Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-01-06
A Modern Monte CriSt0.

The Union Pacific overland train
a few weeks ago had a passenger
on board named Edward Harrison,
a well.known California millionaire,
whose history, as related by him
self to a Bee representative, is "a
most romantic one, and in a degree
equals that of Dumas famous here,
Edmund Dantes. The reporter
was given "tip' by sable porter
that a passenger of more than ordi-
nary interest was seated IN the
smoking compartment Of the rear
car and the gentleman was sought
out. Mr.. Harrison, for that was
his name, il a fine looking man,
forty one years Of age. He wears
a full beard, slightly tinged with
gray, and is a pronounced brunette.
During the wait at the depot ana
the ride to Council Bluffs he re-
lated his story, which substantially
is as follows:
Mr.. Harrison is the son Of a New
York tailor doing business at No.
400 Fourth avenue, New York. In
1865, when eighteen years Of age,
he ran away from home and made
his way to New Orleans. He found
nearly all industries paralyzed
from the effects of the war and for
self maintenance was obliged to
seek employment on the sugar
plantation of Pierre Gense. Here
he remained for four years, and by
practicing the 'strictest economy
was enabled to save $500. In 1870
Mr. Harrison decided to go to
California and IN the spring OF that
wear reached Sacramento. Here
he became acquainted with a man
named James Lawson, with whOmhe
entered into partnership and the
commission house of Harrison y
Lawson was established. Both put
in an equal amount Of money, but
after five months Of the firms ex.
istence Mr.. Harrison discovered
that Lawson was Systematically
robbing him and insisted that the
partnership be dissolved. After
several stormy scenes between the
two men the dissolution was effect
ed and each one began business
under his own name. The rivalry
existing between the two men was
the subject of much concern among
the people of Sacramento, and 1t
was the openly expressed opinion
of many that the feud would end
in bloodshed. Both men were hot
tempered, and on many occasions
expressed their hatred for each
other IN unguarded and violent
terms. In fact, Mr.. Harrison was
known to have said that he would
"fx Lawson forever if opportunity
was ever offered.
One night about seven months
after the dissolution of the firm of
Harrison & Lawson the latter was
shot and instantly killed immedi-
ately in front Of Mr.. Harrison's
place of business. Mr.. Harrison
was writing letters at his desk
when the shot was fired. He grabbed
up a pistol that lay before MIN ana
rushed to the sidewalk. There he
found a PROSTATE form, but ere he
could discover its identity the po.
lice came up and placed Harrison
under arrest. Next morning he
was lodged in the county Jail to
await trial on the charge Of murder
At the next term Of the Criminal
Court Dir. Harrison was tried tOT
the murder of James Lawson. The
best legal talent in the State was
employed by the defense. The
chain of circumstantial evidence
was so strong that anything short
of conviction was impossible, and
Mr.. Harrison was found guilty and
sentenced to be hanged. 1t was
proved that Lawson and Harrison
were deadly enemies, that the latter
had made threats against the form
er's life, that he was found standing
over the murdered man with a
pistol in his hand from which one
shot had been fired, and that the
bullet found in Lawson's body was
of the same calibre as these re
naming in HarrisOn's weapon.
Mr.. HarrisOn's attorneys I'M
mediately filed motion for new
trial on the ground of having dis
covered new and important eyi
dence. After several days argu
ment their client was granted
new trial. HarrisOn's lawyers theI
set mp a novel defense, and by
number of witnesses showed tha
their client was somnambulls
and that he had been known t
discharge firearms before while il
n trance. 1t was shown that h,
had remained up all night preyiou
to the murder and had complained
OF great fatigue during the day.
The jury was out five days ant
then brought in a verdict OF guilt,
of murder in the second degree
While this was clearly in violation
of the evidence and law, Mr.. Har
rison's attorneys counSeled thei
client to abide by it. They evi
, dently considered him guilty ant
thought he was getting Off yer,