Evening journal., 1892-08-10
HOUNBED TO THE GRAVE
Judge Normile, of St. Louis,
Kills Himself with Poison
AND BLAMBs THE PosT-DIsPAToH

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
iato 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, ,422 Washington
avenue.
Judge Normile returned to his boarding
house after a short visit 20 the business por-
ton 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 in at that hour.
The judge retired to his room, and when
il was visited by the landlady she found
him lying dead on the bed On a small ta-
bic 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 a note adj
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
lstration 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
ings and Judge Normile was subjected to a
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 atrocious libelers
OF The Post Dispatch 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. l concluded to 90 to the
olhce and kill Florence White, managing editor
Of The Post-Dispatch. but / have lust this
morning abandoned this purpose, as / shrink
from taking human life, especially while being
Judge. cannot fight this paper in the courts
The law is slow, and IL would be more than a
year probably before / could get the damage
case brought to trial I crave rest, which also
must seek in the grave, upon whose brink ]
pencil these closing lines.
The Judge Made His win.
Among the personal papers Of Judge Nor
mile was found last will and testament
which the judge had drawn up and signed
just previous to taking the poison. He
directs that his counsel Chester II. Krum,
be paid $1,000; that provision be made to
secure payment Of a note for 5000 held by
"A local bank, and that his mining stock of
which lie had a 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 Column
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.
Mothers Curse.
Judge James G. Normile was prosecuting
attorney in the famous trial of Walter Len
noX-Maxwell, alas 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-
Ter was killed and his body placed in a
trunk, where it 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 a
| erloolruefar and fuoda.o harof, 49,
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
10 interfere.
Judge Van Wagner failed of re-elec.
! ton, Governor Morehouse committed sui
eide in a fit Of delirium less than year ago,
and now the prosecutor, Normile, has died
/ by his own hands.