The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-18
BOB NORTON IN JAIL.
THE SLAYER OF THE BIRDS SUR
RENDERS TO SEEGIFF ROMAN.

Norton's Story o. ais Life Since the
July Tregedy-He was Studying Den
tistry in San Francisco When He
Received the News of His Indictment
in Efangham County and Started at
Once for Home-He is Silent About
the Killing.
Robert G. Norton, Jr., the slayer OF the
Bard boys in bingham county. on July II
last. surrendered to Sheriff Roman night
before last.
There was not more surprised man in
Savannah than Sheriff Roman, when on
answering the jail bell after II o'clock, he
found himself confronted by Norton, who
announced his intention of giving himself
up. Norton was accompanied by his
father, DR.. r. G. Norton, and Cecil Berrien,
an intimate friend of the Norton family.
A MORNING NEWS reporter saw Norton
in his cell last night " bile he is much
thinner than before the murder was com
mitted, Norton said he was enjoying excel
lent health, and that his worn appearance
was dse to a severe attack Of malarial fever
about month ago. Norton positively de-
clined to discuss lis crime, saying that he
was guilty of nothing, and was satisfied
that after a fair trial he would come out
all right.
SILENT ABOUT THE MURDER.
To an inquiry by the reporter if he in
tended to convey, by saying that he was
not guilty of any crime. the Idea that ne
had killed the Bird boys in self-defense
Norton seemed much annoyed, and al
swered: Il have nothing to say one way or
another, except as | said before, am guilt
less of 4c-lme."
Norton however, was willing enough TO
talk of everything that has TRANSFERRED re-
garding himself since the crime was COM
United.
~ staid in Effingham," he said, ''for
month after the trouble, and slept in my
house on the farm every night. After that
I went west to California, and took course
in dentistry at the University of California
in San Francisco AS soon rs | learned
that had been indicted for the murder of
the Birds started for home, with the in
tention of surrendering myself 20 the au-
thoritieS here, feeling that the peoples
minds had become settled, and that | would
be given a fair showing.
THE RETURN HOME.
81 arrived in the city Sunday night, and
went ut once to the house OF friend, and,
after stopping there while, went 20 my
fathers and sent for my attorney, Judge
1
came to the Jail, accompanied by my
father and Mr.. Berrien. and surrendered to
Sheriff Roman.
Gas soon as Judge Falligant returns, my
counsel will make application for bail, and
hope to have the same granted"
ANY ellusion to the murder was adroitly
avoided by Norton, and he was very care
full not TO commit himself
Norton has quite a genteel appearance,
hn know al
would accuse him of the great crime with
which he stands charged, Although he said
he was only % years Of age, person
would take him to be much older. He spoke
in a slow, measured tone, as if he were
weighing every word uttered.
When asked if he intended to apply for
change of venue, Norton said that the mat
ter was entirely with his counsel, and he
had nothing to do with it.
NoRToNs FATHER TALKS.
DIR. R. G. Norton said last night to a
MORNING News reporter: Yes, Bob has
COM back and has given himself up for
Irial' just MS he intended doing all the time.
he would have given himself up Just after
the killing occurred had not the people in
Ethngham county been so excited over the
affair that it would have been unsafe for
him TO have done 80. 1t is almost certain
that he would have been killed or some one
else would. lie stayed some time in
Effingham county after the affair
and his whereabouts were known to bis
friends. He did just what was best in
coming back here and giving himself I'D.
| have evidence that will show that the
Birds went there with the intention of
forcing him to give back the mule, whether
he was willing or not, and that they stated
what they intended doing to parties while
on their way there. | can also prove that
Bob's life was in danger in Efingham
county after the shooting"
YOUNG NoRToN's COUNSEL
DR.. Norton said his sons counsel are
Denmark, Adams d Adams, ]. G. & d. II.
Clark and II. E. Wilson. Capt. Clark and
Judge Adams were In consultation with
Norton at the Jail yesterday. The case will
come up for trial at the next term of Eff
fingham superior court, which convenes the
second Monday in May.