Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-10
NORTON SUES KNIGHT
As The Sequel 10 Recent Trouble Both Tell
Their Stories.

of our citizens, j. A. Norton, agains,
]. g. knight, for alleged injuries re.
ceived by him at the hands Of the de-
PENDANT. The injuries were received
March g. in what has been generally
conceded. in the talk about town, as
one Of the rarest dual encounters which
has taken place On this city for long
time. 1t was thought that matters
might end at that. But 1t appears not
Mr.. Norton alleging damages to the
extent of $4,000 for injuries received at
the hands of Mr.. knight. The case will
probably come up at the October
term of court.
The writ states that the defendant
on March %, made an assault. and beat
bruised, wounded, and ill-treated. and
with club struck the plaintiff divers
grievous blows across and over his
head, forehead, nose and eyes. and
choked the plaintiff, throwing him vio-
lently on the frozen ground. thereby
cutting the plaintiff over his left eye;
and, cutting, crushing and breaking
through his nose, bruising his face en]
other parts of the body, rendering him
unconscious for half an hour.t The writ
states that plaintiff has since been a
great sufferer, and been unable to at
terd to his business. and for long
time will be prevented from attending
to his affairs as a result Of his injuries
Both parties concerned reside on
Sewall street. within stones throw
Of one another. Both Of the men ex-
press regrets that the affair should
have come to this pass. But. it seems
to be the result of an animosity which
has had existence at least three years,
growing with time, as such animosities
are prone to do.
1t was on the Tuesday afternoon OF
March %. that the differences between
the two, came to the termination which
,esults in the law suit. t
The fight. if fight it was, took place
near a watering trough in the pass
which leads from Sewall to Grove
streets, down through the wood yards
n that locality near Capitol street.
There appears to have been no specta-
.or to all of the encounter. "
The accounts in substance of the
affair as given separately by the prin-
cipals in the case to Journal reporter,
are given below.
Many accounts, as various as they
are numerous. have been circulated re-
garding the encounter. To verify, as
aearly as might be. a reporter called
IN both of the interested parties.
Mr.. Norton says, in effect: about
o'clock On the afternoon of the 23d,
[ left my house, and proceeded to the
yard some distance in the rear, and
there sat upon woodpile. and began
to figure with pencil on some account.
Near by my shed. and not far from
where l was sitting, We're two men at
Hcrk and also a boy. Knight at that
line had stopped at the watering
|, rough on the right of roadway which
leads to Grove street from Sewall He
lad a load of hay, and had alighted,
& presume likely, to uncheck his horse.
About that time one of the boys sung
1ut to him Sink Spout 1t was a
lame that was sometimes called him.
because of his having had some lead
pipe stolen from the house where he
tves-he having several times suffered
rom the theft"
did you call him by that name,
,ither that afternoon, or at any time
lefore or since?"
mot then, or at any time have
allied him by that or any other name"
What happened when the sound Of
hat name reached Mr. Knight
,ars?'' 49,
"He answered. addressing his re-,
marks to me, evidently. What ails you.
John L.?' 1 replied: Go on about your
business. Don't make any talk.
You're trespassing, anyway. Keep cut
md stay out The pass, that part of
t where he stood. is owned by my
brother. From an ownership of GER
.ain part of it near Sewall street which
( have | have right to use the bal
,nce of the portion to Grove street, as
| roadway.
Some time after the conversation
4 few minutes, perhaps-I started to
-eturn to my house, by way of the
.oad. AS I passed toward him, as he
,tood near by his horse, Il saw him
holding what looked to be short stick.
As proceeded, he walked over to my
side of the road. But, so many times
he had threatened me without doing
anything about it, / mistrusted no
action on his part. The first l knew,
[ received a terrible blow on my eye.
That was also the last l knew, until