The Somerset reporter., 1890-10-02
The Norton Trial

mlcdH W. NoTtOn OF new Portland was
brought down from the jail at Norridge.
wock Monday, by Deputy Sheriff Mitchell
and arragned upon the Indictment found
against him by the grand jury, for the
murder Of Mrs. Ann Cooley,
Previous to his arraignment upon this
Indictment, County Attorney Danforth
presented an indictment found against
Norton for exhibiting obscene pictures
The defense demurred to this lndictmen,
and the court reserved his decision.
Micah W. Norton upon arraignment
pleaded mot guilty. and then the worl
of empaneling the jury to try the cause
WAS entered upon.
The court explained quite fully the con
ditions that disqualify jurors in crimina
causes, and each juror as he was callet
was sworn to make true answer to tn,
interrogatories made by the court or By
his order.
A. b. Eaton of Cornville, Joseph A
Page Of Ripley, George S. Stevens O.
Smithheld, John N. Brown of Canaan
Owen b. Taylor Of Norridgewock, l.. j
Berry OF Anson, Stilman A. Walker O
Embden, Rodney Jones Of Fairfield
Harlow p, Merrill OF Norridgewock, Har
rison Salley of Madison, were several,
challenged by the defense.
L. W. Hanson Of Palmyra, Greenleai
c. Davenport of Brighton, William Par
sons of New Portland. we're challenge,
by the State. Mr.. Parsons asked to b.
excused on account OF being a townsmaI
Of the defendant, but the court decline,
to excuse him.
The jurors accepted and sworn Mon
day were Lewis G. Baker of Moscow
John X. Webb Of Skowhegan, Henry 4
Thompson of Starks, Orin L, Libby o
Detroit, Albert l. Sylvester of Pittsfeld
John Goodwin Of Hartland and Samue
Chapman Of Athens.
The jurors excused ny the Court, BY
teison Of having formed an opinion tina
was ruled by the court tc disquIlify them
were Norris E. Bray OF Concord, J. +
Lyford OF St. Albans, Wallace L. Marbl
OF Harmony, Fred A. Dinsnore of Anso
and Benjamin X. Snow of Skowhegan.
| The list Of jurymen being exhaus sted 4
empannelling seven of the twelve tn
court ordered the clerk to issue venire
for twenty-four jurymen, to report at tn
court room Tuesday morning at 0 o'cloc
| 7nf5Iay, Sept .3o.-Court opened at min
o'clock A. NJ. and at about half past nine tn
empanelling Of the jury was again taken VI
OF the twenty-four new jurymen, summonc
to appear in court, large number disqualic
themselves, by admitting that they had such
bias or prejudice as would prevent them frol
rendering true verdict according to the la
and the evidence given them. A few wei
challenged by the defendants counsel an
one by the States counsel.O OF the whole twent,
four, only four proved to be qualified, thu
still leaving the panel one juror short. III
court then directed the sheriff to rctur
talesmen from the bystanders until one MOI
juror was procured. Ten names were calle
| before "No.I2" was found. When the cou
directed the last juror to be sworn, quite
stir took place in the court room, as thoug
the audience realized that difficult task ha
at last been accomplished. At Ills o'clocl
by request of defendants counsel, the coul
adjourned until two, afternoon, when NJ
Danforth made the opening argument for tn
State. The names of the five Jurors, VIII
were sworn in this forenoon and took the
places upon the panel, are as follows:
A. Whitney, Madison; e. N. Rolfe, Pitt,
field; Prescott A. Smith, Norridgewock
Ilewellyn Howe, Fairfield; II. A. Archie
Skowhegan. Orin L. Libby was apponte
foreman.
County Attorney Danforth opened tn
case for the State in an able, concise argu
ment, which we use in part as follows:
About seven years ago Mrs. Cooley went
NoIton's to live. He took her from the tow
| Of Bingham Poor Farm. She lived with hir
in the capacity Of housekeeper, he having n
family OF his own at home. At that time the
were living in house in from the road leadin
from New Portland to Lexington.
| Norton was wealthy farmer and drover dc
ing quite large business with the citizens
New Portland and surrounding towns in tn
purchase and exchange Of various kinds c
stock. For about three years time they r.
mained at the house across the swamp.
| In about two years after Anna Cooley we1
to Norton's to live, her daughter May followe
her. The following fall her son LaForrest ais
became a member Of Norton's family. In tn
fall of 1886 it became evident not only to Nj
Norton and Mrs. Cooley, but also to the neigh
| ley was pregnant.
We shall show by quite number Of witness
es Mrs. Cooley's condition and appearance dul
ing the fall and early winter OF 1885. We sha
show by the dress maker who made her dresse
and had been in the habit of making drssss
from time to time for Mrs. Cooley that ther
was great change in her size and form.
And during the same fall she made all tn
preparations, by the way, of clothing that wer
necessary for the advent Of the little stranger
We shall show to you lady who had been il
the habit Of nursing in cases Of child birth tina
Mrs. Cooley made an arrangement wit
her in the presence Of Mr.. Norton to attend he
service would be required about the middle @
January, 1887; that afterwards this lady in
formed Mrs. Cooley that she was going away :
be gone time and Mrs. Cooley was so mucl
grieved that she cried, and said she didn't kno,
who she could get TO be with her and finally tn
nurse consented to return in season to be presen
at the time referred to. We shall be able Il
and appearance that she was pregnant beyon,
any question Of doubt.
There is probably no doubt but Mrs. Cooley 4
sometimes realized her position and feeling th
shame and disgrace that would rest upon he
and wishing to put of the time when the discov
cry Of the actual facts should be made known
endeavored to give some persons to uuderstane
that she was troubled with dropsy. And still
further than all this we are able to show BY thu
declarations Of the prisoner himself, made q,
that time, that Mrs. Cooley was in . family
way.
In the latter part OF the month Of November
or the early part Of December, Norton moved
from the house In which he had been living uu
to the Peter Salisbury place. The house was 4
more oommodious one than the old one tha,
they had just left, there being upon the ground
floor parlor, parlor bedroom, sitting room and
kitchen, and one room finished up stairs, When
FIRST moving into the house, Mrs. Cooley and
her daughter May who was then child Of about
a years, occupied the parlos bedroom. Mr..
Norton used the P.rlor q slseping room and
Forrest The son Of NJ. Cooley slept up stairs.
NJ Nnrton nnA likimw the aleen;nw .,,.r..