Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-10-09
THE CURTAIN DROPS
0Tsr The Scenes Of The Famous
Norton Trial.
Sentence is Deferred Til Prisoner EakS
His Will,
Thsu He 10 Doomsd to Pass Hemain-
der OF Life 10 Prison.


Especial to the Kenaebec Journal.
sKowHsGAs, Oct One week ago last
Monday he rial Of Micah Ii. Merton for
The murder of Mrs. Cooley began. Tas.
the ve-ales Of the jury il a just one, ''in
accordance with the evidence" is not ques-
tionea. Though some msy hare grave doubts
a. to Norton's guilt today, the world at
large feel that the cau,e of Anna Cooley's
death has basn satisfactorily explained, the
m, stery xhieh surrounded that fatal .ta Of
Ap-il has been cleared away. aud one of
the NEST bold. cold b.ooded, deliberate
murders ever known in Maine has been
proven and the murds rer dealt with &C
cording 10 the law in such cases Who
shall say that in the face OF what those
| Jurors on oath have swcrn, thai q crime
! has rot teen committed and the doomed
| man is Innocent For years, il is sid this
/ man led life Of crime, violating various
! statute laws, indulging io espriees unlawful
ard the fruit of a low and bratish iatellect-
! He d in fear by those whom be ebsnced
TO entrsp by financial speculation; aterr.r,
through hi. bold daring to those who love
| law 4 ordsr but who dare not complain
! from fear 4 some disastrous consequence
TO themselves; charged with arson, T
gerry, criminal assault. and other lesser
| crimes, il nee led bat this last se; of his to
| in lie the townsps ople 10 arebeliion sgainst
| ,uca tyrao nical oppression, such infamous
I cutlasry AMI crime. HIS acton 10 jail, in
! foul insul. to a child of tender years and
/ her viriuons mother, betrsys him in bis
tree character, ard ugh il perhaF s
should not come leg,l Into this case, i,
s.,i-i the public that mind that can
CO neeive such otscenity toward child,
could easil, HcjIst itself to the crime with
which he has befn charged, and now Of
which he has been convicted.
! His iron nerve as ne sat in court only
waiting for those awful words of the Ulcers
of the law that will deprive HIM of his lib
eriy forever, is remarked by all. Let no
man say that the counsel on either ride
were other than antiring in their eifors for
and against the prisoner, Ii was well sni
bard fought battle of nine days durst on.
| Emireat men in their profession defended
him. The game was played to the last
card bu, one could lose, and that one was
Norton.
At the coming in Of the court this morn
ing Judge Walton announced TO Sheriff
| Vaughan that Norton's case had been de
ferred until 2 o'clock 7. Nj vhen sentence
would he pronounced, aud that the prisonsr r
| should be allowed the freedom of consUlt-
ing hi. counsel in msking over his prop
city snd settling up his buiiaess AS after
st ntence ia passed upon him he will be in-
competent 10 DO so legally.
The journal man approached Morton and
asked h m how he felt, and he rel lied,
'sOh, as we'll as usual Norton toll the
deputies in charge of him this uorning
Deputies Sawyer ard Grant, wheo they
we're in the room a. the hotel together, II
am Just as innocent Of this crime as any
other man in this room
Nor'on Rocsivss Sentence.
Norton spent the forenoon with h un-
sci, makirg his will ard arranging for the
settling up of his busints' and property
| Thus Il will be ssen that contrary to expec-
ta,ions counsel will not file exceptions and
appeal for a new trial. also that the rris
oner realizes that there is no hope for hun.
This morning County Attorney Dsnfoith
ard DEPUTY Jones found 10 the jury room
a letter written by Norton and, in substance,
asking the jury if they could con.cien;i
orsly convict him after carefully cocsiier-
ing certain portions of the evidence. This
the eounty attorney handed 10 the court.
