Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-11-01
PASTORS DEFENSE TO PICTURE
VICTIM AS DANGEROUS MAN,
DR.. Norris Represented as
Beating Chips, Slain
Foe, ito Draw"
Goes Right on Preaching to
Crowds and Urging Re-
Iigious Views.
BY ROBERT r. SMALL.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
FORT WORTH, November 1.-They
say of the modern murder trial that
you generally try the dead man
Woman slayerS nearly always VIII
their freedom on this latter-day by
pothesiS.
Rev. DR.. J. Frank Norris, stepping
fresh from the pulpit to the prisoner S
dock here today, expects to win his
freedom by proving that D. E. Chips
was a Dangerous man. and there
fore the minister of the gospel was
justified in shooting him to death
Rev. DR.. Norris is the second SEN
sational evangelist to share the spot
light Of public attention during the
last few months. Like Aimee Semple
Mcpherson Of Los Angeles, DR.. Nor
r'is has his own temple, the First
Baptist Church. Like Aimee, he Is
crusader, not only for the Lord, but
against everything he regards In the
nature OF a civic Ill. Like Aimee. ne
has his own broadcasting radio sta
ton, high-powered affair or ooo
watts, and, like Aimee. he has kept
the ether sizzling with attacks upon
his enemies and 1.-The diabOlic plots
he saws have been formed against him.
Has Confidence of Flock.
Like Aimee, Rev. DR.. Norris has
the loyal confidence and support OF
every member of his flock. His con
gregation consists of at least 5,O0o
souls. 1t is claimed that his Sunday
school class is the largest in the couh-
try. if not in the world.
Like Aimee Mcpherson, DR.. MOTIFS
Is conducting his church largely &C
cording to his own ideas. He Is not
affiliated with the State or county
Baptist conference, but Is SUN ell
gagged in a battle for recognition.
Since the killing of Chips, Dr.
Norris has not missed a SUNDAY IN
the pulpit. AS a matter of fact, ne
has been engaged most OF the time
in conducting countrywide revival
and has been preaching almost daily
with an ever-increasing fervor. AS his
bail undoubtedly will be continued, DR..
Norris is expected to continue preach
ing during all the time his life Is In
jeopardy.
1t is DR.. Norris contention that a
minister of the Gospel is just as much
entitled to shoot in self-defense as
any other citizen of the community.
He claims that Chips, big, power
full, tWo-fiSted, herman. as they deSlg'
nate them here where the West
begins" called at his office, adjoining
the church, and threatened to Kill him
if he did not cease his attacks on
Mayor Meacham and City Manager
Carr of Fort Worth. The minister
claims that at one time during the
interview Chips put his hand to his
hip pocket. The minister fired. He
did not shoot timidly once, but boldly
five times. and so steady were his
nerves, so true his aim, that four OF
the bullets took effect.
Calm After Shooting.
The Fort Worth chief of police has
declared that DIR. Norris was the
calmest man he ever arrested after
a homicide.
Il am sorry, chief, I had to do 1t, y
he said, without a tremor in his
voice..
Chips, the victim of the shooting
parson. was found to be unarmed
The prosecution will demand to know
why he should have reached for his