| Notes |
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1900 census, TX, Jefferson, Beaumont, ed 32, 4-A, (T623-1650 , p.67)
June 21, 1900, 1139 Broadway, HH 745/767
Norvell, Wm W, head, W, M, Mar 1861, 39, m 9 yrs, TX, KY, LA, wood dealer
" , Arilia, dau, W, F, Dec 1866, 33, m 9 yrs, 0/0 children, MI, Can, Eng
Strache?, Carine, boarder, W, F, Mar 1881, 19, TX, TX, TX, stenographer
6 more boarders>
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1910 census, TX, Jefferson, Beaumont, ed 71, 2-A, (T624-1568, p.77)
April 16, 1910, 1137 Broadway, HH 19/24
Norvell, William W, head, M, W, 49, m1 17 yrs, TX, KY, TX
" , Aurelia M, wife, F, W, 43, m1 17 yrs, 0/0 children, MI, Can, Ireland
Adams, Mary A, mother-in-law, F, W, 78, m1 50 yrs, Ireland, Ire, Ire
" , William O, bro-in-law, 40, MI, Can, Ire
Grey, Lula, servant, F,B, 29, m1 2 yrs, TX, US, US
" , Frank, husband of Lula, M, B, 30, m1 2 yrs, MS, MS, MS
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The Port Arthur News, p. 1, November 20, 1930
WIFE-SLAYER HELD INSANE
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W.W. Norvell To Be Placed In Asylum
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Special to The News.
BEAUMONT. Nov. 20. -- William W. Norvell, 71, a member of a pioneer Beaumont family, was found insane by a jury in criminal district court today when arraigned for the murder of his wife, Aurelia Norvell, 58, at their home here, June 13, 1928.
An array of witnesses took the stand to swear that Norvell, whose late brother, Rush Norvell, was president of the American National bank here for many years, was of unsound mind when he slashed his wife to death with a knife and that the old man is now a lunatic.
The state did not contest the plea of insanity.
Since the evening of the killing, Norvell has been in jail.
Norvell's mind has been failing for eight or ten years, witnesses, most of them prominent in the business and social life of Beaumont, told the jury. Mrs. Norvell, the slain woman, herself had voiced the fear, less than 24 hours before she was killed, that her husband was on the verge of a 'nervous breakdown,' one witness testified.
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The Port Arthur News, p. 1, April 4, 1931
Adjudge Norvell is Sane
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Aged Beaumonter Slaying Wife Must Stand Trial For Murder
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Special to The News.
BEAUMONT, April 22 -- W.W. Norvell, aged Beaumont wife-slayer, must stand trial for murder.
Norvell, who hacked his wife, Aurelia, to death with a knive at their home here three years ago, pleaded insanity when arraigned before a criminal court jury on the murder charge last fall. The jury found him to be insane. The murder indictment was placed on the suspended docket of the court, and Norvell was removed to the state asylum at Wichita Falls, to await recovery of his mind.
Capias Issued
Norvell is now sane, according to a certificate received by Judge R. ?. Murray from Dr. Chas. W. Castner, superintendent of the Wichita Fall institution, who has had the old man under close observation. On receipt of this information, only one course was left for the judge. He directed the issuance of an alias capias for Norbell's re-arrest and return to Beaumont to face trial for the murder. Deputy Sheriff Glenn Hamman left here early today by automobile for Wichita Falls to convey a patient to the hospital, and Sheriff W.W. Covington notified him in a telegram to bring Norbell back to Beaumont.
Norvell's hearing on the murder charge will be set soon in criminal court, attaches indicated.
He can still set up as a defense the allegation that he was insane at the time his wife was slain. If the jury finds this claim to be true, it could acquit him of the murder and restore his liberty.
Family Prominent
Norvell is a member of a prominent Beaumont family. His late brother, Rush Norvell, was president of the American National bank.
Norvell never obtained bond while being held here on the murder charge. For a time he was confined in the county jail, but later was lodged in the insane ward, where he became a trusty.
Norvell is 70-odd years of age. His wife was fatally stabbed one spring evening in 1928 after he returned to their home from the woods, where he had been cutting and hauling wood. A short while prior to the killing, which occurred after Norvell chased his wife into the yard, Norvell had drunk some home-made wine, he told reporters who interviewed him at the city jail.
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The Port Arthur News, p. 3, June 22, 1932
UNSOUND MIND RULING ASKED
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Second Lunacy Trial For Wife-Slayer Begins
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Special to The News.
BEAUMONT, June 22. -- For the second time in four years, a court this afternoon will be asked to declare Will. W. Norvell, aged Beaumont man and wife-slayer, of unsound mind.
A hearing on a complaint in lunacy against Norvell, who killed his wife, Mrs. Aurelia Norvell, at their home here in 1928, was set for 2 p.m. today in county court. The complaint was signed by M.S. Duffie, attorney for Norvell.
After Norvell, a member of a prominent Beaumont family, was indicted for the murder of his wife he pleaded insanity and a jury in criminal district court found him to be insane. He was removed to a state asylum. After several months in the institution, he was declared to be sane by the superintendent and doctors. He was returned to the county jail to face trial on the slaying charge.
For the last year Norvell has been an inmate of county jail annex, his status a puzzle to authorities. He was legally sane but actually in a feeble mental condition, it was agreed. His case was marked "pending".
The new move to declare him legally a lunatic is preliminary to another to have a guardian appointed for him, county court attaches said. He is entitled to oil royalties on production on certain acreage owned by him, it was said.
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