Deputy Jones SAYS he cannot see how it got
into the jury room, .ur less il got mixed " h
srme pspeIs on ths coupsel,' table Inch
belonged in the case. The key TO the jury
room wss in Jones possession al the
At 2 o'clock the prisoaer unte- Deputies
Sawyer and Grant, csms in. He took his
Sc ct snd it wss seen at once ths. his boat
ed nerve was fast loosening u the ful
strsin fer he tfembled pecep.lhly and
looked ss though vrapt in eeep ibouRht.
Several times be rubbed his a gers sc1os
his eyes apparently to wipe away tears An
sful stiffness reigned when Sher.h
| Vsaghsn ope ned court in tie usual way
| County Attorney Dantoith addressing the
court ta'd; Your Honor, Micsh W. Nor
ton ha,ing by the jury been found gully
of the murder If Annie Cooley nov move
that sentence be passed upon Tim. Tbs
court Mr.. Merton you have now an oppor-
tuniiy to say anythit you desire to say be
| fore the stnte nee of the court is pronounced.
Norton, ri.irg and approaching nesrer
the bench, ssij, mo, sir, have noihu 9 t.
say. unless | am allowed to say what
| thirk. Ii not, will submit. II am Ell
lowed, would state the facts in the case
as know them
! BY tie court-Yoa are a. liberty to make
any statement that you may desire. Itmsy
be best that you conf1e your.ef to some
reason uhv the sentence Of the court should
not be passed upon yon.
Norton-Agreeable to the la~ ka1w OF
no reason why should not have but word
to say anyway, tut perhaps it is best that |
should not say anything, that | shonId
10. open my mouth. | would ask yonl
Honor, would it he advisable to say one
thing in behalf Of myself
The CouIt-You had best consult your
counsel on that question. They perhap,
| sii advise you.
Attorney Psrlin here spoke to Norton ant
then the latter took his seat.
The Court-"Hsve you said all yoa de.
sire to say:'
Norton (rising) )--"Yonr., Honor, have
just this TO say Your Hooor or any othe,
gentleman in this roeI is just as guilty oi
his crime as sm.r
The Ceurt-sYon plead not gaiiiy upor
your arrsignment a, the beginning of you,
trial snd the jury found you guilty
Norton (lnierrnptinz) 81 tnd no faul
vi b the jury or the Court
The Cautt-"As | have ssid. vou plea
not guilty and no subsequent pleading oil
reit ration of your innocence allows me
any opportunity to do otherwise than q.
the laws specially provide The las give.
me 10 reason for delay in passing the sen
tepee which TIE law stiixes to the crime D;
rt d xar, br haer, faV,1I Ths
clsrk will now pronounce the judgment oi
this court:
Clerk Brovn-"Micah W Norton. Lis
ten TO the Judgment Of This court, il is 'ha
you be confined during the rest OF yoGi
natGrsl life within the prison Of the STATE
in the precinct Of Thomaston, in the Ceun
~ of Knox, at hard Ia5or. and that q
stand committed until such time as yol
may be conveyed thereto"
Nsrt5n bowed his head during the spes K
: ing Of the clerk.
The great crowd was silent. No. vh;s
per wss heard. Clerk Browns cIesr xSics
enly ssitstsd the room, sna thu. official ap
psarsd to deeply fees ths positi5a he va
in, for be leaned upon his desk sad seemel
10 hesitate TO pronounce the fstefal sord
hich we're to consign 50 old man to
prison cell Norioa took his seat and tbs
, court ordered him removed at once Tbs
, prisoner irembsed, ssook hands with b!
, counsel snd babe then goodby. Others ot
, hs scqusintauces pressed forward AM
SrssFsd bis hand, and zooibys were ssi.
, until Deputies Sawyer and Grant told hin
he must o TO the hotel and prepare to q
! with Jailor Mitchell TO Norrsdgswock.
The erow3 left the court room and fiIe'
tie street. The JoGrnsl man walked dow
the street with the prisoner. leaving him a
the railroad crossing. As he parted viii
Norton the latter reached ous his hand an,