The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-20
probably fifteen or twenty minutes after
receiving his wounds
MRS NoRTON's STATEMENT.

receiving ms WOUNDS.
MRS. SoRToS's STATEMENT.
Mrs Norton's statement, as Lawyer
Clark detailed it III substance 70 a MORSING
News reporter, is that about 10 o'clock or
the morning of the killing she aud bel
husband were sitting in the front room
when she saw the dog cart coming up the
road with two men in it, and she asked hel
husband who they were. He replied that Il
was the Birds, with whom he had traded
mules. The cart stopped at the gate, and
Willie Bird called her husband out,
and when he went down to the gatS
Willie Bird said they had come T.
rue back Norton replied that that would
be child's play. He said "a trade Is a
trade" and he wouldn't rue back, but that
il be had done wrong there were two WAYS
TO get the mule back. One way was to e
TO law, and the other was to pay him what
he considered the difference in the value OF
the mule
Willie Bird replied that they were law
yers enough themselves and could settle the
question, and, turning 70 John, he told him
to take the mule out Of the harness and pat
him in the lot and take their mule out OF
the stable.
LOCKED UP THE MULE.
At this point Mrs. Norton aays she, hav-
ing overheard the conversation, slipped out
the back way and reached the stable before
John Bird did, and locked the s5abls door,
putting the key in her pocket. Shortly
after her husband and Willie Bird came to
the lot together, and, as there
was a great deal of acrimonious
talk and profane language, she
ordered the Birds TO leave the premises.
Willie Bird apologiZed for the language,
but wouldn't leave. About that time
Willie, having ordered John to go aud force
open the stable door, drew his revolver and
showed it at Bob. Mrs. Norton stepped
between them, Bob backing off. She sug-
gested that Blsnton be sent for, and started
the colored boy off, ard John Bird fol-
lowed. Norton left the lot, going TO
the house, and Mrs. Norton finally persuaded
Willie Bird to leave the lot. By the time
John and Habersham had returned Norton
had returned to the lot with his shotgun,
and John, Willie and the colored boy all
came back, Willie saying to his brother,
"You break down the door and get the mule,
aud III take care of Bob" Willie then be-
gan to advance upon Norton, with pistol
drawn, Mrs. Norton between them, until
Norton had been forced into the corner of
the worm fence, when he stepped sside and
shot Willie, the load barely missing Mrs.
Norton. Willie fell, his pistol flying out of
his hand in the fall, when John Bird de-
manded, "Whar did you shoot my brother
for" and began to advance on Norton. who
shot him down.
BIRDS PISTOL NEAR BY.
A pistol, identified as the property of
Willie Bird, was found a few feet from
where he lay but it is claimed by the
friends Of Bird that it does not follow that
he had drawn the weapon because it was
found conveniently by.
Col. Bird says that his nephew Willie
was what is known as "woods rider" in
the turpentine farm, and all woods riders
go armed, but the young man had never
used weapon. OF John Bird the uncle
says that he never carried pistol and did
not have as much rs a penknife with him
at the time of the tragedy and that he was
proverbally quiet and peaceable man.
Col. Bird, while in the city yesterday,
presented the check given his nephew by
Norton at the Southern Bank, and was in
formed that the drawer of the check has
not now and has never had any
funds in that bank to his credit.
The claim is made that there was
an understanding between father and son
that the mule trade could be made, and the
father would honor a draft for which the
check was intended.
COL. BIRDS VISIT TO SAVANNAH.
The object of Col Birds visit to the CITY
was to consult with Solicitor General Fraser
as to holding the witness Habersham, as the
fear was entertained that he would be
bonded out and sent away, no being the
only eyewitness who can testify in the trial
Of young Norton. Col. Bird was also look
ing for detective to aid in the apprehen-
sion Of the fugitive, for whom reward
has been offered.
Col Clark, counsel for Norton, says
there is no use Of employing detectives and
offering a reward. Col Clark saws Young
Norton will be surrendered and no reward
viii be claimed, but it is not proposed to do 50
until the excitement has subsidized when a
preliminary examination will be had before
a bench of magistrates who will visit the
scene Of the shooting with the witness
Habersham. Col. Clark says that it is not
true that young Norton visited Savannah
after the shooting, nor does Col Clark be-
lieve that when all the facts are brought out
at the examination the accused will be held
for murder
1t was learned from Col Clark that when
assured that a warrant had been issued that
the officer to whom it was directed was in
formed by one of Norton's counsel that he
need not give himself any uneasiness about
the escape of their client, as he would not
leave the state, but would be forthcoming
for an examination. 1t is thought that one
VIII Dc nad on TUESDAY or Wednesday OF
this week.
DIR. NoRToN's STATEMENT.
DR., r. G. Norton returned from his
plantation yesterday afternoon. A MORN
ING NEWS reporter saw him last night. DR..
Norton said he did not care to make
any statement of his version of the
affair He did wish, however, to correct
certain misstatements, which, he said,
placed his son in false light.
Young Norton, he said, bad not
wronged the Birds in a trade, had not acted
overbearingly toward them, and only used
deadly weapons as last resort. Young
Norton gave the Birds a check for sos,
which, he said. was good at the bank, and
the young man did not propose to be driven
from his rights. He told the Birds to get a
possessory warrant and take the mule, and
that was the only way they could get get it.
THE CHECK.