Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-27
HARRIS DEFENDS DEED
Graphic Account of Fatal Row
Provoked by Poole.
MAKES GOOD IMPRESSION
Says He Committed Homicide in
Self-Defense.
FOUND CASH LOOKING FOR KEY
Came Across Roll of Bills in Search
ing Dead Mans Pockets and
Appropriated It.
FOUND CASH LOOKING FOR KEY
ecial From Staff CORRESPONDENT.

Special From a STAFF Correspondent.
ROCKVILLE, Md, November 81
Oliver Harris, on trial here for the killing
of Henson Poole July 90 last, took the
stand today and gave his version of the
death of Poole.
He described graphically the quarrel
and fight in which Poole lost his life: ad-
mitted that he shot Poole with Poole
own rifle and beat Poole over the head
with Poole's own hammer; but said he
did it while defending himself from
murderous attack by Poole.
The cause of the quarrel, Harris said,
was Poole's attempt to put water IN
whisky which he, Harris, was ABOUT u
purchase from Poole.
Harris denied the charge made by the
prosecuting attorney that he spent the
night with Poole. He admitted being
with Poole until about o'clock the night
of July 81, but said he went home then'
going to Poole's house about o'clock
on the morning of July -.
Harris made an excellent witness, and
his story made a profound impression
on those who heard it. He faced his
euestioners calmly, but betrayed his
nervousness by constantly tapping the
floor with his foot.
both hands resting on the rail of the
witness stand. Directly in front Of him
sat his father and sisters. They fol-
lowed closely every word he SAID an
expression of mingled hope and anxiety
written plain on their features.
Woke Up Poole.
Il went to Henson Pooles house about
) o'clock in the morning" said Harris,
when directed by his attorney, Edward
Peter, to tell his story, Ito get some
whisky.
Il knocked on the door and called to
Poole He was asleep. but soon awoke
and let me in
gave me II drink and took one himself.
Then We had another maybe two more,
don't remember. Later we went into
his bedroom and sat on his cot.
1T was there he said that his whisky
was too strong, and he would put some
water in it. l told him l wanted no
water in mine and We got into an ar
gument He called me a vile name.
Don't call me that again. | said.
"'Ill do more than that, he said. III
murder you, YOU
Poole reached back to the window sill
behind the bed and picked up hammer.
AS he came at me with it hit him with
my fist and knocked him down.
Poole Got His Gun.
where his rifle was standing. Seeing
what he was after, l pushed him and
beat him to the rifle. Again he came at
me with the hammer and L shot him.
He staggered, but came on again.
There was no other cartridge in the rifle,
so | picked up the hammer, which he
had dropped. and hit him over the head
with 1t. Then l deliberately shot him two
or three times more L was crazy with
excitement and fear.
.Afterward / dragged the body into the
closet When / tried to leave the house
l found the door locked. l went back
to the body and felt in Poole's pocket
for the key. The first thing my hand
struck was a roll of money. l took it.
The amount was about So l found the
key in another pocket and came out"
After the Tragedy.
Harris said that after leaving Pooles
house he walked up the road and saw
Charles Connors standing in his yard
He called Connors to the roadside and
gave him a drink of whisky from the
bottle he had brought from Poole's house
After that he went home to Travilah
and telephoned to Rockville for a team
drove home and took his sister and Miss
Pearson to the Masonic fair at Rockville
On cross-examination Harris stuck
firmly to his original story. Nothing tina;
Prior to the examination of Harris, the
young mans mother and sister were put
on the stand. They both testified that
Harris had come home between and II
O'Clock the night of July p. He sal
around with the family until midnight
| when they went to bed. He went to sleel
on couch in the parlor.
Mother Corroborates Son.
Mrs. Harris said she came downstairs
to get drink Of water at o'clock the
next morning and saw her son lying
asleep In the parlor. Between and &
o'clock she heard him moving about
When she came downstairs again She
found he had left the house.
The prosecution put on the stand this
morning Scott Collins, to whom Harris
made a confession at the jail here Col
Inns said that Harris had told him al
about killing Poole. What he said Harris
told him exactly what Harris said on the
stand today.
The defense closed it's case with the
| testimony of two Rockville physicians
DR.. Manners and DR.. Lewis. They gave
| expert testimony to the effect that bull.