The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-30
Jacob Harniss Pays the Penalty of
Murder After Long Delay.
A C0LD-BLOODED CRIME.
Shot from Ambush and Tor
mented While Dying.
JUSTICE DOES NOT Fo7GET.


KyoxviLLs, Tenn, Dec. 90, 1871
Jacob Harniss was hanged here Today IN cxpiation
OF the murder OF Isaac White committed over tbir-
teen years ago under circumstances OF peculiar
atrocity.
Harnss passed his last night with mis- wife and this
morning was as composed though In nowse inter
es,ed in the grim tragedy shortly 70 DO enacted. He
conversed freely with the reporters and others, but
making no statement beyond declaring his
Innocence and that tho brothers Vann, wit
ncsses for the prosecution, had sworn away ms
lie. He babe farewell to his family at the jail and
maintained his caimness to the last even during the
fearful suspense 10 which he was subjected. After
having the cap and rope adjusted tho SacrH discov-
sred be mad Jeff the death warrant at his Office and
had TO return IT, on returning the Sheriff replaced
the cap and read the death warrant, and at
Two minutes past two O'Clock Jacob Harniss was
swinging between heaven earth. He died easily,
hls neck being dislocaied.
A large crowd Was attendance, though the
weather very Indictment, and no attempt d res
madc, though II was previously thought prob
able.
He was hanged his old clothes, well worn suit Of
blue jeans, having declined new suit and IN his
shirt sleeves AZ MS own request
cRiME.
harnss a Union man, while White, his victim,
was Southern synpathizer. They were near neigh
bors and had frequent business transacIions White
being distliler and Harnss one OF his customers
whiskey long since consumed, aud White pro-
cured his arrest by tho Confederate authorities,
o.tlhe charge OF being a "Lnconitcn While shut up
Inx knoxville he vowed vengeance on White Harnish
confined ~ the Knoxville JAIL then known as
.Castls Fox" alter the Jaior, whose treatment OF
prisoners viii never be forgotten by those who were
under his charge. During his confinement ne
threatened to be revenged on White. Alter short
confinement Harniss being released, no made his
way across the mountains and entered tho federal
army private IN the second Tennessee infantry.
Sometime afterward he was taken prisoner and who
again confined lie repeated his former threats against
White declaring his intention TO escape and Kill him
before rejoining his command
In the early part OF July, 1868, be succeeded In
breaking out OF jail and knowing the country lhor-
his way home, having while the way concoctcd a
plan OF revenge as simple - II proved effective On
evening preceding the murder HArniss went TO his
ncgnb0rs stiil house and stole keg Of liquor. He
made effort 10 conceal tho theft or mis- footsteps,
crossing the mountain toward his home and concealed
The keg under brush heap Ia The edge Of
The wood near his house. Next morning Har
Mss armed himself. ana, accompanied ny his
vie and u negro giri living with lamiy repaired to
the woods, and lay in ambush iol White, who was
soon coming across the field As no arrived
within easy range HARNESS raised his rife, and taxi
ing deliberate when his wife struck down the piece
and impored INN 10 abandon his lendish purpose.
But with terrible oaths he throatened her with death
n she again lhwarted his uesign, and onco more
raising MS weapon he fred upon his unsuspectng
victim, who had approached within nifty yards oil the
ambuscade.
White fell mortay wounded, when Harniss emerged
from his hiding place and approached ms fallen
enemy, who piteousy begged for the brief
derer pronered him drink OF the stolen liquor with
words oil mockinp sympathy, and whc the appealing
eyes OF the wounded man were fastened on him trying
10 discover ray OF mercy IA his countcnaucc, har.
Mss with 1endish smile wreathing bis lips placed
The muzzle OF his gun to the head OF the defenceless
man and completed the bloody work by blowing out
his brains. But the savage disposition oil the MUIR
derer not satisfied With the assistance Of the
negro grl he dragged Whites body into the woods on
the side Of the mountain and with hts pocket
knife severed the head IRON the shoulders This he
threw down tho precipitous declivity, II bounding
1 n "A
quote tho murdercrs language as he attcrward de-
scribed the bloody decd 10 his comrades.
fhe mangled trunk was then ricd OF a small sum
Of money ana concealed between two logs over which
quantity OF brushwood was placed. Tho culprit
hcI calmly went homo and remained there until
night During the afternoon two Union men,
named vsnn and Jones, came to the house,
greeted with the ominous click OF rifle drawn
10 iuli COCK. Yann then asked Mrs HARNESS II her
husband was at homo, when the murderer came from
beneath tho bed, in hand, and remarked that it
fortunate he recognized his friends voice or he
would have certainly Killed him, adding that ne had
already Killed that day and he would Just
soon keep his hand in as not Harniss then related
The details OF the shocking affair 10 his friends. The
same night he fed TO Kentucky. knowing that II he
recapturcd he woulc be treated spy. Rcjoin-
Ing regiment he served the end OF the war,
ceiving honorable discharge at its close He thcn
settled in Kentucky.
coaISG BACK PUNISHED
After remaining absent TN 1875 he returned TO An
derson county. He appears TO have believed that
twelve years. absence had Glazed from the community
the memory OF his atrocsous crime He was soon ar
rested Tor the murder and on his trial IN July, 1876,
he was found guilty Of murder IN the rst degree and
sentenced to be hanged September 10, 1875 motion
for trial procured postponement OF the execu-
ton Of the sentence. AT the term Of the Supreme
Court held IN September, 1877, tho proceedings and
findings OF tho Inferior court were reailrmed, and he
was accordingly rescntenccd TO expate his crime by
death on the gallows, December 80 1877.
PESITEScE.
The cupnt was well stricken In years, and on that
account considerable sympathy was leh for him IN
certain quarters. especially as the crime was com.
mitted in time OF war, when passion ruled the hour
Alter sentence was pronounced on him the second
time the doomed turned his attention to prepare
ton for DEATH and made profession OF rengon,
being baptized after the rites oil tho Baptist Church