The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-20
EFFINGHAMS DARK BLOT
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE KILL
ING OF TIE BIRDS.

ING OF TIE BIRDS.
Col Birds Story of the Tragedy-Mrs
Norton's Testimony Before the Coro
ner's Jury-The Fatal Mule Trade-The
The Meetingat Norton's Place and the
hOoting-Norton's Attorneys Say
They WIZ Produce Him When the
Time Comes for an Examination
DR.. R. c. Norton's Statement-A DIFF
ference in All of the Statements as
What the Coroner's Verdict Was.
The Bird tragedy continues to be the sen
sation Of the day.
The details of the killing of William and
John F. Bird by R. G. Norton, Jr., have
until now, been imperfectly given to the
public.
The distance from the scene of the
killing to the nearest telegraph station
(GuytOn) is nine miles, and as there were
but two witnesses to the tragedy-Mrs
Norton, wife of the man who did the kill
ing. and John Habersham, a c0lored
servant Of the Nortons, 10 or Il years old
it has been difficult to obtain the facts.
The inquest was held Friday morning be-
tween l and o'clock, and there is a dis
agreement between the friends of the dead
men and the Nortons as TO the verdict.
Col. Edward Bird, uncle Of the two men
killed, was in the city yesterday, and he says
the verdict was not "Justifiable homicide" IN
the killing of Willie Bird and "murder" IN
the killing of John Bird. Col. Bird says he
read the verdict, which called the shooting
of Willie Bird granddaughter, and that OF
John Bird murder.
J. G. Clarke, ESQ.,, leading counsel for
Nortou, SAYS he has been informed by more
than one juror that the verdict was "justi-
fable homicide " in the killing of Willie Bird
and murder in the second killing.
THE CoRoNER's INQUEST.
The coroner's jury was composed of Mack
Griffin, foreman; B. B. and w. w. Griffin,
Ed Harralson. the two Hurst brothers and
Ben Flova, Sheriff Tarver.
The statements of Mrs. Norton and the
colored boy John Habersham were taken,
and differed in a most essential point. Mrs.
Norton claimed that Willie Bird had his
pistol drawn and outstretched to shoot her
husband, and that she was between them
trying to avert a tragedy. Habersham said
that Willie Brd kept his hand on his pistol
in his pocket, but did not draw the weapon,
or at least Habersham did not see 1t drawn,
and that he was in a position to see it If
Willie Bird had drawn II.
Col Bird SAYS that Norton furnished the
jug of whisky which Norton and the two
Birds had at the county dinner, where the
mule trade was made, and the object was
to get John Bird under the influence Of
liquor so that he could be traded out OF his
mule, which was a much more valuable
animal than Norton's. In the absence Of
Willie Bird Norton succeeded in getting
John into trade, and before any boot had
passed Norton had the mule hitched to his
vehicle Then there was dispute about
the amount of boot, John Bird wanting
S35 and Norton claiming that he had
agreed to take $25, and forcing him to ex-
cept check for $25 on the Southern Bank
of Georgia.
WENT TO THEIR DEATH.
Thursday morning john Bird informed
his brother Willie, the eldest of the broth
ers, who had sobered up, how he had been
forced TO trade and the check had
been put on him which he con-
sidered of no value. After con.
sultation it was agreed to hitch up the
Norton mule in their dog-cart and go over
to Nortons house and ask Norton to trade
back, as the trade was consummated when
John Bird was in liquor. They had jug
in the cart partly filed with wine, and a
large watermelon, and expected to meet
Norton, Col. Bird says. in friendly way
and exchange mules.
Col Bird says that the coIored bov
Habersham told him that when it was found
that Norton would not trade back, nor pay
the difference, John Bird proposed to send
Habersham to the nearest neighbor, Will
lam N. Blanton, living a quarter of a mile off,
to arbltrate the matter, but Norton refused
to let the boy go, and John then proposed
to go himself for Blauton, and was fol-
lowed by Habersham. Blanton was
not at home, but was down the Augusta
road about three-quarters of a mile from
Blanton's and half a mile from Norton's
house, working on the Corinth church.
John Bird and the colored boy returned to
Norton's. They had left Willie Bird and
Norton and his wife in the lot, John Bird
having unhitched the Norton mule in front
of Norton's house and turned the animal
out in the lot before going after Banton.
THE FATAL WEAPON.
During their absence Norton, who had
gone down to the lot with Willie Bird, had
returned to the house and got his shotgun.
Mrs. Norton was the first in the lot, having
gone out The back way and got to the stable
and locked the door on Birds mule and
pulled cart in front of the door.
Willie Bird told his brother to go and get
his mule out and he would stand between
him and Norton. John Bird then offered
the colored boy nickel TO go to the church
and get Blanton to come and settle the mat
ter amicably, and the boy started, but had
got only about half way between the lot
and the house, near an oak tree, going down
the road, when Norton called him back, and
when Willie Bird called on his brother to
go and get the mule Norton raised his
shotgun and fired at Bird. only a
five steps away, the charge carrying away
one side of his jaw. Willie fell dead, and
John cried out: "Oh, Bob, what did you
shoot Willie for~ when Norton discharged
the other barrel at John, the charge strik-
ing him in the groin. John fell, crying for