Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-22
THE HARMON MURDER.
The Prisoner on che stand In Her
own Tehaif.


EArRFAy COURTHOUSE. VA, August
.-,speclal)-To-day, In the trial Of Mrs.
Mary Harmon for the murder of her nus
naui. John Harmon. The prisoner Went
On tho stand ia her own behalf. she
testified that she was married 10 deceased
when she was 4 years ot age, and had
eight children, the eldest Deins a boy Of
J.
short time after their marriage the
deceased bc.an his IN treatment OF her.
lie often IN his anger struck her with
y,rafsX.r WAS II haud-o1 one occasion
with q pair OF iron longs. she did not
return these blows fearing further in
iury from him. Frequently she warned
nor husband that il nc did not treat her
hotter she would leave him. His bad treat
rnent OF her continued at intervals OF one
or two weeks apart, until November,
ls9i when. in ore Of his Passions, deceased
struck her with a heavy rdiIgoad-shONeA
knocking her 10 the floor she then de-
ciled she woull be forced 10 take action
as matters Were growing worse all the
time. and she told him SO. Upon this he
took a solemn oath of better treatment.
which oath he kept for only a short time.
FINALLY LEFT HIM.
After leaving the house o. her husband
In March. 1925. she lived with neigh
Dor until, by the work u herself and
children and contributions from neigh
bors she was abe p build q small house,
where she and al Of the children reside,
eunuort.d bv thtir own cNertiOns. and
unaded in any way By me deceased. IL
WIS here. In this lit.le home. that the
tragedy occurred. All she asked was that
he would let her alone. But 30 was heard
TO say. other men went there. and he'd
bc d II he did not 81. too. On the
morning OF June -, between and ,
O'clock. she saw her husband coming up
70 the house She was combng the
bahy's hair. She stopped Il at once. ana
locked the door. she saw n knife In his
hand. lie was whiting stick. and spoke
10 her through the window. which was
partly raised. lie said be wanted a d.
yorc-. STE told HIN 90 SCI AZ. IL Ieplie.
that he would. and come in there and get
her. too.
Here the prisoner broke completely
down and gave vent to her feelings in
tears.
After she had party recovered her
composure she went on with her story
She threw. she said. a bucket Of water
out OF the window al her husband after
he had cursed her. This made him step
back. and she tried 10 close the window,
but was grabbed through the window by
him.
PICKED Up THE GUN.
She then told him 10 go away or she
would shoot him, and. stepping back.
nlcked up the gun. Harmon d!sregarded
this, and climbed partly through the win
dow. when. without taking aim, she
pulled the trigger, and he fell back
dead.
Here again the prisoner was overcome
by her feelings. and ii was some time
before she WAS calm.
Continuing. she said she went TO the
window, and saw him lying on the
ground. She called her mother and
children from the feld. where they were
picking berries. told them what she had
done. and gave herself up to the maSis-
trate.
VERY JEALOUS.
on cross-examination Mrs. Harmon
said Harmon was very jealous OF every
one, even their preacher and that she
did not know the gun was loaded; she
only wanted 10 scare him.
Mrs. Harmon was on the stand about
two hours. during which time she bore
ND comparatively well. but she seemed
entirely tagged out after the examlna-
ton was over. and during short re
cess Of the court INDUCED in a nap.
The next witness for the defence
Ephriam Beaeh-testlfed that he had
conversation with the deceased on June
1st I'm which. in speaking Of his wife,
Harmon said he would kill her or be
killed. Witness told him If he would
take the advice Of an old fool be would
let her alone. or she would shoot him.
No. replied Harmon. I'll kill or b
killed witness. seeing that Harmon
was getting mad. became terrified and
left him, fearing. as he claimed, bodily
harm IL he continued the argument
Mrs Shipman. sister or the prisoner
testified that on one occasion she had
seen deceased beating his wife with
stick. and that deceased had come TO her
house and when she asked how was his
wife he replied he did not know, as he
had Just hit her with a shovel
Mr.. Vance Tumble. Justice Of the
Peace. was put on the stand. and said
that he had lived in the neighbOrhoOd
about TWENTY-FIVE years. He had been
4 Justice OF the peace about eight years.
The character OF the deceased was not
very GOOD. He was rather DANGEROUS
man. A number Of others testified 10
the bad character Of the deceased.
The sympathy Of the people seems 70
be entirely with the prisoner. and the
general opinion IS that she VIII be ac-
quilted Her attorney, Hon. r. w. Moore,
Is already smiling over his expected VIC
tory. instructions will be submitted In
the morning Mr.. James Love. FOR the
prosecution, is assisted by r. r. Thorn
ton. The case VIII possibly be closed
tomorrow.
NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATS.