Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-11-01
PREACHER SLAYER
ASKS TRIAL CHANGE
Rev. ]. F. Norris Sees "Com-
bination" Against Him in
Texas County.
Continued on Page S, Column 81
By the Associated Press.

FORT WORTH, Tex, November 1.
Charges that city officials Of Fort
Worth. members of the Knights of
Columbus and Roman Catholics in
general have entered "a combination
to prosecute DR.. j. Frank Norris, Bap-
fist pastor. were made when Norris
trial on a charge Of numbering DeX-
ter Z. Chips, Fort Worth lumber
man, was called in Judge George
Hosey's court here today.
The charges were presented in an
application for change of venue filed
by defense attorneys and read to the
court by Dayton Moses, leading coun-
sci.
The application averred that the
fundamentalist pastor cannot obtain
"a fair and impartial" trial in Tarrant
or Dallas Counties and asked that the
case be transferred to some other
Texas county, free from the preju-
dices which exist here"
State Opposes Change.
Court recessed until pm. to per
nit the prosecution to prepare It's
answer to a request for venue
change. District Attorney Robert
Hanger, leading the prosecution. an
nounced the State would resist the
application.
Rev. Mr.. Norris for nearly 20 years
has been identified with reform move
ments of State and national scope.
With more than 100 witnesses sum-
moned, IS Of whom were to TESTIFY
for the defense, and a special yenlre
Of 500 drawn, opposing counsel nave
indicated detailed evidence will be in
troduced covering DR.. Norris part in
controversies on evolution, the hu
Klux Khan, political issues and the
prohibition law.
Defense counsel are expected to base
their defense on a plea of self-defens,
in conformity to q statement Dr.
Norris issued to the States at
torney, in which he maintained
Chipps threatened him when the lum-
herman called at the study to protest
attacks against the administration of
Mayor H G.. Meecham. Criticisms or
Mayor Meecham appeared In the
Searchlight, church newspaper.
Deacon to BE Witness.
II. l.. Mutt, deacon Of the church,
is the principal defense witnes. Mutt
claims he was in the study during an
argument in which he declares Chips
threatened bodily harm. Carl Glaze.
! 14-year old boy, has signed statement
/ FOR the prosecution, stating he saw
! Chips shot to death in an anteroom
leading to the study. State detectives
! who investigated the shooting reported
! & pool OF blood on the anteroom floor.
! Both Mutt and Norris declare the
/ shooting occurred in the study, where
! Chips body was found.
! a native OF Alabama. DR.. Norris
came TO Texas in 1907 and first at
! tIacted attention as editor Of the Bap-
! tist Standard at Dallas. He was cred
! tied with leading Il campaign resulting
! in enactment of law prohibiting
) gambling at Texas race tracks. He
! then turned his attention TO evangei-
cal work, and, starting with a con-
gregation Of 10. built up membership
! Of nearly 10000, including hundreds of
: farmers. who traTel 80 10 40 miles to
hear his sermons.
The present trial Is the third in
! which DR.. Norris has been defendant
! In 1872 his church and home burned
/ following alleged mysterious attacks
! Continued on Page 1. Column o.