The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-07-22

statement that the women had retnrne'
East was q fabrication.
Williams, ,nabIn 10 escape the spec
TIRE Of suspicion finally relinquished hi
homestead and forged Alma NesbittI
name to REIMBURSEMENT Of her claims
He then went to British Columbia, ant
thence 10 Dellingham. Wash, where h
married another woman, who died un
de suspicious circumstance littl'
less than two years ago.
George Nesbitt, the son and brothsl
Of the murdered women, was attracted
TO Oregon by reading newspaper ac
count Of the lictmFnt on October
20, 1908, Of Norman Williams by the
Federal grand jury at Portland, foi
having forged the name OF Alma Mes
bitt to homestead REIMBURSEMENT"
George Nesbitt conducted q searching
investigation which revealed . start
ling array OF evidence Of an ineriminat.
Ing nature against Williams and which
resulted In Williams being indicted In
January, 1905, by the Waco county
Oregon, grand jury.
The investigation instituted by Geo
Nesbitt resulted in the discovery that
the ground under an old chicken house
on the Williams claim had been broken.
Digging, the seareheS found well de.
fined walls Of grave two feet wide,
by six feet long.
AZ the depth Of seven feet several
gunnysacks were discovered clotted
and still with blood, and two large
buuches of human hair, also bloodstain-
ed, one bunch gray and the other bunch
black, answering the description Of the
missing women's hair. Al the trial
evidence was introduced which showed
that the hair had been forcibly sepa.
rated from the scalp before the victims
death. A broken dish with hair cling,
Ing to the edges was also found in the
grave. Nothing further was ever found
Williamn was apprehended at Bel
lingham, Wash, February 8, 1905, aud
brought bhek TO The Dalles, Oregon, for
trial.
The eyidnce against him was purely
that years had elapsed, the state weay-
cd coil OF evidence about Williams so
strong that the efforts OF one of the fine
est criminal lawcn in the Northwest
failed 10 shake the impression Of guilt
In the minds Of the jury, and on May
81. last, Williams was convicted OF mur
der In the frat degree. The usual ap.
peal to the supreme court Of the state
followed, and Williams was sentenced
to hang today.
Williams career in Oregon was not
his first experience in law breaking.
lie Is an exeonyict of the Nebraska
where he served term of
four years for criminal assault upon
the wife OF one Of his neighbors in that
state; and another term for criminal
assault and attempted murder Of his
sister.in.law at Chadro. Neb. This
latter crime was fully Us atrocious in
conception as was the murder of the
Ncsbitt woman. He taduced the girl
and then threw her into well. Sup.
posing her drowned, he set up an alarm.
The girls dress had, however, caught
on snag and she was rescued.
In addition TO his other crimes vii.
liams was also bigamnst, having one
wife living In Nebraska; another, now
divorced. living in Oregon, not to men.
lion Alma Nesbitt whom he killed, and
The Bellingham wife, who died under
,upicious circumstances.
A peculiar feature of Williams car.
'er is that, Notwithstanding his char,
lcter, in whichever district he dwelt,
Until found out in some crime, he main.
aimed a reputation of eminent respect.
Ibility.