The Washington times., 1919-10-16

SUSPECT SON
TURNED GAS
ON IN NIGHT

BALTIMORE, Oct. 16.-Suspected
bf having turned on the gas which
caused the death Of his aged father
and mother, William E. and Sarah
Norman, yesterday morning at their
home, Joseph 7. Norman viii be
given a hearing before q jury sum-
moned by Coroner James NJ. FentOn,
be the Southwestern district, at $3.50
p'cIock tomorrow night.
Tells Conflicting Stories.
Norman was arrested yesterday
after an investigation by Capt. VIII
liam KaIbdeisch, Of the southwestern
district, who suspects that the younger
Norman went downstairs during the
night and turned on the gas In the
room in which his parents slept.
When Norman. was questioned yester-
day morning it. was found thar the
story he told 70 patrolmen who were
summoned upon discovery Of the
death Of the ased couple differed from
that which he told Captain Kalb-
deisch during the Investigation.
Norman told the patrolmeu that
about o'clock yesterday morning he
heard Eroaus from the room occupied
BY his parents, but since his father
had been suffering with paralysis Tor
some years he did not investigate
Later he told Captain Kalbheisch that
about 2.3O g. M, upon hearing groans
from the room he did 60 downstairs.
Upon entering the room, he said, he
had found everything all right and
had returned TO bed
woman Hears Creams.
When informed OF the tragedy BY
Mrs. Ellis Peay,. who occupies the
second floor of the dwelling, Norman
appeared surprised. Mrs. Peay told
the police that she also had heard
Froans about 1880 a. m, and when
she went down stairs from her room
she found the old couple quarreling IN
bed Mrs. Norman was endeavoring
20 quiet her husband, who was suf-
fering paralytic pains. Mrs. Peay
said at that time there was no gas
in the room and that a lamp was
burning on the mantel. The door
leading TO the stairs and the win
dWos were closed.
Both Mrs. Peay and her husband,
Ellis Peay. said they had heard cries
for help about o'clock, but had not
needed them, since they had known
Of the chronic suffering OF the elder
Norman and thought that one Of the
sons would answer the call.
When the couple were discovered
by Mrs. Peay, who traced the odor OF
gas TO their room about 7:45 a. m,
she ran 20 the third floor and called
the two sons, Edward and Joseph.
The police were notified and resus-
citating apparatus used. Dr. James
W. KatzenburEer, who arrived about
500, said Mr. and Mrs. Norman had
ben dead less than an hour.
Denies GuIIt.
- Last night Norman denied that he
had left his room after he had retired
Tuesday night. He asserted emphati-
cally that he had not told anyone
that be had gone downstairs about
2s30 o'clock 70 the place his parents
q were sleeping.
did you turn on the gas IN your
mothers room?" he was asked.
NO, no.. no. Everything was all
right. didn't touch the gas" he re-
piled
Norman could not say when he had
gone 70 bed, he did not know whether
it was. before or after midnight, but
did say that he had gone before his
mother had retired. There had been
no III feeling between his parents and
himself he said.
Norman is OF small stature, with
gray hair and pale blue restless eyes.
He was agitated and would reply TO a
question before it was completely
spoken. He said he was a helper on
odd jobs, such as he was able to do,
and that he had lived with his
parents for the past three years. He
was acuf toned 70 hearing Eroans
from his father IN the night, he said.
Norman Is unmarried.