Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-06
NAN SLABS WIFE; KILLS SELF
Charles Harris, OOlcred, Cuts Woman
Twenty-ons Times and Takes Poison.
WIFE CALMLY SITS AND SEES HIN DIE
Just a. Harris is Breathing His Last
Creditor Rushes Into Police
station to Collect an
ola Debt.

While in a Mt Of jealousy Charles Harris,
colored. Of 1907 Cass street, inflicted twenty
one superficial stab wounds on the body
Of his wife, at Eighteenth and Leavenworth
streets, Thursday morning; then went to
Sixteenth and Chicago streets, drank
bottle OF strychnine and died half an hour
later in the surgeons room at the city
Jail. The stabbing and suicide were the re-
suit of unhappy domestic relations between
Harris and his wife Coroner Bradley took
Harris body to the morgue, where an In
quest was held yesterday afternoon. The
coroners jury returned verdict that
Harris came to his death from strychnine,
sefl-administered.
Harris Is the man who tried to hang
himself IN a cell at the city Jail two months
ago. He was arrested at that time on
complaint Of his wife, who reported the
man threatened her life.
The stabblng ARRAY occurred at Sis a. m.
in front of Kelly's laundry, 100 Leaven-
worth street. Mrs. Harris was employed
as a domestic with Mrs. Mollie Harding,
1914 Leavenworth street, since she left
her husband a week ago. Shortly before
the stabbing she was returning to the
Harding place with a dozen Of eggs, when
Harris accosted her and accused her of
before. He grabbed the eggs, threw them
to the street and took out a knife. The
woman then consented to go back with him
and asked Harris to go up the stairs with
her for some articles. Mrs. Harris led
the man up the stairway, east Of the Hard
ing place, conhded to a woman her suspi-
cions and asked that the police be notified
Mrs. Harris then ran down the stairway
with the man after her. At the street.
Harris threw the woman down and began
slashing her right and left. The woman
struggled, and Harris succeeded in getting
away.
Man surrenders to Police.
The police patrol with Detectives Mitchell
Davis, Maloney, Donohoe and Officer Wool
bridge made hurry call to the scene.
The search for Harris was Immediately
taken up. Detective Mitchell, with assist
ance Of woodbridge. went to Harris room
and learned the man had gone to Six
teenth and Chicago streets. When the de-
tective reached Fourteenth and Chicago
streets he met Harris, who recognized the
officers and gave himself UP.
81 have taken poison. 1 want to tell
you the truth. Here is q picture of my
mother. Write to her for me. I won't
live long" said Harris. who was then
taken violently i'll. A passing express
wagon was pressed into service and the
man hurried TO the police station. where
he died within fifteen minutes.
Harris told the police he drank the
strychnine IN front Of drug store at Six
teenth and Chicago streets few minutes
before ne was arrested.
Harris was 81 years of age aud worked
as driver. He and his wife were married
three years ago. A year ago the wife
jumped from a second-story window at
Des Moines while trying to escape the
wrath OF her husband. She said Thursday
morning Harris had threatened her on nu-
Tnerous occasions. The woman is n years
OF age Police Surgeon Wills and Drs
Arnold and Ford, who attended the woman
said they expected no serious results. The
wounds were distributed over both arms
breast back and neck. f'
Large Pocket knife Weapon.
The stabbing was done with a large
pocket knife. When searched Harris had
the largest razor ever seen at the city
Jail. Harris died in the surgeons room
at the city Jail and in the presence of
his wife. who was being attended on the
operating table. The woman seemed to
be in no way affected when the word was
passed around that the man had died.
Detective Mitchell, who led the chase
for Harris has record of never having
lost a colored fugitive. He has made a
study of the ways of colored men after
committing crime and invariably is de-
tailed on such cases.
humorous incident occurred while
Harris was dying. A man breathing heav-
lily and talking in Jerky manner called
up the police station by telephone, asked
whether Charles Harris had been arrested
and said Harris owned him money which
nc desired 10 collect. The creditor asked
the police 20 hold Harris until he got e
the station and hung up his receiver be.
fore he could hear the information that
Harris had died. A few minutes later a
man rushed into the station and asked
for Harris But Harris was dead
Mrs. Harris was removed 10 Clarksor
hnsniial ThursdnN Afternoon