The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-29

talked with him through the door, but
! he could not get IL. he then vent
J downstairs and talked with him through
/ the window The man held onto his
gun fer dear life. John Norris tried 10
man refused 10 take any food Thursday
+ and would not let any one come near his
room
Thursday evening John Norris sent MS
family away and came 70 this city after
Sheriff Simmons. He first tried 70 get
Jesse Norris 70 come 10 town with him
hoping to have him locked up while
here. hut the insane man refused %
come out OF his improvised fort- AIT.
Norris and the sheriff discussed the sit
uation and finally took another man.
FL Coleman. along with them. as IL was
plainly evident that there would Be a
fight before the man was taken ard
there promised 10 be some very inter
estiug proceedings during the capture.
when the men arrived AZ the home
about Il clock Thursday night. they
found the man waiting for them. He
was sim in the room, apparently not
having had 2 bite 70 eat or 3 sup Of va
ter for twenry-four hours.
jesse Norris was II a room facing the
south. and OF ths second floor There
was q stairway toward he north end
Of the house and from the head Of
the stairs 10 the door OF the bsrricaded
room was twelve feet OF hail North q
the stairway was Mr. and Mira Nor
ris' bed room. both doors directly facing
each other.
The han and stairs are carpsted ard
the insane man did not hear them com
ing Up the stairs. Sheriff Simmons and
his deputy stayed near the head OF the
stairs, while John Norris went toward
the room He called 20 his cousin and
vas answered with three shots from the
5S-calibre revolver. The first shot went
straight down the middle OF the hall,
striking the sleeve OF Mr.. Norris coat
and INJECTING z slight flesh wound. The
next shot was fred down the west side
Of The han ard the next one down the
east side.
The gun was a good one. one q the
bullets passing through Two heavy doors
and going distance OF eighteen feet,
and was found on the floor Of AIr. Nor
Al the hrst crack Of the gun, both
Sheriff simmons and Ed Coleman broke
for the stairway, and IN their haste 70
get OK or range fen over each other
and rolled down the stairs together.
John Norris also made a break Tor the
stairs. but instead Of waiting % SO down
TIRE usual way swung over the banisters
and railing and dropped 10 the floor be-
low.
Another shot was fred. but from It's
mufied sound the men knew that f.
did not come out through the door bit
they did not know that he had another
load II his gun and no one knew how
much more ammunition he had in the
room.
The men did not make another at
tempt 70 get 10 the man that night AZ
ter discussing the matter for a time,
Sheriff simmons returned 20 this city.
leaving Mr. Coleman ard Mr.. Norris
% watch the house ard see that the
man did not get away. But all pre-
caution was unnecessary, as Jesse Nor
us was dead. That fourth shot had
ended his lie. Apparently the man had
either thought his enemies were all
dead or that be was attacked by an
oVsrH heImirg force and ic meant death
IN any event and lie preferred 70 end
his own life, 50 Re placed the revolver
l. his right temple and ared the fourth
shot into lis head. the shCt killing him
Instantly.
Yesterday morning 9Iessrs- Norris ard
Coleman went 20 the head % the stairs
ana called TO the insane man, but re-
c-IFed 10 answer. They then threw
sucks at the door. but even this did
not bring any reply so the men took
2 four By four post az knocked out
g Panel Of the door, and upon looking
in found their man lying almost IN the
center ~ the room. dead. lie had been
dead several hours and the revolver
ii his hand the hole III his forehead and
thu drawn features told the story Of
the tragedy and under what strain the
man had been for many hours before
his death
Yesterday To a reporter for the Eagle
John Norris save the following version
Of the affair.
Jesse Norris came 70 my house about
three months ago. His brother brought
him here and at that cine told me he
seemed at times as If demeuted. The
brother told me he would often talk Of
gang ~ men being af-cr him aud
70 each other when be mex them on The
street or in homes Every movement
oe the hand across the face would be
taken by him as sign Of the gang
that was after him.
1T was only ~ times that he would
seem 20 be anected this way and even
then seemed to be perfectly rational in
al ether matters He could count money
and would talk on any subject as wei
a. any uau- IL was last Monday when
first saw that he suspici0ued me as
being q member u the gang that vas
going 20 kul him. and although he said
that he did not believe that I would
in11re him. he seemed 10 think that I
would not aid him in any way
'IEe began carrying q gun Only q few
days ago. 7 Oh not know where he got
IT, buI I suppose h got it here I did
we were at the neighbour putting Up
Continued on Third PAGE.