The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-09
WIDOW UPBRAIDS
THE MAN ACCUSED OF HER HUs-
BANDS MURDER.
A TRAGIC SCENE IN COURT
WHEN MRS. WILLIAMS CONFRONT
ED NORRIS AT AUGUSTA.

widow Was on the Stand to Testify
TO Williams Affection for Her-As
She Left the Stand, She Faced
Norris and Declared the KiIIinp
Had Been COId-BIOOded Murder.
Turning to the Defendants At
tOrney, She Struck Him with Her
Ear Trumpet.
Augusta, May S.-A very dramatic
and sensational incident occurred in
the Superior Court this evening, in the
Norris murder trial, just before ad-
journment. In fact, it probably hast
ened the adjournment.
AS previously published in the Morn
ing News, ]. r. Norris, a policeman,
killed w. o. Williams. The line of de-
Tense is that Williams had violated
Norris home, causing a separation of
man and wife. This occurred a year
before the killing, but it was this that
caused Norris to accost Williams, but
not with any idea of killing him. After
a few sentences were exchanged, Nor
ris alleges that Williams declared with
an oath, I've said I'd kill you, and
I'll do it now" accompanying the words
with threatening gesture. Thereupon,
in self defense, Norris drew his police
mans pistol and fired five shots into
Williams, only few feet distant.
Only one of the states wit
nesses testified that as Will
nams fell he exclaimed, MY
God, you have killed an innocent man."
The defense, in further support of the
theory of self-defense, introduced Wit
ness George Wolff, who swore that a
few weeks before the killing, some time
in May, 1902, he was walking along
Walker street at night, when Williams
stepped from an alley and caught him
Williams released him Immediately,
exclaiming, Il thought that you were
that Cd d Norris. If it had been
l would have killed him." He went
to the depot at once and told Mr.. Nor
ris of what had occurred.
Norris Makes Statement.
In his statement the prisoner
declares he had no thought of
seeing Williams until he met
him, and then he only intended to
upbraid him with his treatment.
Williams he said 'at first denied
he saw that l could not be deceived
about his identity, made the threaten
ing remark and gesture, and l shot to
save my own life"
Witnesses testify for the state that
Williams was returning to his home
from a nearby ice house, carrying
block of ice in tin pan; that during
the conversation with Norris before
the shooting Williams stood holding
the pan iE both hands and did not
drop it until shot.
The evidence was all in, and in re-
buttal the state put Mrs. Williams on
the stand TO testify to her dead hus-
bands devotion to his own home and
affection for her, to discredit the story
of his trespass in Norris family. She
is quite deaf and uses AM ear trumpet.
She was nervous and unstrung, and
couldn't well understand the lawyers
objection to her testimony, and when
she was directed to return from the
witness stand to her seat by the pros
ccutipg attorneys, she had to pass
close by the lawyers for the defense
and the prisoner.
"He Never WrOnged YOU"
AS she did, she was overcome by
her feelings and confronting Norris,
she raised her ear trumpet in
threatening gesture and exclaimed in
excited tones, MY poor nuSDanu
never wronged you or yours, and it
was a cold blooded murder, and you
know it,"
The dramatic incident caused the
greatest sensation among the large
audience that filled the court.
Then addressing Attorney Ham
mond, who was between her and the
prisoner, she exclaimed: You are le-
sponsible for all these charges against
my husbands character" and as she
spoke struck him with her ear trumpet.
Judge Gary ordered the sheriff to re-
move Mrs. Williams from the court
room until she could control herself.
A few minutes later court adjourned
until morning, the lawyers having
agreed to three hours of argument OH
each side.
The case attracts much attention
and crowds the Court House