Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-29
ROCKVILLE NEWS.
The Trial Of Ernest Norris on Charge
Of Murder.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
- ROCKVILLE. Nd, March %. 1902.
Ernest Norris. a white man. probably
twenty-five years of age, who is badly Grip
pied in one leg. was placed on trial in the
circuit court here this morning upon an
Indictment charging him with the murder
of Henson Smith, young negro. The al
legged homicide occurred the 18th of last
September on the farm of Mr.. Zachariah
Briggs, near Gaithersburg, where both men
were employed as farm hands. Smith was
shot in the stomach, his intestines being
perforated in several places, and died about
two months later, few days after his re-
turn from Washington hospital, where
he was taken Immediately after the shoot
ing.
The following gentlemen were selected for
the jury: Archibald L. Mullican, Mansfield
White, Harry G. Poss, William T. Wheeler,
Samuel E. Riggs. William NJ. NARROW, Hen
ry G. F. Perry, Clark Gallaher, John 7.
Hardy, Turner w. Welsh, William H.
Wade, and James F. Green. Judge Hender-
son was on the bench and States Attorney
Talbot appeared for the state and Messrs.
Edward c. Peter and Alexander Kilgour for
The accused.
The testimony produced by the state was
exceedingly damaging to the defendant.
Charles Arnold, who was also employed on
the Briggs farm, and who was the only
eyewitness to the shooting, testified that
the afternoon Of the 18th of last Septem-
Der, JUST as ne, SIullT anu were pre-
pairing to do the evening milking, Smith
called Norris an ugly name. The latter left
the barn Immediately, and upon his return
a short while afterward called Smith on
the outside of the barn and asked him If he
meant wharf he said.
Smith made some reply which witness did
not hear, and Norris immedia tely drew his
revolver and fired. Smith ran and Norris,
addressing witness, said, Let me finish
him.
Mrs Arnold, who. with her husband, oc-
cupied a tenant house on the farm, swore
that just before the shooting Norris came
to her house and asked her for a revolver
which he had left there few days before.
He was given the weapon, and upon being
asked what he was going to do with it, re-
piled, Il am going to shoot Henson Smith.
Witness followed Norris to the barn. but
because of an obstruction between her and
the men she did not see the shooting.
A coIored woman employed as cook by
Mrs. Briggs testified that just before she
heard Smith had been shot Norris came
to the Briggs house and going to his coat,
which hung on back porch, took sew
era, cartridges from pocket and left in
that the distance from the barn to Mr..
Briggs home was about 2I5 feet and from
there to the Arnold house about nine hun
dred feet.
The physicians who performed the autop-
sy, and who were familiar with the case,
were unanimous that Smiths death was
caused by blood poisoning resulting from
Norris took the stand in his own behalf.
being the first witness produced by the de-
Tense. He stated that he and Smith had
had misunderstanding. and that on the
day of the shooting were not on good terms.
He swore that just about milking time on
September 13 last Smith cursed him and
struck him and threatened to kill him.
He admitted going Immediately to the
Briggs house and securing the cartridges.
as testified to by the colored woman. and
also acknowledged visiting the Arnold
house for the purpose of getting the pis-
toll. Upon his return to the barn for the
purpose OF doing his part Of the milking,
witness stated that he called Smith outside
and asked him If he meant what he said
In regard to killing him. Smith. he stated.
replied that he did, and again cursed him.
at the same time placing his hand behind
him as II he were going to draw a weapon
Then 1t was. Norris. testified. that he
fire The witness denied that he told Mrs.
Arnold that he into nded to XIII Smith. and
claimed that the only reason that he did
shoot was because he feared that Smith
would kill him.
Gay.