New Britain herald., 1926-11-02
SOME MEN ANXIOUS
 T0 SERVE ON JURY
Want to Break Norris Damn Neck," Witness Says
VENUE HEARING CONTINUES
Friend of Accused Texas Clergyman Declares Fair Trial at Fort Worth Impossible - Lawyers and Court in Wrangie.

in Wrangle.
 Fort Worth, Texas, Nov. 2 tP- A member of Dr. J. Frank Norris church, who contributed S10 to the pastors defense, testified today in the venue change hearing in which Norris Is seeking to have his trial transferred to another county, that he had heard men say they would like to get on the jury and break his damn neck"
 This witness was J. B. Davis, a railway mail clerk.
 Dr. Norris is on trial for the staying of Dexter E. Chipps, wealthy lumberman.
 Heard Fixed Opinions
 When the witness stated he had heard fixed opinions on the case all the way from Fort Worth to Anna rillo, Attorney W. P. Mclean asked if he didn't think the case, there fore, should be taken to some other state. but an objection to the ques- tion was sustained.
 Evidence on Norris motion for 8 change Of venue on the ground that the fundamentalist pastor cannot get fair trial here on a charge of murdering Chipps started yesterday afternoon. Five witnesses have testified that the defendant, ill their opinion, cannot get an i'm partial trial in this county.
 Has Been Preaching
 Isn't it a fact that since the shooting Norris has gone all over this country preaching?" prose- cution attorney asked.
 T saw that in the papers," Da- wis answered.
 And you believe what you see in the papers??"
 "Yes."
 Have you heard 1t stated he wanted to disqualfy jurors?"
 T understood he was on 8 re- ligious campaign"
 You mean he was conducting 8 religious campaign just before go- ing on trial for murder"
 Well, yes, it was before his trial"
 When Davis said he had heard some say they'd like to get on the jury and make a trade with the state, Judge George Hosey. presid- ing, took him in hand.
 Judge Takes q Hand
 You mean to say you heard a man say they would accept a bribe from the prosecution and did not report it?" the judge asked.
 Well, I didn't pay much atten- tion to it, just passed it up," Da- wis said.
 Davis said Dr. Norris' church members were very militant in the pastors behalf.
 Do you mean they are so strong for him that they would try to find out how prospective jurors stood?" Attorney Mclean asked. Have you heard they called up members of jurors families?'
 Davis answered that he did not know.
 P. NJ. Dean, member Of Norris church, said he had not contributed ? dime to 'the lawyers fund" but had given some 'eXtra money which went through the regular budget
 Court Threatens Lawyer
 You didn't put in S15,000. did vou?" Attorney Marvin Simpson for the defense asked. Mayor II. c. Meacham yesterday testified he was paying special prosecutors s15,o0O fee in this case. When Simpson asked this question again later the judge instructed him to 1esist and when Simpson rose to explain the judge commanded him 10 sit down. Simpson persisted and he judge said:
 If you want me to be hard on you, just keep on"
 Story of Friendship
 The story of a friendship that lid not end with death is revealed IS one of the dramatic phases of he trial.
 This story was touched upon yes .erday by Mayor Fl. C. Meacham l n whose behalf Chips visited Dr. ! Norris in his study at the First | Baptist church last July to protest i attacks in the church publication l on the mayor, and was shot to | leath.
 The mayor. called by the de- 'ense to testify on the change of 'enue application, explained that le had retained 8 firm Of Fort | Worth lawyers to prosecute Norris | lnd had obligated himself to pay | ! fee of s15,000 for this service. | When asked why he had done this, le said:
 Was Ills Friend
 "Because Chipps was my friend. 1 considered it my duty 10 him. He ! would have done as much for me" 1 It had been previously an- that the special prosecu- ors had been retained by Mrs. D. | 2. Chips. divorced wife of the man . or whose staying Norris has been but Meacham said that he . Hone had hired the special prose- tutors out of a sense of obligation i o his dead friend.
 The mayor, who is a principal |
 (Contlnued on Fourth PaEe.)