Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-16
AT LIBERTY AGAIN.
Col Harris, the Notorious Negro Window
Smasher, With Life Sentence in
Georgia, Escapes From
Prison.

Col. Harris noted negro criminal
and desperate, who terrorized this city
some years ago, and who has been in the
penitentiary at Donaldsonville Ga, for
murder, escaped from that place on last
Saturday, in company with Noah James,
a fellow convict.
Harris deeds will be remembered by
many people here for their daring char
acter. 1t was during the time when
large plate glass windows were being
smashed almost every night, and articles
of merchandise of different character
were stolen that Harris was seen to break
the window of the Mayberry Hardware
company's store house, in which were
pistols, shot guns and Winchester rifles.
Seeing that he was detected in the act,
Harris grabbed up several of the rifles
and escaped in the darkness.
A few days later the negro appeared
around Brooks stables on Avenue A, be-
tween Twenty-second and Twenty-third
streets and tried to dispose of a new
Winchester at almost any price. Officer
J. N. Byers, who was dressed as an old
country farmer, was present, and at
tempted to place Harris under arrest.
This the negro resisted and started to
run away, at the same time opening fire
on the policeman. Several shots were
exchanged by both parties, and Harris
was shot in the leg. He managed to
make good his escape, and left the city.
The next heard from him was in Mont
gomery. 1t seems that he went there
and tried the same game of robbery that
had been SO successful for him in this
city. With repeated success he became
more and more bold in his operations and
finally, being caught in the act, had
street duel with several of the Montgom-
cry officers. Again he made his escape,
and left the capital city the same as he
had Birmingham short while before.
Later on he made his appearance in
Columbus, Ga, and began his nefarious
operations in that city. While engaged
in plying his profession he was captured
by one Of the Georgia detectives. With
bull dog tenacity he hung to his liberty
and killed the officer in an exchange of
shots, in which he was again shot
through the ankle. Thus his list of
crimes were elongated by the addition of
murder.
He was finally captured and the Geor-
gia authorities having the most serious
charge against him, took him back to
Columbus for trial. In short order he
was convicted and given a life sentence
In the Donaldsonville penitentiary, from
which he has managed to effect his es-
cape with Noah James.
Harris Is about rs years cid, of a dark
brown color and weighs ITO pounds OF
course he has black eyes and hair. He is
covered with scars received in his numer-
Gus narrow escapes and in other ARRAYS.
There is one scar on his right eye, one
over his left eye. one on his left shoulder
and two across the middle of his back
On account of the many wounds received
from officers Harris is compelled to hob
BILE around with the aid Of crutch.
The other negro Noah James. is de-
scribed thusly: Black hair and eyes,
dark color and weighs $50 pounds. One
upper front tooth broken out on left side
of mouth. Scar on the middle finger of
left hand. He was sent up from Haral-
son county.
There is reward of $50 for either one
of the negroes and the local force are on
the lookout for them. They will be ac-
corded a warm reception should they
come to this city.