The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-15
Henry Harris Kills His Daugh-
ter Eta and Himself.
MYSTERY SURROUNDS THE CASE,
The Fathers Love for His Child Said
to Have Been U.inatural.
Eta Had Been Confnsd ut . Tacoma
Hospital-She was Snamoured OF
Seattle Drummer Who Wouldn't
Marry Her.

TACOMA, Aug. H-sSpecial l--Henry
Harris, German-Prusssan Jew, aged 54,
killed his daughter, Ett., aged 25 years.
this morning and the. killed himself.
Etta's conduct seems to:have driven her
father to the verge of insanity. Last night
he told some friends he would kill her and
himself. For months he.has been threat
ening to do this.
While the church bells.~ere ringing this
morning Harris went to sEtta's room. No.
Is. at the Cleveland houss, corner of E and
Thirteenth streets. Shcywas attired in a
nightgown covered by black dress. She
was reading a newspaper, and admitted
her father. Angry worda followed. Four
pistol shots and Eta ran screaming to
the corner of the roofsa. where a shot
struck her in the small of the back.
The three previous bullets. from 3S.cali-
Der Colts revolver, had taken effect in the
left and right sides and IL the left arm.
She fell doubled up on the floor. Her
screams were silenced
Harris then stabbed hiaaself four times
over the heart with a spring-back four
inch-bladed hunting knifs, similar to the
one used ~ Dave Scale ii. stabbing Officer
Cudihee. Two of the wounds were directly
each side of it.
daughter. Her body was convulsing in a
death struggle. He thought possibly her
wounds were not fatal and stabbed her
twice, once in the left siee and again in
the right arm-pit. He ieSt the knife stick
ing in her body and ran cat of the room
and into the street. Blood trickled from
his clothes, leaving crirason trail across
E street to the opposite gstter, where he
fell dead.
His last words were:
'I've got her dead to rights this time"
This utterance was faade just as he
staggered out of his daughter's room.
Harris was member ofsSt. Johns lodge.
F. and A. NJ, of Seattle. Since he came
here. twelve years ago, he has moved
about at intervals between this city, Seat
tie. Spokane and San Fraacisco. At pres
ent his family, one boy.and his wife, are
at Spokane. living at Is4l4 West Third
street. 1t is said she left him because of
Etta's conduct, he stayihg behind in the
hope of working changein her. Two or
three years ago she becanIe attached to a
Seattle cracker drnmmeg named Ira G..
Benton. Later slrek syofsea as astenog,
rapher and typewriter at p. 2. Carroll 8
Office in Seattle. and then went to Spokane
to live with her brother. Benton,
it is said, implored her to re-
turn to Seattle Finally she came
back to Tacoma, and Harris. who then
mad tailor shop on st. zHelen's avenue,
near Ninth street, got possession of some
of Benton's letters to his daughter He
demanded an explanation, but Benton
would give none, and refused to marry
Eta. as it is said the fsather requested.
Benton is charged at tfss time with re-
flecting upon the young syoman's charac-
ter. When Eta heard of this she had the
McNaughton detective agency locate Ben.
ton the next time he cams to town. She
had a revolver given her by her father.
and proposed to shoot Benton if he did
not explain satisfactorily,
For several months Ho1ris had not fol-
lowed his trade. and Lately complained of
his head troubling him. 5 couple Of years
ago he had 5000 in baslk here. Since
May he has called at his daughters room,
often early in the mornTng, presumably
for the purpose of seeing Il she had COM
panion with her. Not being a prime
success as typewriter Miss Harris
had thought of taking zup embroidery
work. She, like her father, had decided
Jewish cast of features. was dark COM
plexioned. dark eyes and dark hair. which
she was attempting to bleach Titan red.
This bleaching of hair, said lady ac-
uuaintance today, twas che only indica-
ton | ever saw that wauld lead one to
think she was anything bgt very quiet and
not fast" Three or fouf years ago. it is
said, Harris wanted a young jeweler
named Bernard, now of San Francisco. to
marry his daughter, but Gerhard refused.
Detective McNaughton says the young
woman was greatly wroneed. She subse-
auently got out of emplos' ment and was
given typewriter work "a the detective
agency and was there employed up to the
present time.
Her father had repeatedly threatened to
kill her, and when he west to San Fran.
cisco few weeks ago she yas greatly re.
Neved, saying she feared he would kill her
The following letters thfow light upon
the tragedy:
SAN FRANCIsco, Feb. 26, 1892.
Miss E. Harris: Please send me the year you
where Born in, and the Date q the month and q
smoe Pease OF your hair nay charges are two
| dollars aud Half when | havss to write letters
AMI $50 when the person is wi.h me. Yours Re-
spectful. Mlgs. l. 8. BowI&s.
Fortune teller.
The following letter. enososed in a blank
envelope, is as written except that the
spelling has been corrected:
August O. 1892
After am dead would like eOu TO bury me. al
| / have told many times iie fooling. Now il
comes true should my daughter die too. put
us both in one grave. Take t9e coffins and lay
| Us sid. bY side have not mach money with
me- / belong 70 81. John LDts., No 9. +. aud A.
NJ, Seattle ard 10 Columbia E1dge, A. 0. Z. W.
Seattle They will bury. mez If not, my wife
will send you the money. I'm glad it will be
| over. | am not crazy. / rataer be dead thar
| i've in disgrace / hope wnGcl am gone thai
| the coroner will hold an inquest on me. Good
| bye. ali friends / am gsking=a journey where
| no Traveller returns. / wish Dave Levin vii
| tnke all that belongs to me 10 spokane Shouic
| nv daughter also die take hcrzeftes.s) also ant
| send 20 her mother TO Spokane. The adires
| IS 1.4i West Third street. 9here are a goos
| many friends of mine what kaow nv trouble
| / rather be dead than alive / remain you
| friend. HENRY hAkRIs
On the same sheet of psper was the fol
| lowing note:
| Nr Meyer Kaufman: GooGbye my friend
| You vii! see that am decens5y buried. Good
1 bye, friend Mike swamp VIII meet you OF
| the other side OF the river Jorf.au.
| The above had all Seen carefully
| IN ink. A later addstion to tht
etter in lead pencil was ssdressed to Mr.
| apd Mrs. A. Brown
| 4t Dear Ffitsa.ls Mr. 4. dHi ssrs Broan: linus