Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1906-07-26
Decision in the Norris Case
Was Rendered in Raleigh
Saturday Night.
JURY WAS OUT Il HOURS
Would Have Been Discharged if The
Jurors Had Been Out an Hour
Later"-N0rFiS Congratulate
ed by Friends On bis
Acquifai.
Raleigh News & Observer.

Raleigh News & Observer.
At $3.50 O'Clock last night the jury
in the Norris case returned d verdict
Of "Not guilty" acquiting MIR. M.
T. Norris, one Of Raleigh's most
prominent merchants, Of the charge
of burning the old Norris house, the
property of his wife, for the purpose
of collecting an insurance policy
thereon for $500. The trial egan
Tuesday afternoon and was one Of
the storniest between counsel ever
conducted in Wake Superior Court.
The case went to the jury Friday
night at 9:45 O'Clock, and the jury
was out q hours and 10 minutes.
At $3.50 o'clock last night Judge
Webb was informed by the officer
that the jury had reached a verdict.
He proceeded Immediately to the
court room and asked the jurors if
they had agreed upon their verdict.
Mr.. John Stronach, spokesman for
the jury, announced that they had
agreed, and Judge Webb instructed
the clerk, Mr.. Vituevius Royster, to
take the verdict. The Jurors stood up
and when their verdict was announc-
Cd the clerk al sossay you all ,''s
ana tfiere was no response to the
contrary.
Mr.. Norris and several of his per-
sonal friends were present, and they
congratulated him warmly upon his
acquital.
At $50 O'Clock last night Judge
Webb sent word to the officer of the
Jury to come to the hotel at once,
and upon his arrival instructed him
to notify the solicitor and counsel for
the State and for the defendant to be
at the hotel at 1920 o'clock, his pur-
pose then being to discharge the jury
if they had not agreed upon their
verdict. He was Of the opinion that
should they not have agreed by that
time it was not likely that they
could arrive upon verdict, and
Judge Webb did not propose to con-
tinue the term of court next week.
When the officer arrived at the
hotel he informed the judge that the
jurors were at supper, and upon their
return to the court room they sent
the officer for Judge Webb and an
nounced their verdict.
The jury sent for Judge Webb at
10 O'Clock yesterday morning and
Mr.. Stronach, the spokesman an
nounced that the jury could not
agree. The judge told them about
the great Importance Of the case, and
said they looked to be honest men,
capable Of arriving at just decision,
and that he would have to keep them
: together until they should have
agreed.
The jurors sat down and held a
conference in undertone, and the
spokesman stated to the judge that
i the jury wished to hear the evidence
read. Judge webb read about half
4 of the testimony Of the witnesses, ,and
! Just before he had concluded reading
/. the testimony of the negro boy
Spokesman Stronach stated that when
he had finished reading that the jury
would have heard all of the evidence
that was desired to refresh their
memory.
It was 2:45 when Judge Webb left
the court room. AT o'clock the
jury sent word to the judge that they
could not agree, but Judge Webb in
formed the officer that he would keeI
them together longer, but told him
he need not report to the jury what
he had said.
Judge Webb ordered a recess in