAN CLAIM
ING TO BE HIS WIFE.

ARRESTED IN NEW YORK, AT THE
INSTANCE OF A WOMAN CLAIM
ING TO BE HIS WIFE.
Norris q. Pass, who is we'll known
in this city, from variety Of unlaw-
full acts that marred a once bright
and promising life, again claims
public attention by reason Of his
arrest in New York city, on Satur-
day, for desertion from the regular
army. He was informed on by q
woman claiming to be his wife, but
who cannot be, as Pass has a wife
who, with her child, resides in this
city.
Pass career has been an eventful
one. He was raised in this city,
went to school here, proved an apt
scholar, gained an entrance into
first-class society, and was regarded
as a rising young man. He married
an estimable lady, the wedding be-
ing celebrated with great eelat in a
fashionable church, and afterwards
removed to New Orleans to accept
an important clerical position that
had been rendered him.
ouG III NoW OIlOtuo uC lClt lubO
hard drinking and soon became so
devilish that his wife had to leave
him and seek refuge among some
relatives in New York. Pass fol-
lowed her there, and one day he
stole their little boy, Robert Lee
Pass, and actually attempted to sell
him. For this offence he was arrest
ed, but his wife not appearing
against him he was released.
Meanwhile he had enlisted on
July 3, 1878, for term of five years,
and was transferred to Battery M,
Second Artillery, from which he de-
serted after serving four months. On
May 8, 1879, he came to Whining
ton, his wife having removed here,
and going to her house he made an-
other attempt to steal the boy. For
this he was arrested and Mayor ALL
mond fined him SIS and held him
under a $1,000 peace bond. When
the Mayor got through with him
Marshal McMullen held him for sew
eral days on the charge of desertiOn,
but the government authorities TAX
ing no steps in the matter he was re-
leased.
He then went to New York, where,
by reason of his ability and good ad-
dress, he readily obtained employment
as clerk in the freight department OF
the Erie Railway, in which capacity
he gave perfect satisfaction to the COM
pany and won the confidence and good
will of his fellow clerks in the Office.
He had been successful in eluding
the vigilance of the military authori-
ties until August, 1879, when his hid
ing-place was betrayed by a woman
signing her name as Mrs. Pass. WHO
addressed letter to General Hancock
at Governors Island, stating that her
husband, Norris @. Pass, was a de-
serter from the service of the United
States, and begging that measures
should be instituted to take him into
custody. The writer ASSIGNED as her
reasons for this step that Pass treated
her with such brutality that she was in
constant terror of bodily harm, and Of
ten feared for her life. She implored
The General to send strong force to
arrest the culprit, intimating that he
was desperate man, and would resist
to the last extremity. The letter was
referred to the commandant Of the
garrison with instructions to iIvesti-
gate the case, and if it appeared that
the man was deserter, to take meas
ures to effect his arrest, Upon inquiry
the woman's statement was verified.
Some friend warned Pass of his peril,
and he escaped to Philadelphia.
Subsequently Pass returned to his
New York position, when the reputed
Mrs. Pass again communicated with
the authorities and he was arrested
and taken to Governors Island. The
woman said if he would marry her she
would try to intercede with Gen. Han
cock for him but Pass said he would
'see her in hell first" He will have
to stand court-martial for desertion.