The age-herald., 1901-03-21
MOBILE MURDER
 CASE CONTINUED
Oscar Mann'S Defense Will Be
 Insanity.
HE KILLED CLAUDE NORDEN
Evidence Showing That He Was Struck On the Head With Bill Hard Cue at Decatur Will
 Be Introduced.

Mobile. March 2O.-(speciaL)-In the City Court today the case of Oscar Mann, charged with the murder of Claude Nor den on the afternoon of January last was continued until the next term. It will be remembered that Mann was ar rested and locked up shortly after 4 o'clock in the afternoon, just few min utes after the killing had occurred. Nor den was killed at the corner of Dauphin and Royal streets in the busiest part of the day at the liveliest corner in the city. There was a very large crowd standing around and passing by, and there were a large number of eye-wit- nesses to the tragedy. Norden lived but few minutes after being wounded
 The State introduced at the preliminary trial a number of witnesses, friends of Norden, who were with him when he was two negro walters and physician were also introduced by the prosecution. Their evidence showed that Norden and several friends were standing on the corner dis cussing some minor trouble which had been brewing between one of them and a mutual friend, who was not one O the party. Some one spoke insulting : of the absent belligerent, and Norden re- monstrated with him, saying, Don't speak like that of friend. You know you don't mean what you say" The wit nesses say that at this moment they saw 
 the party and drive knife into Nordens S neck Mann had approached the party a few minutes before, but had not joined In the speaking, remaining on the out skirts of the circle
 Immediately after the cutting Mann turned and walked up Dauphin street. Norden staggered away, and in a moment met two police officers who had just left a street car. He told them he had been cut by Mann for nothing and then he al- most fell into cab, saying Drive me to doctor quick-Im dying" Later on, so the cabman testified, he said: "Oscar Mann killed me for nothing''
 The cabman hastily drove around the block to the office of Dr. Ward, and just as Norden was carried into the office he expired.
 Mann, in the meantime. had been ar- iSSteu ny lle pOIlCe OIIlcerS. lie waived and was remanded to await the action of the grand jury, bail being denied The grand jury returned true bill charging murder in the first degree.
 The case Is being hard fought, Mann's defense being insanity, caused by an in- jury in the head received in Decatur Ala, in July of last year. The Age-Her- aid had a special story from Decatur, telling of the trouble at the time. Mann and man named Alexander became in- volved in a difficulty in a pool room in Decatur, which resulted in Alexander striking Mann in the head with a billiard cue. It is a miracle that Mann survived the blow, but an operation was performed several inches of the bone being removed and the skin healed without a plate be- ing replaced for the removed portion of the skull Mann has an indentation in his head several inches in circumference, and an inch deep, when he Is erect. If he bends his head, the brain fills out the cavity, and causes a protuberance. The defense has secured some evidence to show that Mrs. Mann had secured a divorce from her husband, and had later been receiving some attentions from Nor den. The defense claims that the defend- ant brooded over this fact, and that. in connection with his weakened mental fac ulties, brought him to a state of insanity which made him not himself and unable to know what he was about.