La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1914-06-27
HARRIS MURDER TRIAL


The district court has been busy
all week with the trial Of Bob Har-
ris for the killing Of Marshal j. B.
Craig and Night Marshal Jacob Kip
per. At Rocky Ford. on the night Of
July s. 1911. He was tried for this
crime in August Of that year. found
guilty and sentenced &C 30 nunE.
while his father. Joseph Harris. as
an accessory. was given sentence
OF twenty-five years in the state pen
itentiary. Their attorney, Lyman j.
Henry. OF Pueblo. carried the case TO
the supreme court. and got a new
trial for both parties. Judge Es-
sex in his instructions to the jury
had failed to instruct them that they
could find for mansiaushter II they
so desired. and this county is put to
the expense OF new trial. costing
some $500 or $4,000.
After spending two and one hair
days securing Jury they commenced
taking testimony Wednesday after
noon. The names of the jury are T.
II. connerly. Santa Fe shop man Of
La Junta; James Kinsel. retired. OF
La Junta: James crosley. a stock
man OF La Junta; James Gilbert.
car coupler. La Junta: George Nc
Names. furnace man OF La Junta:
DR.. X. Mccune. Sansa re electric
power and light man. La Junta:
Waiter stir. carpenter. La Junta;
Lee Giiien. retired. La Junta: Dan
Sciumbato. general store. La Junta;
T. b. Oldham, retired. La Junta: J.
II. Beard. a laborer OF Fowler and
!. w. Warner. clerk In the Beatty
Mercantile Company. Manzanola.
The same testimony was given rs
in the former trial. and where the
party could not be found in the state.
the evidence taken {; the former
trial was read 10 the jury. Out
side OF the dying statement OF Ofn-
Ger Ripper. there was no one that
Witnessed what took race In that
house except the defendants and
cir wives. OFFICER CRAIG died Just
outside the door. while officer Kip
pr lived until July 9Th. and died In
81 Joseph's Hospital In Denver.
where he was taken for an operation
to extract the bullets.
Bob Harris admits he fired the
shots that killed both officers--two
In each case. but claims ne did Il In
self defense. and In order 70 ave
bis own life. He claims he GOT hold
Of officer craig's revolver. % The
officer was pointing u q him. and
turned Il on the officer. and shot
twice. aud then turned and shot OF.
ficsr Ripper twice. after Kipper had
firsd u him. the buises grasise his
right eyebrow. The father. Joseph
Harris and his wife. Clara. claim
they were Knocked down and seun.
ned. and that they aid not - The
shoss flrsd.
Offlcse Kipbsr Ii his dying sests-
meat claims they wsat % he door
and knocked. and thea weus 10 and
thae Osficss Craig ~sss over 70
vhsrs Bob Harris was s1ttiag 70 ar
rsst hin. Clara Harris thsa silpSed
~ bs:aind Craig asd III hin a the
Asa1 With . besejs q bsse. as1 hat
whsa ~. Kippss. wsst % ~ asnass-
anes q Craig. Jossoh Harris. ~
father q Bob Harris. slippel - ~
hlad kiSpes. and III Mn evse ~
Asal with . chair. Bob Harris tAsa
~ held os Csalg's rsveavse aad shos
Crals. an1 tAsa tusns1 aal 49,
hin tKipoesD tvics. and that - nob |
wsas oct ~ dees ~ firs1 anoshsr
shos lste ~ 10Y - csaig. De-
eees nelooek an1 0astss 1esesibeA
~ wousds b shs be1iss - ~ en- |
csss. asd ssvesa1 Of ths seishbess
oel1 u The nolss and = nas thsy 80
non Tie outside. The Harris fan.
~ we're . solsy esewd. Ed Ills vas
~ ehlrd sllns hat wssk that The
aeeleess had bsss called 70 lhs heuse
= qules dlaeuSbamcee.
Aftss ~ sAootlas. bob Hsssis
~ OFT 10 the alfalfa fields sstii The |
esealag q July 81. Ne tAsa Stole
late sswn an1 ~ 10 ~ colespd |
ehnseh. asd afosswar1 u ~ celossl |
1rnrn>nnm~ oh~ra - 80 Aaa~~ss~x-.A