The morning call., 1891-07-15
FRAUD And EXTORTION.
Alleged Explanation Of a Recent Myster-
iOuS Disappearance From Astoria.

PORTLAND, July IA special to the
OregoniaE from Astoria says: A mysterious,
disappearance, which caused an excite
ment in this city about three months
ago, has at last been explained, and
remarkable case of fraud and extortion
has come to light. About March 1st
Derius Norris, well-known water front
character. was employed by the McGowen
d Sons cannery to run plunger between
this city and Chinook. he was to begin
work on the 10th of the month, but when that
date came round Norris could not be found.
Diligent search was instituted by his
friends, but no trace of him could be found.
On the 9th of March. about 9 o clock in the
evening, Norris called at the fruit-stand of
John Rogers and asked for his clio thes. He
was in great hurry, and apparently much
excited.
A BoATMAN's STORY.
Rogers asked him TO explain his absence,
but lie refused and hurried out of the place.
and since that time the matter has remained
deeper mystery than ever until to-day,
when it was learned that boatman while
drunk few nights ago told his friends that
be had rowed Norris down 10 Sand Island
the night of March 9th and placed him
aboard the British ship Sierra Blanca,
which sailed for Dunkrk, France, on the
following day. About seven years ago
a man by the name Of Browning was
murdered in Pacif; County, Washington,
near BASKERVILLE. Norris was living near
BrOwning's and was at his home part of the
time, and, according to report, was too in
innate with Mrs. Browning. After the muir
der Norris and Mrs. Browning were ar
rested but as the evidence was purely cir
cumstantial they were not convicted. Ow-
ing, however, to the public feeling regard
ing the matter they left the country and
Norris has spent most of his time since then
in Astoria.
A DEATH-BED CONFESSION.
Two years ago the woman died in an aims
house In small town in Illinois, and on
her death-bed confessed that herself and
Norris had killed Browning. This confess
sion has been in possession of Pacific County
inen since her death, and they lave been
working up evidence When Norris fled
from Pacific County he was the owner of
considerable property, which has since in
creased in value until it is now worth
fortune. A few days previous to the disap-
pearance of Norris when the chain
of evidence that had been weav-
ing was drawing closer around him,
newspaper reporter, named Gibson, well
known among newspaper men in San Fran
cisco, was sent to Pacific County 10 write up
the matter. After an absence of few days
he returned, giving queer excuse for not
learning anything about the matter, aud
then resigned his position on the paper.
Immediately after Norris disappearance a
former partner of Glbsnn's, a lawyer, and
formerly newspaper reporter, named Car
penter, well known in Saa Francisco, began
showing deed from Norris to himself for
400 acres of land near Tokes Point, the
value OF the land at that time being about
$4,000.
THE SEARCH FOR NORRIS.
About month after Norris had disap-
peared from Astoria his brother-in-law. Mr..
Kindred Of North Cove, swore out COM
plaint and Judge Taylor Issued an order
requesting L. G. Carpenter and n. J Barry
to produce the body of Norris. Kindred
alleging in his complaint that Carpenter and
Barry were unlawfully depriving Norris of
his liberty. Both denied having any
knowledge of the whereabouts OF Nor
ris. Soon after this Carpenter ap-
preached W. E. Warren. prominent
property-holder of Astoria, and asked
him to permit them to deed the 400
acres decided to Carpenter by Norris to him
to hold until the Kindreds relaxed their
anything TO do with the matter, but was
considerably surprised TO find that the prop
erty had been decided to him and the deed
recorded at Oysteryllle. When the un-
guarded remark of the drunken boat
man gave a clew to the whereabouts
OF Norris, Carpenter went to War
rem, and it is said that by representing
that he wanted to show the deed to a
lawyer obtained possession of it. Warren
then gave quit-claim deed of the property
to Mrs. Kindred, sister of Norris. The
friends OF the missing man have sent man
to Dunkrk, France, to meet Norris when
the Sierra Blanca arrives and bring him
back to Astoria. They claim that he is in
nocent OF any crime and was frightened
into signing away his property and leaving
the country. TIE Sierra Blanca is due at
Dunkirk about July Goth.