Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-01-21
HOMICIDE.
SamueI Murray Killed by Policeman
Harris.

Samuei Murray Killed by Policeman
Harris.
Wednesday afternoon, between the hours
of four and five, the rumor that a colored
man, named Samuel Murray, had been
killed by Policeman George Harris, i'll
Brooks eating-house, near the corner of
Gay and Vine streets, spread like wild-fire,
and soon large crowds gathered around the
house in which the dead man was lying.
Rumors as to how the killing occurred
were abundant, and in q short time man
could get more than q dozen different ac-
counts. Noticing Policeman Harris walk
ing up towards the City Hall, we asked
him for a statement of the affair, which he
gave, as follows:
He says that while on has round he no.
ticed two men about engaging in fight in
front of the noted Johnson saloon, and, as
matter of course, as his duty directed,
went over to put a stop to it, telling one of
the men, who seemed to be the aggressor,
to consider himself under arrest. This the
man refused to do, but jumped into
Brooks eating house, where he followed
him ald again made the arrest. He was
soon surrounded by number of colored
men, who pushed and pulled him asound
until the prisoner got away. About this
time, Samuel Murray entered the door,
among others, and either pushed or struck
him, and he threw his arm around and
struck or pushed the man out of the way,
and, stepping to the door, called Policeman
DeArmOnd, who was at the next corner.
He then returned, and was suddenly con-
fronted by the man, with a stick of wood
in his hand, which he useu, striking Har-
ris on the side of his head, brusing it and
his ear considerably, and nearly knocking
him down.
BY the time he had recovered himself,
Murray was readywith another stick which
he let fly, but Harris throwing up his arm
he sustained no injuries from this one,
with the exception of having his arm
badly bruised. This stick was followed by
another, which missed him and while Muir
ray was attempting to throw the fourth,
Harris felt that he must use his weapon or
be killed himself, and fired. He says he
would not have killed the man for the
whole of Knoxville, if he could have got
ten out of it and discharged his duty.
Chief Marshal Claiborne notified Coro-
ner /. P. Alley, who summoned and em-
panneled jury consisting of the follow
ing gentlemen: VIM. +. Seay foreman,
VIM. NJ. Campbell, w. w. Beard, j. w.
Morrow, r: L. Wilds, VIM. Householder
and David Newman.
i'm the case John Johnson, Moses Smith,
Madison Rose and Oliver Cobb, all color
ed. We did not get the evidence given in
by them, with the exception of that of
Moses Smith. He said he did not see the
first of the affair. The first he saw was
Sam. striking Harris with a stick of stove
wood, and then throwing another stick ;
that Harris tried to strike him with his
billy, but that it slipped out of his hand,
and rolled under the table; that Harris
then jumped back from behind the parti-
ton, unbuttoning his overcoat, as he went
and soon returned with his pistol in his
hand. Sam was standing in the act of
picking up another stick, when Harris
fired. We did not get to speak with any
of the other witnesses.
The jury could not agree to render ver-
dict last night, and will meet again this
morning at 8 o'clock at w. w. Boards
| store room, corner of State and Cumber-
| land streets, when, it is thought, the wit
| ness will have to be reheard, and other
witnesses called in before verdict can be
| rendered.
A warrant was issued by w. F. Yardley,
Esq, last night, for the arrest of Police
man Harris, and Sheriff V. F. Gossett
served it, placing Mr.. Harris under arrest
Verdict of the COroner's Jury.
| The Coroner's jury in the case of the
| klllnS OF Sa1nuel Murray, met thursday
morning at w. w. Boards store, accord
ing to arrangement, to conclude their in.
guest. There being some conflicting evil
dence before them, three additional wit
| nesses, Elvin Scaggs Merrill Longmier anC
g. w. Browning, were called in, all o
whom were non-residents of the city o
Knoxville, who, having seen the entire oc
currence, gave their names to the police
force. Their evidence, we understand
coroborated the statement made 20 us by
Moses Smith and policeman Harris in the
main, which we gave in yesterdays issue
dict was rendered by the jury:
Came TO his death by pistol ball, fire.
9y Geo. Harris, policeman, while in tn
IiscIIar # his duty, and we think tina
/. ne was lustlIlNl in so DOING IL heinz il