Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-04-16
HEARD FROM AGAIN.
This lime a Good Report From Former
Citizen of Tazewell.

few dollars in money and small punch
of cattle. He filed on claim, fenced it.,
built small box house, his improvements
costing not over $500 or $400, sold his
farm a few days ago for $500 and can
cash out for 81. 600 or more. That is not
only what man has done but what he can
do in Oklahoma, and what many are
doing"
This James Harrison in the year 1890 or
1891 shot and killed a man by the name
of John Robinson in Thompson Valley i'll
this county. The morning of the day on
which the killing took place Robinson had
gone to the home of Harrison, had entered
his yard and drew a pistol, threating to
kill Harrison, If he opened his lips. In
the afternoon Harrison had gone to at
tend burial in the neighborhood; and
when he was returning home he met with
James Robinson, they became involved in
a difficulty, which resulted in the shooting
and killing of Robinson. For some reason
Harrison deemed it best not to remain
here and stand his trial. He left the
country, and went to Harrison county,
Missouri where he remained until the
Summer of 1895. His mother, who lived
in Carroll county, Va. was very aged,
perhaps ninety years old. She was de-
clining rapidly and expressed a desire to
see her son before she died. He was writ
ten TO and came on to see his mother.
His wife's relatives, who were then living
in Thompson Valley, heard of HE visit to
the State and wrote him to pay them a
visit, expressing the opinion that he would
not be nloleeted if he came to the county.
Relyingon this information, Harrison came
to the county in August, 1895, to pay
brief visit to bis wife's relatives. He was
seen one day at the home of his mother
in-law, in Thompson Valley, and brother
in.law of the deceased Robinson was in
formed. He came Immediately to town,
and a posse, consisting of Sheriff John W.
Crockett, Deputy Sheriff James Bandy and
Messrs. w. q. Young and G. R. Surface,
went thaA might to the neighborhood The
next morn hpga before daylight they went
to the house where Harrison had been re-
ported as staying and made search.
Failing to find him, they went quickly to
the house of neighbOr where they had
reasons to suspect he might be found,
Sure enough, he was + re aud he was ar
rested and brought to (he court house.
Harrison was indicted and was tried at
the October term, 1895, in the county court
of Tazewell county. He was found guilty
of murder in the second degree and
sentenced to confinement in the peniten-
tiary for term of Is years. His counsel
obtained writ of error from the circuit
court, and at the December term, 1895,
Judge Williams, then judge of the circuit
court. set aside the verdict and granted a
new trial to the accused.
At the February term, 1895, Of the
county court Harrison was tried the second
time. This was, perhaps, the most sensa.
tional murder trial that had ever been
held in the co unity. Between the two
trials good deal of feeling had been in
iected into tie case, even political lines,
it is said, having been drawn. Harrison
was Republican and the man he killed was
a Democrat. Certain leading Democrats
we're believed to have contributed funds
TO pay counsel to assist in the prosecution.
This provoked the resentment Of Republi-
cans and their sympathy was Immediately
aroused for the accused defendant. Dur
ing the progress of the second trial the
court room was constantly filed with the
partisans of the prosecution and defense,
and feeling ran high. The lawyers who
conducted the prosecution and defense
we're not sharers Of the political partisan
spirit that dominated the bystanders, the
defendants counsel being mostly Demo
Gratis. But the intense feeling among the
onlookers put the attorneys on their metal
and the case was contested with an intense
spirit and zeal that is rarely seen in {
court house.
4 At the second tial Harrison was &C
Quilted The Democrats charged that
was brought about by the pressure o
politics. The Republicans disputed tn
charge, alleging that the jury which trieC
Harrison had been drawn by the tris
Judge, who was a most pronounced Demo
crat; and the jury declared that othe
legitimate reasons than political ones ha
> influenced their decision. Harrison ais
g swore that he had killed Robinson in sell
defense, and had brought from Missoul
the saddle he was riding and the pants b
wore when the shooting took place. Th
saddle and pants had marks upon theI
, which Harrison claimed were made by
o pistol bullet that was fred by Robinson
n before he Harrison, shot.
Soon after his acquittal Harrison re
turned to Missouri. From there, it seem
he went to Oklahoma; aud We take it tC
granted that even his partisan prosecl
tors, who were once ready to condem
hiln, will be glad to hear that he has bee
leading an industrious and commendab
life in the West, and that he has prospereC
IL