The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-02-15
NORTON DIVORCE
 PROCEEDINGS BEGUN
PARTIES CONCERNED 4 FORMER TALE STUDENT AND fl NEW
 HAVEN GIRL,

Plaintiff is Also the Son of New York
 NiIiOnaIre-Case Likely to Prove One |
 of the Most Interesting of It's Kind |
 Ever Held in This City-SpectatOrs |
 Crowd Court ROOm--First Days Evi-
 dence.
 What will no doubt prove to be one of the most interesting divorce cases ever heard before the superior court in this city was begun yesterday when the famous Norton action was opened be- fore Judge Shumway. Mrs. Norton, for merly Josephine Birney, is well known and the fact that young Norton is the son of a New York millionaire and a Yale student, gives to the case a tinge of the romance so often read about in novels. Public interest in the case was shown by the large crowd of spectators who occupied the court room. There was also a big array of the learned lights of the bar who occupied seats on both sides of the table used by coun- sel. This would indicate that some knotty points will come before the court for settlement and also that the skir- mishes between the opposing counsel will be of very warm and interesting description.
 Mrs. Norton was seated near her law yers in a prominent place, Her pres- ence attracted much attention, She is quite attractive and was attired in a natty but quiet suit of blue of perfect fit. Her hat was becoming,
 Young Norton, who has come of age since the proceedings were first started, was also present but did not cut quite as conspicuous a figure as did his young wife.
 That he was present was discovered when he was asked to stand for pur- pose of Identification. He is tall and of slender build with handsome and quiet features.
 The details of the case are as follows:
 Norton was a popular member of the Sheffield class when he married Miss Birney, January Is, 1906. Miss Birney has been well known in New Haven, most prominent as cloak model.
 After his marriage young Norton was taken from college by his irate father, The suit for divorce was followed short ly after on the dual grounds of habit ual intemperance and inildellty. In the present bill of complaint as amended on several occasions there are twenty-sev- ell correspondents named.
 When court opened the complaint was read, to which general denial of the allegations, save the part of the mar riage, was read. The first witness call- ed was John Kirk of 109 Wolcott street, of the livery firm of Kirk & Co in Temple street, One of the allegations in the complaint alleges an incident during hack ride, and the plaintiff $ inquired for MT Kirk's books in an ef- fort to see if a hack was rented to the defendant and a companion in any way OF the date of the unlawful act. The wrong books had been brought by MT. Kirk, and he was excused until he could obtain the right records, which he claimed to have. The fact, however, was brought out that had a carriage been rented on the night which it is alleged to have been, it would appear on rec ord
 The next witness called was Alfred E Mills, of 165 Goffe street, a waiter in John J, Lucey's Temple street cafe. He testified that he knew Mrs, Norton and in response to the question as to whether or not he had seen her in the cafe since the date of the marriage January IS, 1906, he said he had He he'd known her, he said, since 1902, and said she was patron of the place.
 He was asked about an automobile party of two men and two women which stopped at the place one evening in May. Mrs Norton. he testified, was one, but Mir Norton was not, Hadlai A. Hull of New London, states attor- ney for his county, conducted the case for the plaintiff. His manner of re- ferring to Mrs. Norton as Miss Birney that was was objected to, and he claimed the right of referring to her as he chose if he did not reflect upon her Judge Shumway sustained him. On that occasion witness said the party occupied the private dining room and were served with supper. He said Mrs. Norton drank several ginger ale highballs before supper and during the meal they all drank champagne, The walter testified that he had seen Mrs Norton in Lucey's on six or seven oc- casions.
 | "Where was she on those eecasionsg
 Sometimes in the public and some times in the private dining room.
 It was brought out through the waiter that the only time lie had seen Mrs Norton intoxicated was on football night. after another party which he de scribed. On this occasion it was shoWr that young Norton was not present.
 That Mrs. Norton had been in tht habit of getting liqqpr at Lucey's ant | having 1t charged was brought out 1T the testimony of Mills, who said he helt checks of indebtedness signed by her These, he said, were in possession o Mir. Kenna, who agreed to produce l them.
 It was after 12 o'clock when Mill was conditionally excused and MT Kirk, the liveryman, took the stand He had with him the books wanted early in the trial When court adjourn ed at i o'clock he was. engaged in ex 1 plaining the meaning of several entrie in the book recording carriages rented The plaintiffs will seek to show tha