Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-01-24
'HEFORFEITED
RIGHT TOLIFE'
SHELTON Says
Judge in Charge Says
Defendant Had the
Right TO Protect
Self If Attacked

COURTROOM. AUSTIN. Jan. "a
GPl-State and defense closed their
testimony INV the Norris murder trial
at $3.50 u. ". today and the judge be-
gan his charge 20 the jury shortly
aftrFward.
Arguments to the jury are 10 be
limited to siN hours 20 n side
The state opened its argument with
Attorney John shelton Of Austin.
special prosecutor. demanding th1
death penalty for Norris.
He has forfeited his right t0 lifa
and liberty Shelton told the jury.
The chief point in Judge James r.
HamiltoH's charge ID the jury was
-appa. mt danger" lie explained
that the question of whether Norris
was IN apparent danger of his life
should DC viewed from the stand
point of how the circumstances ap-
pearrd ~ the defendant. He de-
ciared that the defendant was not
hound ~ retreat, but under the law
had 4 right 10 stand and defend him
self III attacked
There are four possible results: A
verdict Of murder carrying five years
I'd death; manslarghter, two to five
years; not guilty; q iung jury.
Fear NJ possible injury to mr. J.
Frank Norris caused hiA friends here
today 10 ask court hailiffs for per-
mission ~ Eit near him within the
railing where his murder trial IN
drawing 20 close
shelton attacked Norris own tcs-
timony stating that II defendants IN
murder cases were believed not
single man would ever be convicted"
He charged the defense had tried
Chips. but that the only complaint
that had heen brought against tho
deceased was that he imhibed H.
quor.
"Because one man drinks. may an
other man kill him3r asked shelton.
RE said IN witnesses about Chipps'
drinking were 30 be believed then
the "visible supply of liquor I'M Fort
Worth must have gone down eighty
per cent.
The only thing ever shown that
"poor old Chips merited death is
that he stepped on n negro'S foot
and took n drink"
"Chipps didn't have gun, h.
didn't @vcn have pocket knife yet
they ray he reached for his pocket.
Shelton said.
"Men don't reach for something
thsy don't have. Isn't Il possible
Norris induced Chips to return ~
he could shoot him i'm the front ~
stead Of the back" Didn't he risE
up his self defense thcn7 III he had
shot him in the hnck X would GER
tainly have heen the electric chair
for him.
"Norris denied that Ne had said
I've killed me n man because this
was foreign tD his nature NV I'M
foreign 20 his naturey Within l3
hours after hc took u human life
standing IN What should be the sane
tnarv Of God. while the bells wrrs
ringing la hi ears from Chlpps
funeral W. preached "a sermon. Hu-
man blood was dripping from hIs
hands. yet NV preached about thH
humble Jesus. Yet foreign 70 his
nature ~ sny I've killed mn IN
man7'
what does It mean 10 the laws of
this state w men who parade ir tha
rnrments or q minister may tnkB
human life and 20 nnpunishedf"
Attorney Marvin Simpson took un
the argument for tine defense. He IN
sisted that if Norris is guilty of any
nffrn1e the jury must believe bH-
yond 4 reasonable doubt that he Is
guilty pf murder with malice afore-
I, thought and that II IN either murder
on nothing.
-.T0u muEt believe Dr. Norris
had malice against Chipps.- Simr-
son said. III ron do not believe this
then VIC crime has been committed
7. But there ~ not a scintilla of evil
dcnce- not even suggestion. uf
murder IN this case.
Simpson was able 10 touch on bue
few IN the light points w the evil
uencc prior 10 noon recess. Hc re-
/ ferred 10 the judges charge that if
defendant had "A right 40 fire thn
first shot ~ also had d RIGHT 70
fire subsequent shots of aelf-drfcnsr.
eH rnnr rarntrd Dn the evidence ln
Chinps' alleged drinking habits.
Simpson said Mayor w. e.. Mparh-
Am haI hired lD prosecutors "und
paid them fabulous fees 20 prose-
cute Norris
" murder has been committed w
This case II has bean committed bv
nv. XIV Menrhan vf Fort Worth. Simn-
son said.
When court opened circle of
frierda cf the preacher. snt AZ hiY
rastor who i charged with killing
III. ". Chinps.
FEED ~. Holland. former Fort
Worth policeman. who terrified i'm
behalf cf Norris and who IN N close
friend ar thcp reacher. sat at his
right elhnw. Just bark Of Norris
werr three prominent members cf him
church. thc HFst Baptist church "
Fort Worth.
Dr. Norris said he understood
there were a large number Of his
Fort Worth supporters in the court
room w anticipation or the close or
the trini tomorrow or Wedms sdny.
There wnE nn one sitting near Nor
RS except those known 70 BE friendly
tD him
| a. D. Ro~ers of FBrt Worth was rn-
called 70 the witness stand. He tes~