Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-08-17
MANY WOMEN IN
THE AUDIENCE
People of kirkvlle and Vicinity Take
Much Interest in the Case, the story
Of Which is Like a Page From
Work of Fiction-Justlce Office Too
Small.
From Wednesdays Daily.

room was taken a half hour before the
preliminary hearing OF Mrs. Mary M.
Harris, charged with the premeditated
murder of her husband, was called be-
fore Justice M. L. Kirk this afternoon.
Owing to the interest taken in the case
1t was decided to hold the hearing in
the court house where the room is suf-
ficiently large to accommodate tho
spectators.
No case in Wapello county in recent
years has aroused SO much interest as
the arre@t of Mrs Harris and the sen.
sational charge preferred against her
by the guardian of the aged couple she
4 Is alleged to have defrauded.
Everyone living in Kirkville and
the country surrounding is interested
in the case, the story of which Is
more like fiction than fact Com.
bined in the investigation, II Mrs.
Harris is held to the grand jury as
the result of today's hearing, will be
the story Of an alleged bunco game
by which Mrs. Harris Is said to have
gained the confidence and property of
an aged and trusting couple, together
with an account of alleged trouble be-
tween Mr.. Harris and his wife and
collection of circumstantial evidence
W NAiSh Ill0 PAOoCCuLlCA Will u W
! show that Mrs. Harris, and not her
husband. took the latter's life.
Notwithstanding the storm, scores
of the residents of Kirkville and vi
cinity, who have known Mr. and Mrs.
Harris for many years, came to OF.
tumwa this morning to attend the
hearing of the woman accused of the
. murder of her husband A noticeable
P1n L., u.
men In attendance, probably half Of
the spectators being Of the gentler
sex.
Was Found Dead.
James NJ Harris was found dead in
bed with bullet wound in his head
at his home near Kirkville, Saturday
morning, August 5. The discovery
was made by Mrs. Harris and her son
William. The neighbors were noti-
fed about 10 o'clock and a physician
was called
A coroner's inquest was held the
following day and a verdict of suicide
returned. There were unusual circum-
stances connected with the case
which caused the neighbors to suspect
that crime had been committed and
Mrs. Harris was arrested Saturday.
I August IL, the information being filed
by w. A. Myers of Kirkville, the
!. guardian Of Mr.. and Mrs Daniel Lewis
: whom Mrs Harris is alleged to have
defrauded of small farm and bank
account of about $1,S00.
A Remarkable Case.
{ The case is remarkable one.
> whether the woman be found guilty.
J. or the verdict of suicide returned by
the coroner's jury sustained.
Mr.. Harris was shot on the right
side Of the head above the ear. the
s bullet ranging forward and downward.
8 1t is held by the prosecution that II
d would have been very difficult for him
u to have fired the fatal shot and then
t, to have folded his hands across his
breast over the revolver, the position
in which the body is said to have been
found.
- ;, Much Depends on Note.
s Much depends on the note found IN
e the pocket of the dead mans shirt In
e which Harris asked that his wife be
given all his property and said that
he and Mr.. and Mrs. Daniel Lewis
were responsible for the property OF
| the latter being placed in the name OF
Mrs. Harris.
The state will attempt to prove
that the note was written by Mrs
Harris and that it was at her sugges
tion that the note was found on the
dead mans person. The theory will
y also be advanced that Harris was
first struck on the head with some
heavy instrument and then shot.
Mrs. Harris declares her innocence
and the attorneys for the defense
hope that the preliminary hearing may
e result In the release of the woman.
v Will Be Hard Fight.
oI Many sensational developments are
looked for and the prospects are for a
!" hard fought legal battle. County At
4 torney w. W. Epps is being assisted
n by Seneca Cornell and Attorneya
q Jaques and Jaques have been retain
Led to assist Attorney A. G. Steck in
E. the defense. Fifteen or twenty wit
=