The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-12-13

,flrhe fddtectivc aai1ed his greatest
fame in his chase after the gold briclc
swindlers. This game was worked
years. most successfully w some OF
fhe 6Ieveresti crooks flie police oetthe
country ever came In contact with.
They operated in three gangs and
among the leaders were Cameron Bos-
letter, alias Big Charley Adams,
Frank L. Smith, alias Frank Dock
wood, Peter Conlisk, Patrick b. Davis,
alias Charley Davis, alias Red A tin
and Louis Ludlum, alias Little a )u
Bosletter, alias Adams, was arrested
few months ago by the New York
police for a gigantic swindle and the
authorities had to call on Norris to
positively identify him.
Indictments were secured against
them ~ Norris IN Massachusetts.
Connecticut, New York. New Jersey,
pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky In
diana, Michigan, Illinois and Iowa for
totei of over $500, ,O00 which they
had fraudulently obtained They
were captured several times and
forfeited over 100000 In bonds in
New York, Connecticut, Ohio and
Illinois alone. m f6 9anf
John T. Norris was born in Seneca
county, Ohio on August 8, 1898. fHis
father was a farmer and the sieuth
| obtained such an education as farm-
ers' boys usually got at that time. A.
the age of twenty he was sent to
Heidelberg college and afterward
graduated from a commercial college
at Cleveland. He also attended
Georgetown college, a military school
for a short time.
His father intended him for a law
yer and he took a pretty thorough
course. but the bent Of his mind was
not in that direction.
This course of study was of great
advantage to him, as he gained
practical knowledge of the law and IT.
assisted him materially In his chosen
profession. He knew the legal ef-
feet of everything he did and showed
extraordinary skill and talent in
that respect. .a "a
Norris went into the army fnt.1s6t
as a government detective under Gen.
eral Baker. lie also served in the
same capacity under General Burn
SIDE. He was connected with the
yallandigham affair, and was sent to
Ohio In government service during
the Morgan raid At the close of
the war he married Miss Sarah
Sprague--who died several years ago
and became a resident of this city.
where he always resided until q few
weeks ago. one daughter was born
TO this union, Miss Nellie Norris. She
was the wife of w. G. Holloway. a
druggist at present i'm business I'm
Dayton She was unconscious at the
time of her fathers death and died
two days later In 1875 he commenced
business as detective and by his skill
became celebrated all over the United
States.
knowledge of Law.
Norris knowledge of the law was
demonstrated at the time of the Sui
llVan-kilrain fight at Richburg
, Mississippi. A report gained clreu-
lation that the state officials would
stop the bout and arrest the prfnci-
: pals. Norris was employed by XII
rain to get him out OF the state, pro-
Vlded the officials took hand in the
affair.
Norris prepared an affidavlt to
serve on Kilrain, which was declared
Dy lawyers and sporting writer's to
nave been masterpiece of legal
I work. Columns of space were de-
, voted to IL. During the past few
. years the story has been rewritten
! at length, even women Journalists
taking hand in 1t.
Mr.. and Mrs. Norris We're greatly
=, devoted TO each other. and when she
was called away by death Change
came over him. He was not HIM
self and grief over the loss of his
life companion may be held respon-
slble for the Illness which finally re-
= suited in his death
Norris had the reputation for years
!. OF being the best reVovler shot In
the United States. IT was claimed
= that he could pull n gun and get a
=. drop so quickly that no one had n
!, chance with him. He proved this
on one occasion in Indiana, where
ne went to arrest a man who was i'm
. plicated in the Bohemian wheat
o fraud.
Norris descended into the cellar OF
house after him. The sleuth was
= recognized. The light was eXTln-
= suished and the man drew his reyol-
q ver
: Proves a Good Shot.
He never got chance to use Il.
, AS he started to cover Norris n shot
!, rang out and the revolver fell to Che
=" moor. The detective had beat him
. to 1t and the bullet had amputatei
the thumb of the hand which held
the weapon. The detective stated
- that he was guided In shooting by the
steel barrel of the gun in the dark
ness t.,.
When young man he gained re-
nown for saving the life OF passen-
y ger In railroad wreck near Tiffn
Ohio If the act had been performed
In these days he would have received
a Carnegie medal. The passenger was
:. lawyer and his leg was pinned Ia
y such a manner that II was impossible
- to rescue him. The wreck caught
!. fire and was solwly. but surely burn
:. Ing towards him. The lawyer pleaded
- with those at the scene to give him
- revolver that he might kill HIM
= self and escape the torture of being
slowly burned to death
Norris secured an AK, which had
Just been sharpened. Rushing up Ia
p. the helpless lawyer he suggested thai