The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1888-11-02
Sad Fate OF Jeannette Ward.

Every acre Of Manhattan Island, says
the New York telegram, is haunted with
mystery and romance In Harlem, close
to the curb on the west side of Third
avenue, between l16tn and llsth streets,
stands a little marble monument that for
a century has marked the distance from
I the City Hall The storms of so many
winters and the knives Of the mischiev-
Gus boys have left little OF the once
smooth marble, YET the original inscrip-
ton remains.
Few persons know when the stone was
erected and few know of the horrible
deed that led to It's erection. The cold
marble bears only the name, Jeanette
Ward and the indistinct date of her
death.
Jeanette Ward was daughter of
wealthy farmer. whose land extended
from what IS now / tn street almost
mile south and west. The adjoining
farm belonged to Thomas Harris. whose
only son, Harry, had always been looked
upon as the probable husband Of Uretty
Jeanette. That she was pretty there
is no doubt While listening to this
story the reporter saw picture of the
from his grandla
Jeanette had many adm rcrs. and
among the favored ones besides Young
Harris was an rcer in the Continental
army, dashing young lieutenant named
Davis. To the latter Jeanette made nc
secret of her admiration for him, but as
she was rs good As engaged to Harris,
their love making had.t be carried on
unknown to her parents, and the spot
now marked 10y the little white stone
was the trysting place There the lovers
used to meet, and it was there Young
Harris came upon them one night.
He apparently accepted the situation.
renowned Jeanette and gave himself
up entirely to the care of his fathers
farm, and soon the engagement of the
faithless Jeanette and the dashing leu
tenant was announced. Only one week
before the nuptials the country was star
tied by the news Of the murder Of Jean
nette Ward and the terrible mutilation
of Lieutenant Davis. The news created
the greatest excitement, and the country
for miles around was secured for the
cruel murdereTs. No one took a more
active part than the disappointed lover,
Henry Harris
Lieutenant Davis, it was found. hal
had both hands cut of at the wrists and
had also lost his tongue. DAVIS died from
his injuries and was buried without
leaving a clew. Years passed ard still
no ciew 10 the murdcrers had been dis
covered when farm hand in the employ
Of Henry Harris brought to lgh' a
blood-stained bundle which he had found
concealed in an old well on the Harris
farm. The clothes and knife were iden-
tilted as those Of Henry Harris. y posse
was objected and tn sheriff started for
the Harris farm Young Henry must
have seen them coming and realized that
his end was near, for when the sheriff
reached there he was found hanging dead
IN the barn, AMI a servant who hal
helped commit the murder lay at his feet
with his brains blown out.
The crime and its sequel created a
great sensation, but was finally forgotten
as all such things are. hut Jeanpette.s
father placed the white marble stone
there and no one has since disturbed il
II evld nifty became a trysting place after
that, as even now the faint tracing If .
heart enclosing the initials !. II. and VI.
[. remain A little lower down J. and
part Of another letter with 1872 remain
in fairly good condition, while little
above 4 J. H., 1862. has almost entirely
disappeared. Thousands pass it every
day and thousands have done so during
the pas, 100 wears but Of all the number
probably not one knows the story It ~
eloquently tells