(1829 - 1894)

Born in Tinmouth, VT and died in New York, NY

Practiced law in Troy, NY, New York City & Washington, DC

Patent attorney and inventor who had all of his patents revoked in 1871 and was disbarred as a patent attorney. He is believed to have stolen them from the actual inventors. One of the inventions he is known for is a postage canceling machine.

He was also involved in the Lincoln assassination investigation:

From Wikipedia article about Silas H. Hodges

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silas_H._Hodges

"Norton had testified that in March, 1865 a man he later recognized as Samuel Mudd had burst into
his room at the National Hotel. Norton claimed the man apologized, saying that he thought the room
belonged to a man named Booth. John Wilkes Booth had actually rented the room directly above
Norton's. A pre-assassination connection, if proved, would undercut Mudd's claim not to have known
who Booth was when he set Booth's broken leg after Booth shot Lincoln."

Norton's testimony was the only testimony showing a pre-assassination connection between Dr. Mudd
and John Wilkes Booth. The testimony was largely discredited but allowed to stand resulting in Dr.
Mudd's conviction.

Some conspiracy theorists believe Norton may have been more involved in Lincoln's assassination.


TROY, N.Y., July 1, 1865.

Editors of Troy Daily Times:

Having recently heard it said by a few persons who seem to know more of, and to have greater care
and anxiety about, the business and character of their fellow-citizens than their own, that I
volunteered to the government to give the testimony recently given by me in the "assassination
trial" about being brought to a close at Washington, I ask of you the privilege, in the most public
manner, through the columns of your most valuable journal, to deny such charge, and to state the
exact manner and reason for giving the testimony. I went to Washington during the last of May, on
important business for some of my clients. Before going, I had been requested to appear as a
witness for some part of the defence, which related to the absence of the locks upon the doors of
the box where the honest and ever faithful President LINCOLN was so brutally murdered by the
direction of slaveholders, traitors and their aiders and abettors -- but on a preliminary
examination of counsel after my arrival in Washington, the defence decided not to call me, for
reasons not known to me, except that I heard it afterward said that they could prove that which
they desired to. I was not, therefore, called by the defence. In conversation with Hon. HORATIO
KING in the court-room where the conspirators were being tried for the murder and contemplated
murder, in relation to the matter about which I afterward testified, and after I had recognized
ATZEROTH, O'LAUGHLIN and Dr. MUDD, and pointed them out to him -- that conversation was overheard
by Rev. Dr. CANNING, of Washington, who, without my consent or knowledge, communicated the matter
to the government, and within one or two hours after my conversation with Mr. KING, I was subpoenaed
by the War Department to answer as a witness. I told the Judge-Advocate that I could not see the
materiality of my testimony, and therefore asked to be excused as a witness. He replied that he
understood the case much better than I did, and that my testimony completed an important chain of
testimony. Of course, then, I did not, and could not under the law, refuse to give the testimony. I
gave it, and am not sorry I did. An assault was soon thereafter made upon my character and standing
in the community, with the view to destroy my testimony and permit thereby the escape of the
murderers and assassins of the savior of our country. In your paper you have had something to say
in relation to that attempted impeachment. I am engaged in preparing a public defence to that
malicious and malignant attempt, which in due time will appear. It was the work of enemies and of
men against whom I have been engaged in several important matters of litigation. In conducting the
business of my law office I have made some enemies, which I could not prevent unless at sacrifice
of the legal and equitable rights of my clients. Their interests I have guarded and protected in
the line of right and duty, and shall continue to do so through the whole world become like the few
-- malignant enemies. I would not take public notice or ask defence through your excellent paper
but for the fact that the attempted impeachment has already had extensive notice by the press of
this country. In conclusion, I will say that "I fear not to approach the Omnipotent Judge to answer
for the conduct of my whole life." The divine law I may have often disobeyed, the statute law --
never -- NEVER.

MARCUS P. NORTON.