Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-04-12
MAINE DISPATCHES.
Hearing Of 1icah ". Norton Suspected
Of HuideriDs Irs. Cooley.
He Pleads Not Guilty "-sensational
Dsve.opsmsnts Promised.

NORTH NEw PORTLAND. April 1.-THE
hearing in the case of State vs. Norton for
murder. began At noon before Judge q. A.
Prizes, Of Skowbegsn. Acting County At
torney s. W Gould appeared for the State
and j. ], Psrln aud Hon. 8. J. Walton
for the defendant. A defect in the warrant
caused some delay. Norton plead not
guilty. He appeared calm bu. vas observed
he was somewhAt uneasy as atto rney
q luld IN opening the case set forth what
the State hoped 10 prove. The State claims
that he woman had said she knew enough
about Norton TO send him to prison for
ufe; that the motive for the crime va.
Norton's desire to destroy all evidence Of
his past acts of . criminal nature.
q. \. Page, the ffst witness, only
changed his testimony from that he gave
Wedns nssdsy by admitting he once heard the
Cooley woman. standing in the door of Nor
tons hou'e. cry out murder" Had been
present several times when Norton snd the
woman quarrelled. Heard Norton tell her
he wanted her to leave. She replied that
she would NOT.
dkts " 'ic VI INC Iaet "ithVss, tSe-
fed that she WAS called Monday by Norton.
Heard Norton say ~hie at the bedside Of
he dying woman, well, girl. you are
about though" Heard the Cooley woman.
On one occasion. some time sgo cry "mur-
der" three times in succession, while
standing in Norton's door. Mrs. Cooley
wardrobe was large and good. and had bet
ter clo.hes than any average woman in
town.
DR.. Andrews gave account Of holding an
sutnpsy on the body Of Mrs. Cooley. In
his Judgement pistol pressed sg.inst the
head and discharged wonld fracture the
skull so the powder would penetrate the
cavity He saw no powder in the cavity
aud but slight Ddcations Of powder on the
surfsce Of the wound.
DR.. Bennett conceded with Andrews a.
regards po~d in the wound. He called
10 zee Mrs Cooley last Friday week. Shs
complained Of head and back ache aud
cor stipation. lie heard q wrangle between
Norton and the woman, about Norton's
throw irg her on the town. Norton said
she could take are of herself. This con-
verss,ion was obi jected to by the defense.
l.. II. Moulton, seleciman of the town.
said he called on Mrs Cooley two weeks
ago to see about keeping her. She said il
was hard thirg for Norton to throw her
on the ,osn but she would ask no iavors OF
them She could take care of herself aud
she said she knew enough about Norton 10
put him where dogs would not bark at him
W hen she left there Norton would go to
prison for life. Witness was asked t. sta;e
II she told him Norton WAS the cause Of the
trenchman's death several yesrs ago, but
he defense objected, and pending the de-
ci.ion a. to its being admitted he court ad
journed until Saturday At . A. NJ.
Ctosds are coming into town and the ex
citement is at a high pitch. Startling
developments are promised for tomorrow
feo lle ID this section will be surprised al
Jh, facts to come out, SAYS an tfiicer in the
way to know. Sheriff Vaughan ard fOul
deputies are present ~ rumors OF roubl-
| abe al are rife.