The record-union., 1895-10-15
VERY Much LIKE SELF DEFENSE.
Coroner's Inquest Into the Death of
Jack Harris.
Tho Testimony Indicates that Harris
Was the First to Begin
Shooting.

Coroner Clark last night held an in
quest on the body of John Harris, who
was fatally shot by L. L. Callendine on
Wednesday night last. District Attor-
new Ryan and his assistant, j. c. Jones,
were present 10 look after the interests OF
the people, and General A. l.. Hart was
there as counsel for Callendine.
The latter, who is charged with the
murder of Harris, was not called on to
testify, but Mrs. Harris was. 1t was evil
dent from the manner in which she re-
piled to questions that she wanted to
favor the accused. although the gist OF the
testimony of other witnesses bore out
the conclusion that Harris was the first
to commence shooting.
The first witness called was L. Will
Jams. a book binder. He said he was at
Twelfth and p streets last Wednesday
night about 1915 o'clock and heard about
seven shots fired near by. He did not
see who fired them. They were hred In
quick succession.
John Hanlon was at Twelfth and p
streets shortly after 10 o'clock that night
and heard the shots, but did not know
who fired them.
Mrs. Martin, the mother of Mrs. Har-
ris, who resides on Fourteenth street, be-
tween P and q, testified that on last
Wednesday evening she went to her
daughters home at o'clock, and Mrs.
Harris went out with her. They were to
have made a call. but the witness took
sick and she and her daughter separated
st Fourteenth and Z streets, each to go to
her home. They talked for some time
before parting.
After she had gone to bed, Mrs. Harris
Id = 10 %o1.I RI, or lasa
shooting. She was greatly excited at the
time. Mrs. Harris said she had known
L. L. Callendine for several years.
General A. l.. Hart, counsel for CRllen-
dine, also examined Mrs. Martin, but
her testimony was the same as before.
She did not see Callendine that night.
K. G. Irvine testified that on the night
of the shooting he was at Mrs. Cooley's
house at Twelfth and P streets. He left
there shortly after 10 o'clock, and when
he got TO Tenth and Z he heard the
shooting and turned back to investigate.
He met Harris, who said, 'My God, L
am shotW The man went TO (. y.
EbePs house at Tenth and Z streets, and
witness and another man assisted him 10
physcian's house near Tenth and
streets and seated him on the doorstep.
Then the witness went to the Capitol and
telephoned for the patrol wagon, and
when he returned to where he had left
Harris he found that someone had taken
him away. Harris had given the wit
ness his pistol, and it was turned over 10
the police.
Mr.. Irvine thought there were about
seven shots fired. Harris had told him
that he was shot by l.. l.. Callendine
The witness said that he had not noticed
any difference in the sounds Of the shots.
Police Sergeant J. J. Plunkett testified
to the fact that Callendine went to the po-
-, 1, -. .. l.
he placed him under arrest. Callendine
gave him his pistol, Smith 81 " essen,
3S-caliber. The cartridges had all been
discharged. The handle was broken.
The witness identified Harris pistol, q
Colts 45-caliber, the five cartridges OF
which had all been discharged, except
one, the cap of which had failed to ex-
plode. Callendine told the witness that
Harris had fired three or four shots at
him at close range before he returned the
fire. He said he had been escorting Mrs.
Harris home. Mrs. Harris ran at the
first shot, the second shot being aimed at
her.
Harry Bassett testified that Callendine
called at his house about 1880 o. clock and
told him he had been in q shooting
scrape with Jack Harris. and that Harris
shot first. He told Callendine not to
make any statement to him nor to anyone
but lawyer.
CallendIne has been sleeping in wit
ness office and carried the pistol to pro-
tect the premises. He and Harris had
been warm friends, and witness saw
them together the afternoon of the shoot
ing. There had been some talk OF Har-
rls purchasing a country ranch of Callen-
dimes brother. Harris had frequently
called on Callendine and talked the mat
ter over with him. Harris had agreed to
pay s., 200 for the ranch, and CaIIendine
advised him not TO pay over 81, 700 for II,
as it was worth no more. Calleudine had
q halfinterest in the property.
Miss Fay Ricketts,, a niece of John Cal
lendine by marriage, testified that about
8 O'Clock on the night of the shooting l..
i. Callendine called at the house, 20Z2 II
street, to tell her that he would call for
her the next morning to go on trip
down the river. lie remained perhaps
twenty minutes.
John Callendine, brother Of l.. L.
Callendine. corroborated the statement of
Miss Ricketts,. lie thought it was little
after when his brother called.
Officer George Maley told about having
gone in the patrol wagon with officer
Taylor 10 Tenth and streets on the
night OF the shooting. r. c. Irvine there
gave him Harris pistol. They went TO
Harris house and found two little chill
dren asleep in bed. There was no one
else in the house. They learned that
Harris had been taken to the Sisters
Hospital. Two persons in the neigh bor-
hood told the officers they had seen a
man and woman jump over the fence in
the alley.
At the hospital Harris told them be had
been shot by a friend. His wife went
away with her mother, and had been out
quite late, and he went out to see if he
could find her. In the alley between
Eleventh and Twelfth, Q and streets, he
saw Callendine with his arms about Mrs.
Harris. lie started for them, and Cal
lendine commenced shooting at him.
DR.. @. a. White, County Physician,
explained the nature Of Harris wound
1t was In his right side, and had peue-
tratso the liver and stomach, and lodged
on tue left side after taking downward
course. The wound was necessarily
fatal.
Miss Lucy Ebel, who resides at Tenth
ma streets, testified that about 1890
o'clock Harris called at their house and
said he haG been shot by Callendine. lie
had q pistol in his hand. The witness
went TO the telephone 10 call doctor. bat
Harris went away. 1t was 1920 when
she heard the shots.
q. Is. katZenstein. who lives at Twelfth
and streets. heard the shots. He went
out and over toward L street. He
fastened down the alley and there found
woman's cape and pistol-holster The
articles were found about sixty feet from
We