The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-24

small boy he had always given his wages
to his mother, but somehow he had al
ways been unfortunate in not being able
to get along agreeably with his employers,
and year or two previous to killing
Norvell he had a difficulty with planter
named Thomas Ration, and shot at him
with intent to kill, but missed him. His
trial indicated selfdefense as the cause,
and he was acquitted. These statements
were confirmed by Sheriff Warden, who
had known him nearly all his life. In re-
gard to killing Norvell, he said the latter
had wronged him in their business deal
ing, and had swIndled him out of money
that was honestly due him /; that he went
to his house the evening of the tragedy
to again ask for 1t, as he needed some
funds to take u short trip with friend;
that he found Norvell seated near the
door, in a chair, whiting with a large,
three-inch blade pocket-knife; that when
he asked for the money Norvell flew into
apassion, and jumping up from his chair,
came toward the door, menacing him with
the knife and ordered him off thepremises,
that he ordered Norvell to halt. for if he
advanced with that knife he would kill
him; that NOrven rushed toward him
and that he retreated, running around
the house that Norvell pursued him, and
as they rsn he (CaldwelD drew pistol
from a small Sunday school satchel (he
had been to church, and was returning,
he said) and fired that Norven kept on
around the house till he reached a chair
and sank into it, and that he left the
premises and concluded to leave the
country, as he knew he would be hung if
captured, although his act was committed
in self defense. He said there was DO
use in his lying about the matter now
that he had not the least hope of eXecu-
tive clemency, and that every word he
had uttered was the truth. The testimo-
ny on the trial proved that trail of
blood around the house was such IS to
corroborate the doomed mans story, but
the location and general features of the
wound, as testified to by physicians, fully
carried out the dying statement of Nor
veil. But some of the parties who visit
ed the house shortly after the shooting
testified to finding large open
pocket knife on the floor,
which apparently corroborated Caldwell's
tale and contradicted NOrvell. The pri-
soner was ably defended on his trial. his
counsel being Ex-Governor j. w. Tnrock-
morton, Il. r. Craig and NJ. III. Garrett,
all able attorneys of the Mex inney bar.
The prosecution was conducted by Coun.
ty Attorney p. b. Muse, assisted by f. NJ.
Davidson, Esq. Norvell had the name
among his neighbOrs of being a model
citizen, quiet, inoffensive and retiring in
his habits that he had never been in
volved, to their knowledge, IN any other
trouble than the one which cost him
his life. His home circle consisted of
himself and his three children, he having
been divorced on account of domestic in
felicity from wife many years younger
than himself. She afterwards married at
TeXarkana, and on learning OF her former
husbands death, came to Mckinney after
her children, and rode from Sherman TO
Mckinney, unaffected, in the same car
with Sheriff Warden, conducting the
murderer from Missouri.
Caldwell requested that his body be
given to his uncle, well-tO-dO negro,
Loss Lindsey, to have 1t buried beside hi,
sister, about five miles north of McKll-
ney. The request was granted.