The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-04-17
nGIp FOR TRIAL.
Preliminary Hearing before Justice
Priest.
MICAH W. NORTON COMMITTED TO
NoRRrDGEwocK JAIL
DECISION RESERVED on MOTION TO
ADMIT TO BAIL.

W. Norton for murder came off before
Trial Justice Priest of Skowhegan, com
mencing Friday noon. The hearing TOOK
place in Columbian Hall In North New
Portland village, and 1t was crowded to
repletion.
Acting County Attorney S. w. Gould
appeared for the State and j. j. Parlin
Esq and Hon. s. j. Walton for the
defendant. Defects In the warrant caused
some delay. Norton pleaded not guilty
He appeared calm, but was observed to be
somewhat uneasy, as Attorney Gould, In
opening the case, set forth what the
State hoped to prove. The State caiue ed
that the woman had said she knew euoueh
about Norton to send him to prison for
life, and that the motive for the crime
was Norton's desire to destroy all evil
dence Of his past acts of criminal nature.
A. s. Page was the first witness. He
only changed his testimony from that
given Wednesday by admitting that he
once heard the Cooley woman, standing
In the door of Norton's house, cry out
murder" He had been present several
times when Norton aud the woman had
quarrelled.
Laura Page, wife of the last witness,
testified that she was called Monday by
Norton. She heard Norton say, while at
the bedside of the dying woman: "Well,
girl, you are most through" She had heard
the Cooley woman, on one occasion, some
time ago, cry "murder" three times In
succession while standing in Norton's
door.
DIR. Andrews gave an account of the
holding Of the autopsy on the body of
Mrs. Cooley. In his judgment, pistol
pressed against the head and discharged
would fracture the skull, so that the pow
der would penetrate the cranal cavity.
He saw no powder In the cavity and but
slight indications of powder on the sur
face of the wound.
DR.. Bennett coincided with DR.. An
drews as regards the powder In the
wound. He called to see Mrs. Cooley
last Friday. She complained that her
head and back ached. He heard a wran-
gle between Norton and the woman about
Norton's throwing her on the town. Nor
ton said she could take care of herself.
This conversation was objected to by
the defense.
L. H. Moulton, selectman of the town,
said he called on Mrs. Cooley two weeks
1t was a hard thing for Norton to throw
her on the town, but she would ask no
favors of them and could take care Of
herself. She said she knew enough about
Norton to put him where the dogs would
not bark at him. When she left there,
Norton would go to prison for life. The
witness was going to state that she told
him that Norton was the cause of a
Frenchman's death several years ago, but
the defense objected. Pending the de.
cision of the court, as to Its being admit
ted, the court adjourned until Saturday
at 8 a. m.
The hearing in the case was continued
Saturday. L. H. Moulton, selectman of
this to wn, who was on the stand at ad-
der examination this morning He said:
Mr.. Norton told me that Marin Cooley
threw a stove cover at his head, which he
dedged. The cover struck the wall, max
ing large dent. Mrs. Cooley said she
wouldn't go away till Mike was put where
the dogs wouldn't bark at him. AT this
time Norton said to Mrs. Cooley in Moul-
toms presence; "Why don't you say some
thing about the Frenchman and the 20
pound baby you said l burned?" Mrs.
Cooley replied. II didn't say it weighed 20
pounds, but Micah Norton you know every
word said about that is true "
The defence intYposed an objection as to
the admissHbil,ty of such evidence; ques-
ton excluded
Attorney Gould: "How about the baby
.h:. ,ses ha,rnad2"
Objectt to, but by the court admitted.
Mrs. Cooley said Norton stlnngled the ba-
by, continued the witness, and burned il;
that he dared not turn her away. Norton
said she stole 500 from a trunk when he
was away. Norton said that he would
have to marry the daughter to get rid of
the mother. Moullon would not take Mrs.
Cooley as a town charge unless she assent
ed.
Melvin A. Burns testified: Have known
Norton since I WAS small child; have
known of alterations betw cen Norton and
Mrs Cooley. l was going by year ago
last October; Norton called her hard
name several times; this was at home; she
replied that he could not prove what he
said, for she had not been intimate with
any man but him. Norton repeated the
hard names and Mrs. Cooley cried out:
"For Gods sake, don't stab me-"
was in the bushes at tue edge of the
road; called Warren Page to come to
where was and listen. He came and list
ened II while.
Cross examined: Married Mrs. Cooley's
daughter. Didn't see either at the time,
but they mus have been i'll the middle
room on the north side of the house Did
not investigate.
Warren Page: I heard the testimony of
tn 9 last witness; remember the occasion he
l,or
thing in particular at that time; Burns was
about five or six rods from the house;
was going to my brothers.; this was about
sunset.
Mary A. Burns, wife of Melvin A. Burns
and daughter of Mrs. Cooley; testified;
Lived two years at Norton's: my brother
was there ut the time. l left there about
three years ago; left in the spring: remem-
Der of trouble short time before left,
between Norton and mother: Norton
threatened to kick her out Of doors. Re
member q time when 1 was there that
My mother called my brother and myself
TO her bedside during the day. She said ;
II am very sick, and don't know as l
shall ever get WE'LL
Then she told US that she had become q
mother during the night. aud that Mr..
Norton choked the child to death. Said
Norton arst put the dead child In bed
with her to which she objected, that he
then put 1t in closet and fterwardtook 1t
out and burned IT,.
REORGANIZATION First told this to
my husbai since my mothers death.
Had never spoken to him alb nut 1t before.
Testified at coroner's inquest. Did not
tell this then. Did not remember this at
the inquest. Mother told me that she
had the baby clothes that she had made
This was two weeks ago. She did not
tell me where she kept them. 1t was in
the winter that the child was born. l
cannot remember that mother said any
more than what / have stated, at that
time. She told me two weeks ago that
she kept the baby clothes in trunk down
stairs.
Redirect: Mother showed me the baby
clothes.
The box of baby clothes was produced
by the State. Witness Identified same.
Witness continued: Heard some CONVEX
sation between DR.. Tarbell and mother,
one time at Brown & Hilton's hotel, North
Arson.
Forrest D. Cooley Formerly lived with
my mother at Norton's; left two years
ago heard my sister testify; remember