The daily gazette., 1880-05-04
She Vas Cruelty Murdered.
THE TERRIBLE STORY OF SOUTHERN
CRIME THAT HAS JUST BEEN MADE

THE TERRIBLE STORY OF A SOUTHERN
CRIME THAT HAS JUST BEEN MADE
PUBLIC.
DECATUR, Ca, May 3.-The most
cruel murder Of Miss Victoria Norris is
creating the most intense excitement
Her dead body has been found, and her
murderer is now in Jail, writhing in
terrible torture lest an angry and out
ragged public will break down the Jail
doors, drag him out and lynch him. Miss
Norris was an orphan and a respectable
young woman. Sue lived on farm in
the family of James Jolly. Her nearest
relatives lived 80 miles away, John
Weaver was her lover and they were
engaged To be married William
Weaver was married farmer near by,
and he too fell in love with Miss Norris.
So did Jolly. She became alarmed and
resolved TO 60 home TO escape the very
jealous AMI angry wife OF jolly, with
whom she lived. jolly and VIM.
Weaver consented to take her TO the
railroad station In a wagon. Her truck
was loaded up and they departed. That
was the last seen of the young woman.
Her relatives were informed by some
unknown person, who signed Miss
Norris name. that she had gone to At
lauta. Her friends tried To nnd her,
but could not, Finally jolly ran away
from home. Befor be went he burned
a trunk in q brush heap. The trunk
lock and bands corresponded TO those of
Miss Norris. jolly was arrested and
brought oack here to Jail.
On the way he confessed that he
knew all about the killing of Miss
Norris, though he did not do it himself.
He promised that he would show where
her body was buried. As soon as he
was carried to his old home, he took the
officer from the house where lie said the
bones OF the murdered woman could be
found. An excited crowd at once dug
into the ground and found the remains
of the girl A coroner's jury at once held
an inquest over them and returned a
verdict that Victoria Norris had come
TO her death at the hands of james
Jolly. The entire county was then wild
with excitment. 1t was expected that
the Jail wsuid be torn open and Jolly
lynched.
jolly lay in his cell night after night
in the most horrible agonies. When he
would drop into a feverish sleep he
wo1ld scream aud wake saying that he
had seen the murdered woman in his
dreams. He began to make confessions
soon after he was put in Jail and has
made dozen not two of which cores
pond. At first he said that he left Weaver
on the road with Miss Norris and after
being gone half an hour returned TO find
the girl dying. Weaver said he had
choked her TO death in his efforts to out
rage her. He and Weaver had hastily
buried the body aud afterward had re-
moved II to where IL was found. Soon
after jolly made this statement. Weaver
was admitted to bis cell. Jolly then fell
on his knees and denied every word of
what he had just uttered. He then said
that he had tried TO ravish the young
woman; in. efforts TO slude his grasp
shehad fallen backward out of the wagon
and broken her neck. He was frightened
and buried her body as quickly as
possible. He made still. another con-
fesson To the effect that he tried to out
ragged the girl and for fear she would ,ell
he bad killed her. He now denies this.
Last weak Weaver was tried for COM
plicity in the murder. The principal
witness against him was Jolly, whose
statements were SO contradictory that
the Court ordered Wesver's discharge.
Jolly now lies in De Kalb County jail
at Decatur six miles fIom Atlanta. He
appears to be in sgonies all the while
and fears that the outraged community
Will lynch him. He will be tried in
few weeks and il there should be any
defect Of evidence sufficient TO REQUIRE
his release, there is snothlng more certain
ihan that be will be the victim Of lynch
law.