Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-23
BETTE ADAMS MURDERER.
Execution of Allen Harrison for the KILN
of His Sweetheart.

Execution of Allen Harrison for the Killing
of His Sweetheart.
Allen Harrison was hanged at Huntington,
W. Va, yesterday afternoon for the murder Of
his sweetheart, Bette Adams, on April last.
Allen Harrison was a sutton for the hand Of
Miss Bettie Adams the pretty sixteen-year-old
daughter OF Mr.. Frank Adams who lives on Big
Cabell creek, fifteen miles east Of Huntington,
W. Va She was his only daughter and was
considered the belle Of the region. The parents
objected to Harrison's visits and the girl soon
gave him to understand that his visits should
cease. However. he would hide in the neigh
borhood and when Miss Bette would visit girl
friend near by he would follow and beg her to
reconsider her refusal to marry him. He sent
her notes telling Of his love for her. Miss
Adams parants were away April last.
Harrison knew this and, going to the house,
asked Bette again to marry him. She re-
quested him to leave Pulling revolver from
his pocket he shot her twice, the first bullet
penetrating her heart. He then pulled a vial
containing laudanum from his pocket, but be-
fore he could drink it men attracted from q
field by the firing came and tied him.
grand jury was Immediately impaneled and
an indictment found. The trial began at once
and continued three days, the jury finding him
guilty of murder in the first degree after being
out but few minutes.
On Saturday last Harrison made the follow
ing statement to Jailer Jones, for whom he had
formed q strong attachment:
II have been homeless and kicked about from
pillar to post the best part of my life. Having
no home, managed as best could to earn my
living by labor Of any kind that was honorable.
For year previous to April l had found
friends in the Adams family and worked for
Mr.. Frank Adams at odd jobs large portion
Of that time making my home at his house.
learned to love Bette Adams better than my
life, and that che returned that affection have
never had reason to doubt We were happy in
each others company, and when she had given
me all her affection and had taken advantage
of it to satisfy my desires, the awful situation
confronted me that had no home to take her
to. no work that would keep her andno prospects
ahead in any direction Her mother knew all
about our relations and madeife miserable to me
in n thousand ways. studied the matter over in
my own mind and determined to end my
troubles by taking my own life. A week or SO
before killed Bette came to Huntington and
bought an ounce OF aconite frcm druggist.
This l fully intended to take, but some turn in
affairs put me in better mood and / returned
the drug to the druggist and got the money
back that paid for it.
"On the I'd day of April determined to end
my sufferings, when | went to Ona to meet
man who had promised me a job Of work. and
when got there he disappointed me. The re-
volver had got from n friend before started
70 Una. ana mao IL Tor inc purpose OF defend
ing myself from a couple OF men with whom
had trouble, and who had threatened me.
After the disappointment at Ona 1 went into
LATE Simpsons store and bought bottle of
laudanum i started toward Adams and when
reached point half way between the old
mill and the house | sat down or log and
swallowed every drop of the contents of the
bottle. l calculated that would reach Adams
just about the time the drug would affect me,
and there l could lay down and die where
Bette could be with me- Just as reached the
gate met Mrs. Adams driving some sheep out
of the lot. / told her that would drive them
out for her, and l did. As God is my Judge
That ia the last thing l remember now or ever
did remember until l heard dogs barking and
was dragged out from beside the log and ar
rested.
81 don't deny that killed Bette Adams but
how or where or in what manner it came about
do not know.
81 am now about to die for killing the only
girl that l ever loved. | hold no malice
against any one in the world, and would at this
moment take the hand of Mrs. Adams, who.
above all others, caused my unhappiness, and
wish her home in heaven. | have tried to re-
pent, and hope to meet Bette in q better land"