The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-11
ANDERSON NORRIS HUNG.
MURDERER OF MRS. FRENCH pro
TESTED INNOCENCE.
Conviction Was Secured Only After a
Long Delay-Husband Of Dead
Woman Saw Execution.

waco, Texas. January 10.-At los O'Clock
this afternoon Anderson Norris. who killed
Mrs Emma French In Navarro county, De
cember ., 1900. dropped into eternity. He
died denying his guilt and said that he
never committed the crime
When he was taken on the scaffold he
talked for several minutes, his talk being
at random and more for time than anything
else. He saw James French whose wife he
had killed, at the foot of the gallows and.
addressing him, he said: MIR French. you
think that ! killed your wife. but / dld not
l hope that you will not hold this against
me- ana the last thing ] say is that am
s2ylns, this, he 1roppei his photograph
to Mr. French, asking him to keep It.
The moose was thea adjusted the black
ceap put on and the, trap was sprung 10y
SherlE Baker in eleven minutes he was
pronounced dead and was taken charge of
by the undcrtakers
The crime for which Norris was hanged
was committed in Navarro county len miles
west of Corsicana EUlr the little town of
barry; December D. 1900, Mrs Emma
French, the wife OF james French young
1armer, was FOUND dead on the gallery.
She had piece of target ride In her arms
ana her head was badly beaten and ncr
skull crushed from the blows of the gun
that had been placed in her arms. The
husband was In the field at work The
message of his wlfe's death was sent to
Lin BY neighbor On his way he was
joined by Norris who was at work for
him. The tragedy occurred in the after
noon about 4 o'clock aud a physician and
the officers were sent for, soon after the
arrival of the officers the negro Norris was
placed under arrest, two of the things
leading to the arrest being the fact that
he had blood upon his clothes aud that a
snun box was found where the tragedy
occurred that belonged to Norris and Vita
which he was seen AT noon before the kill
ing. The negro had purchased the target
rine and 1t was to be given to him as soon
MS the corn was gathered which would
have been in few days. IT is supposed
mat he went 10 the house and asked tor
the gun and. as the wife had been instruct
cd to do. by her husband, that she refused
to let him have the weapon and that he
| Jerked Ii out OF her hands and beat her
over the head until he had killed her.
The negro after being arrested was taken
| to Corsicana and placed IN jail. On De
| cember 10 the grand jury of the county
| returned bill against the negro, charging
| him with murder The case was called
same year and there was such a crowd
| present that the court continued rho ease.
| considering that the defendants life was in
| jeopardy. ON the docket Co. rl, 5000. Is
the following noting for the continuance
| was made: Continued on application of
| the defendant, on account Of absence Of
| witnesses and the presence Of a mob"
The negro was spirited away to evade
| the wrath of the citizens and was kept
| in a hiding place in an adjoining county
| for several months.
In april. 1901. the ease was called 70
| N1vo'"o corutv the second time The auger
! of the people had not suhsidcd in The
( Judgment a. the art am! nl his owe r'o.
| ton the cour; tra sfelreC the case 10 Nc.
| l.ennau county. giving as the reason that
| the defendants life was in jeopardy in
! Navarro county and that the prejudice was
! SO great In adjoining counties thar 1t was
| necessary T. -ansfer the case to an ad-
| joining judicial district.
| The case was taken m In the Fifty
! rarwh district cOurt Of this county, Judge
s. r. Scott presiding, aud June the jury
| 4 ned verdict fixing the penalty at
! death.
rhc case was appealed to tine court of
! criminal appeals and here it remained until
! October 30 when the judgment of the
! lower court was affirmed The mandate
was returned to the COURT in this county
| at once and December g. lacking onC day
| from being year after the nnding OF
the first Indictment, the sentence was
| passed.