Glasgow Courier. — 1857-06-02 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

MURDER AT ALTOONA.  We have received files down to the 7th of May of the Altoona (U.S.) Tribune, which give very full details of one of the most cruel nnirders on record, The particulars are more than usually interesting, from the guilt of the murderer being made manifest by his own intercepted letter. The narrative we must condense from columns into lines. The victim was Mr. Samuel T. Norcross, a medical gentleman, who, about twelve months ago, left his friends at Massachusaets to practice at Dunleith, on the Mississippi River. He took a considerable amount of his own and his sister's money with him to invest in land. He was young, amiable, and successful in practice, but fell into bad health, and while arranging to return to his friends, incautiously made the acquaintance of a villain named 11PKitn, • native of New Jersey. This man, becoming aware of Dr. Norcross'a means, ingratiated himself into his confidence, and in his weak state of health he readily accepted Itt'ltint's offer to accompany him and see him safe home to his friends. They started in the early part of January, Norcross paying all expenses. He is known to have had in his possession about 2,000 dollars in notes and gold, two bonds of 800 dollars each, gold watch, trinkets, &c. Miiim had no means, and had led • very indifferent life. The curs reached Altoona about thtee o'clock on the morning of the 17th January, and two men (supposed to be these) were seen to leave the cars on the opposite side from thet at which the other passengers alighted, and to go by a path away from the town. Norcross's body was found later the same morning in a ditch at the side of the rails with his head battered as if by a hedge-stake (which was found near the spot), tpul his neck cut, but the wound was not vital. An opon razor lay near. From the evidence it appeared that all along the load M'Kim represented Norcross to be partially insane, and it seems to have been his intention to leave the impiession that he had been robbed and thrown from the cars, and in his regret for the loss of his money had cut his Own throat-. M'Him disappeared, and there was no money about Norcross. M'Kim took refuge in a low den at Reading, and thence, accompanied by two girls, took a fine house at Pottsville, which he furnished splendidly. The carpet account was 800 dollars, and he lodged 100 dollars as advance of rent. As it was the most respectable part of the town the neighbours were scandalised at the class of tenants. Here • gambler, who had seen him and the girls at Reading, and had been told by one of the girls where they were going, called upon them, and feeling sure that MAlso was the man suspected for the murder, telegraphed to the police. But M`Kim had taken alarm before the constables arrived, and fled. He shaved off his whiskers, and engaged as ostler at • lonely tavern on the Mouth Mountain, in Luzern° County, and here was apprehended by two travellers, being recognised by the published description. His trial began on Thursday. April 30, and was not brought to a conclusion till Friday, May S. 11e was defended by four counsel, who 411 spoke at length, and the prisoner spoke ten' minutes himself. He was found guilty, and condemned to be banged. His leading counsel, Colonel Hofins, moved an arrest of judgment, on the plea that the jury had been spoken to by persons—that is, that they had board three sermons delivered on Sunday, The motion was summarily disposed of. A letter was read front the prisoner to one of his old comrades, asking three of them to swear they saw him leave the oars fifteen miles from Altoona, and that It would save him, and they would all go off and live on plenty. It had been given to a fellow-prisoner to get posted. The party,read it before posting it, end the police getting notice, traeed it to the party to whom it was sent, who was called as a witness by the Commonwealth, and denied that he saw 11Pliim or knew anything of his movements at the time of the murder. The unspent money of the murdered man has not yet been discovered.