The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-29
YOUNG MAN
TAKES HIS LIFE
Jesse Norris Barricaded Door
of His Room.
HELD OFFICERS AT BAY
Thought Gang of Cutthroat8
Was After His Life,
SHOT AT HIS COUSIN
And Then Turned Revolver to
His Own Head.
SHOT AT HIS COUSIN

L J. Norris was found dead IN the
house Of his cousin yesterday. having
committed suicide.
Norris barricaded himself IN room
OF his cousin, John Norris. near Fur
ley. wednesday night. and al eatreat-
les failed 70 get him out and 81 Il
O'Clock Thursday night an attack was
made On the room By John Norris, Sher-
N Simmons and Deputy Ed Coleman,
and the insane man inside fred three
shots al them through the door and
drove them away he then ended his
own lie by blowing out ais brains
Three months ago Jesse Norris came
70 Kansas with his brother from Ear-
ris. III He had shown On q number
Of occasions that his mind was wan
cering and il was hoped that change
OF scsne would BENEFIT him. ia STAYED
with his cousin. John Norris TWO and
one-half miles southeast Of Furley. when
the brother returned % Illinois Jesse
remained here. He seemed 10 be afraid
Of some one in Illinois Up 70 a Few
weeks ago nothing appeared that would
iSdicste that he was demented. but he
would often remark 70 the family al the
table that there was q gang after him.
anc they were making signs whenever
he passed. He said he noticed them
n FurIey and IN wichita
Why he said. Z saw those men
making some kind Of signs while I was
eating my dinner al the restaurant
lie was always on the alert for some
one 10 attack him.
Last Monday he showed unrnistakabIe
signs OF insanity. John Norris and
number OF neighb0rs went 70 another
netghbor's home and helped raise d
windmill. Jesse Norris was with them.
lie did not work. but sat around II
stable Door nearly all day. Along in
the middle OF the afternoon John Nor
RS little son came running 70 him and
said
Papa Jesse is sitting there IN the
barn with his hand ia his pocket and
he has q big revolver"
The men watched him the balance Of
the day and not once did he take his
hand from that pocket L was evident
that he had big gun there He watched
81 Of the men and women closely all
day ard DID not allow them % set be-
hind him AZ any tine.
THAT evening John Norris said to him:
Jesse. you do nor think I belong %
the gang, do you2 / have never given
YOU any cause 70 make you think /
would hurt you2"
Jesse replied. wen. don't know
shout you. You seem 70 be all right
Tut 7 guess you belong - that gang.
hut being a relative YOU would do noth-
ing for me- OF against me. You would
let nae take care Of myself"
John Norris and his family became
alarmed AZ the mans actions NJ this
time. They cid not know that he had a
gun untH last Monday and as he seemed
20 be more wstchful of everyone at thar
time
Thursday evening Jesse Norris seemed
90 be more on the alert than ever be-
fore He watched every movement ~
the family with the eve Of a hawk and
seemed particularly restless. BE moved
about steslthuy all the evening and
when he vent 70 his room walked about
Tor several hours. every few moments
going 70 the window and peerinE OK.
He did not have light in his room
About II o'clock the family heard him
moving the furniture about in the room.
5e pulled a wardrobe up n the door.
thus completely blocking IT, but he also
dragged his bureau against the ward
robe and then piled the chairs on ROD
OF these and anallv drew his bed close
- the barricade. There he stayed ana
81 the pleadings Of his cousin and his
family failed 10 move him from the
room
John Norris went UP to the room ard