Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-07-03
BOB HARRIS
is ACQUITTED
Noted Murder Trial Closes
Saturday Afternoon
MOT GUILTY" VERDICT
BROUGHT IN BY JURY
Negroes Release Occasions Great Sur
prise and Disappointment to All
Familiar with Tragic Event

The strongest argument that
could well be advanced that the
law of our country apparently
places premium upon ignorance
and illiteracy when it provides
that only jurymen who have not
read, heard or formed their
opinion upon a certain case shall
be eligible to try that case, was
furnished in the district court at
La Junta on Saturday last, when
verdict of mot guilty" was re-
turned in the case of Bob Harris,
the negro who was under trial for
the killing of Marshals Craig and
Ripper.
This verdict was rendered in
the face of the fact that "Nigger
Bob brazenly admitted in the
hearing of the jury that he fired
the shots on the night of July a,
1911, that killed both officers.
Such farcical ending to this
noted trial came with stunning
surprise to everyone in the court
room at La Junta about $50 on
Saturday afternoon, and before
they had recovered from their
surprise "Nigger Bob" was again
at large, to vent his venom upon
such as opposed him or had gain
, ell his displeasure. =,
/, On Friday Bob Harris was
placed on the stand and admitted
that lie fred the shots that killed
both officers-two in each case,
but claimed he did it in self de-
fense, and in order to save his
own life. He claimed he got hold
of Marshal Craig's revolver, as
the officer was pointing it at him,
and turned it on the officer, and
shot twice, and then turned and
shot Officer Ripper twice, after
Ripper had fired at him, the bull
let grazing his right eyebrow.
Previous to Bob's testimony his
father, Joe Harris, had gone upon
the stand and sworn that he had
taken no hand in the tragic
struggle, but when the officers en-
tered his home he had gone to an
other room, had taken down his
Bible and had read it while Bob
was fighting with the officer S.
Both he and his wife Clara swore
that they did not see the shots
fired.
All day Saturday was taken up
by the arguments of the attorneys,
District Attorney Davidson ask
ing for a first degree verdict with
the death penalty, and Attorney
Henry for the defense making an
impassioned plea for clemency.
Dramatic incidents marked the
closing hours of the trial until the
case went to the jury about a
o'clock on Saturday afternoon, to
be brought to most dramat ic
close an hour and a half later
when the jury brought in its YER
dict of acquittal and "Nigger Bob
skunk from the courtroom with
ont word of thanks to the men
who had gwen him liberty.
That Enterprise readers may
remember the jury in this fam GUS
case we herewith give their names
and places of residence:
T. H. Connerly, Santa Fe shop man of
La Junta.
James Kinsel. retired. of La Junta.
James Crosley, a stookman, of La
Junta.
James Gilbert. a car coupler, La Junta
George NoManes. a furnace man of La
Junta.
D. R. Mccune, Santa Fe electric
power and ligh. man. La Junta.
Walter Stiff. carpenter La Junta.
Lee Gillen. retirei. La Junta.
Dan Sciumbato. ge,eral store, La Junta
T. B. Oldham. retired, La Junta.
J. H. Beard, laborei, of Fowler.
A. w. Warner. clerk of the BeatY
Mercantile Co., Manzanola