The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-18
HORRIBLE.
Alleged Plot to Assassinate a
Younger Brother.
A PrOdigal Schemes to Obtain
an Inheritance.
ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
When Arrested and Placed In
Prison.
Charged With Employing Two
Men to Do the Deed.
ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
One Weakens and COnfesses-A
PennsyIv ania Horror.

suicidal intent, he PAGES a. Jail cell, ac-
cused of plotting to poison his younger
brother and thereby acquire his inher-
itance.
planned, if the district attorneys wit
nesses are to be believed. That he might
replenish his pocketbook and square his
debts. Norcross is alleged to have hired
two men, whose duty it was to remove
his brother by means of poisoned candy.
The bait was prepared and the plan
complete, when the prospective assas-
sins weakened. They said $500 blood
money was not sufficient recompense.
They baked at the eleventh hour and
confessed. Then Norcross was arrested
and after almost collapsing tried to kill
himself.
family, known throughout western
pennsylvania. He cut a swath in So
c1ety, spent money freely and was pop
u!ar His arrest provoked an uprising
of indignant friends. They declared it
must be mistake; but the district at
torney and the county detective came
forward today with evidence that weak
ened NOrcrOSS support and strengthened
the sentiment against him.
THE FIRST MAN TO CONFESS.
Sylvester Hetterman, well known
citizen of Uniontown, walked into Dis
trict Attorney w. E. Crows office yes
ishment might fall to man who ad-
miniStered poison to another. He was
uneasy and restless.
Under merciless questioning he yield
ed up a remarkable story On Thurs
day, February 2, he declared Norcross
went to him and said he had a job for
him and announced the compensation
would be, say, $500.
They went together to West New
ton. Seated in a restaurant there, Nor
cross unfolded his scheme. Hetterman
was to go out to the residence of J. S.
Zundel, an uncle of NOrcrOsS and guar
dian of the latter's 7-year-old brother
Allan, who lives with him. Hetterman
was to lOiter along the road near the
house until Allan passed on his way to
school, He was to give the boy some
poisoned candy and then leave. Nor
cross produced bag of chocolate drops
and two packages, one containing
man says Norcross followed out three
chocolate drops, filling two with strych-
nine and one with arsenic.
Then the men drove out to the Zundel
farm so that Hetterman might get his
bearings. He was instructed by Nor
eros, he says, where to stand and how
to accost the boy. Then they returned
to West Newton. Hetterman SAYS he
thought over the matter and his heart
failed him. He came back to Union
town with the poisoned candy.
Last Saturday, he says, he went to
Attorney r. P. Kennedy's office and
left the CONNECTION for analysis Ken
needy has since been retained by Nor
cross as his attorney. District Attorney
Crow would like to get those chocolate
drops.
THE OTHER MAN OWNS UP.
Hetterman declared John Devlin, like
wise of Uniontown, had been ap-
preached in the same manner DevIin
was then summoned before Hetterman
had time to communicate with him. His
story tailed as to the plot. He saw
NOrcrOss buy arsenic.
IJT1fx 7 afo
ing the stories, made informations
against Norcross, one charging him
with solicitation to commit murder and
the other with attempting to administer
a deadly poison with intent to kill. He
was arrested at a house on Penn street
and in default of 81, 900 bail was COM
mitted to Jail. Sheriff G. w. McCor-
mick put him in a cell in the prison hos
pital.
Some time between midnight and 5
O'Clock NOrcroSS took a heavy dose of
morphine. He was unconscious when
found, and Drs. J. D. Sturgeon and P
F. Smith worked with him several hours
before resuscitating him
When NOrcroSS was arrested he was
greatly agitated, He wished to make
elaborate denials, and the sheriff eau
toned him for his own good to keep
quiet. Then he became wary and has
since refused to talk. He would give no
satisfaction regarding his possession of
the morphine or his designs. He was
sullen, and at times broke into long,
rambling explanations which had no
apparent meaning.
THE STORY FOLLOWED UP.
County Detective McBeth returned
from West Newton, where he succeeded
in forging a few missing links in the
chain of evidence. Mr.. McBeth said
that at West Newton he found Mrs.
Louisa Nasel, proprietress of a restau-
rant, who remembered clearly the visit
of Norcross and Hetterman on Febru-
airy 2. While at the table she saw Nor
eros produce two packages. He called
for a sharp knife, and in lieu of this
Mrs. Nasel gave him a pair of scissors
He also requested lighted lamp. He
then opened several dark objects and
inserted the contents of one of the pack
ages. He took great care in doing this
Frank Fleming, who is In charge of
Christ. Goehring's livery stable, declar-
ed the men got a rig from him shortly
afterward and were absent an hour.
going toward ZundePs farm.
McBeth has other evidence which he
will not make public until the hearing,
which is set for February %, before
Squire W. H. Miller.
ALLEGED MOTIVE FOR MURDER.
His father, Joseph Norcross, who
was in business in Brownville with Will
liam Carrot at the time of his death
two years ago, was worth $25 600 at
least. Young Norcross has run through
his half of the estate in that time. He
is $500 in debt besides. Friends know
of notes for $500 and $500 that he owes.
His year old brother, Allan, gets the
other half of the estate, amounting to
over $4,000. In case of his death, all of
it goes to Karl.
Norcross is related to Rev. DR.. Nor
cross, formerly president of the Pitts
burg Female college. He is connected