Religion: indeterminate
Name: Samuel Norval
Classification: supporting character
First Appearance: Superman (vol. 1) #6 (Sep.-Oct. 1940): "Lois Lane, Murderer"
Creators: Jerry Siegel, Paul Cassidy
Number of Appearances: 1
Occupation: collector, jeweler
Gender: male
Note: jewel collector; Lois Lane was framed for his murder
Norval was a somewhat eccentric jewel collector who lived in Metropolis. He was fairly well known. He never actually appeared alive in the story that introduced him, a story retroactively titled "Lois Lane, Murderer" (or, alternatively, "Lois Lane, Murder Suspect"), published in Superman #6 (Sep.-Oct. 1940). The first time he was seen, he had already been murdered. Lois Lane was framed for Norval's murder, and this story revolved around Superman's efforts to discover the real killer and clear her name.
Norval is referred to only by his last name throughout this story. But his first name ("Samuel") was revealed in one panel. In panel 1 on page 3 a rival reporter named "Scoop" Carter calls in the story of Norval's murder to his newspaper. Dictating news copy, he refers to the "body of Samuel Norval" in his description of events.
Suggested links for further research about this character:
- https://www.comics.org/issue/988/
- http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=44201