Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-08-11
JUDGE NORMILEDEAD
HE TAKES POISON AND BLAMES THE
ST. LOUIS POST-DlSPATCH

The Judge Had Intended to Shoot Man.
aging Editor White, but Changed His
Mind-The Suicide Becomes a Singular
Sequence to the Curse of a Mother.
ST. LOUIS Aug. 10.-This city was thrown
into state of great excitement by the re-
port that Hon. James c. Normile, judge of
the criminal court, had committed suicide
at his boarding house, Lag Washington
avenue.
Judge Normile returned to his boarding
house after short visit to the business por-
tion of the city. On entering the house he
requested his landlady to come to his room
in an hour, stating that he felt unwell and
that he might be seriously i'll at that hour.
The judge retired to his room, and when
it was visited by the landlady she found
him lying dead on the bed On a small ta--
BILE was an empty phial which had evidently
contained acid of an extreme and deadly
character. Physicians were at once sum-
moned, but a glance showed that the vic
tim was beyond all human aid. On the
stand adjoining the bed was note ad-
dressed to the coroner, the contents of
which are at present withheld from the
public, but which are supposed to give the
reason for the self murder
The Libel Suit.
Some time ago the Post-Dispatch, of this
city, severely criticised the judicial admin
istration of Judge Normile, and recently
the judge brought suit for libel against that
paper in the sum of 100000. Monday de-
positions were being taken in the proceed
ir,frc n,,I T,,I1 ~
severe examination as to his antecedents,
life and rulings. 1t is believed that the ex-
animation preyed heavily on his mind.
Monday night he was seen in various re-
sorts and gave evidence of having drank
heavily.
The following note was found in diary
on the person of Judge Normile and had
evidently been written just before his
death:
For more than year the atrocous libelers
of The Post stDispatch have had me on the rack
They have almost untitled me from perform
ing my judicial duties and made life little less
than protracted torture. For the past week
have slept little. / concluded to go to the
office and kill Florence White, managing editor
OF The Post Dispatch, but l have Just this
morning abandoned this purpose, as l shrink
from taking human life, especially while being
judge. cannot fight this paper in the courts.
The law is slow, and it would be more than a
year probably before could got the damage
case brought to trial 1 crave rest which also
must seek in the grave upon whose brink ]
pencil these closing lines
The Judge Made His Will.
Among the personal papers of Judge Nor
mile was found last VIII and testament
which the judge had draw up and signed
just previous to taking the poison. He
directs that his counsel, Chester H. Krum,
ha N. tha& l..
secure payment of note for 50, 900 held by
local bank, and that his mining stock, of
which he had large quantity, be held for
five years before selling
Judge Normile was born in Ireland in
1874. He came to this country at an early
age, and with his parents passed the years
previous to his majority in Kansas. He
studied law in Georgetown university and
later in the law department of the Colum-
bian university at Washington. He was
elected circuit attorney of this city In 1872
and was elected judge of the criminal court
in 1875, He was reelected in 1890 for six
years. Judge Normile was unmarried and
leaves but moderate fortune
A Mothers Curse.
Judge James c. Normile was prosecuting
attorney in the famous trial of Walter Len
nox- Maxwell, alias Brooks, who was con-
victed and executed for the murder Of his
friend and benefactor, c. Arthur Preller, at
the Southern hotel, eight years ago Prel-
ler was killed and his body placed in
trunk, where 1t was discovered several days
after the murderer had flown. He was ar
rested at Auckland, New Zealand, and
brought back His father and mother came
from England, where Brooks, senior, is
schoolmaster, and made heroic effort to
save him. Failing, they remained till after
the execution. Mrs. Brooks was convinced
of her sons innocence, and it was said at
the time In st. Louis that she cursed the
trial judge, the prosecuting attorney, and
lastly Governor Morehouse, who refused
to interfere.
Judge Van Wagner failed of re-elec-
tion, Governor Morehouse committed sui
eide in fit of delirium less than year ago,
and now the prosecutor, Normile, has died
by his own hands.