New Britain herald., 1917-07-11
Witnesses Tell How Harris Twist
 ed Knife in Victims Throat SLAYER ACTED LIKE MANIAC
Held Tanner Down With His Foot While He Plunged Knife Blade Into His Body-Victim Tried to Defend Himself With Shovel,

tences for their previous untruthful- ness, two of the negroes held as ma terial witnesses in the case of Her man Harris, charged with the killing of Frank Tanner on July 1, yester- day decided to "come across" and at a conference With Constable Philip Marine and jail officials, they told what appears to be the true story of the murder, furnishing a number of details for which the authorities have been anXiously seeking for sev- eral days.
 Encouraged to tell the truth by James Thomas, recognized by the ne groes at work on the Bristol-Plain- vile highway improvement as their leader, the men admitted having wit messed the stabbing of Tanner, ex- blaming that heretofore they denied all knowledge of the murder because of the fear that they might be ar rested as accomplices although they had no connection With the trouble.
 As a result of the stories told by the men at separate meetings, Harris may be tried with murder in the first degree or at least the second degree when his case comes up before the Superior court. Evidence now in pos- session of the authorities indicates that the stabbing of the murdered man was done deliberately and not in self defense as claimed by the ac- cused.
 Constable Marine has done consid- erable work in connection with the case since the killing. Believing that the men in custody were not giving up all the information in their pos session he sought out Thomas, the leader of the gang, and enlisted his services. The man agreed to help the state because he wanted the ne- groes held as witnesses released and yesterday he accom- panied the officer to Hartford. States Attorney H. M. Alcorn advised County Sheriff Dewey that the freedom of the jail was to be given to the local officer and he should be permitted to interview the men held in connection with the case.
 At the hearing held in the local court following the murder. James Puesodo, a Portuguese negro, who was the only occupant of the building in which the stabbing took place to admit having seen the affair. stated that James Orange and George Will larson had witnessed the fight. Con- seouentlv they were the first men in terviewed yesterday.
 Orange was taken before the off cials and at the suggestion of Thomas. he admitted that he lied when he told the police that he knew nothing of the killing. He said he was tired of jail confinement and as he had been told that he might go to prison for perjury he was willing to tell all he knew
 He explained that Tanner. who had 1 quarrel with Harris in a cafe on | the morning of July 4. returned to l the negro quarters on Whiting street l some time before noon. He was un- l der the influence of liquor and laid | down on the kitchen f1oor using a 1 shovel for a pillow, and went to 1 sleep Harris, accompanied by Mill l ton Pegg, came to the camp later. | After entering the room. Harris pro- ceedcd to kick Tanners prostrate | form ordering him to get up. Un ] a ble to rouse him in this manner he | grasped his hand and pulled him in | a sitting position
 Finally waking. Tanner asked, What are you trying to do kill me?" He then got to his feet and picking up the shovel struck Harris over the head with it inflicting the scalp wound which the slayer claimed was caused by knife thrust.
 Harris foored his victim and after a brief struggle placed his foot on his stomach to hold him down. and drawing a knife from the inner pock- ct of his coat, made a 1unge at the prostrate form, aiming the blow at the heart. Tanner tried to ward ofr the thrust with his arm, but instead denected the course of the weapon and the blade reached his neck. As the knife entered the mans body. Harris. with maniacal fury, proceeded to complete the job. He forced the blade into his victims neck as far as it would go, and then twisted it until he had cut the vindpipe and in tiicted d gaping wound. He finally withdrew the blade from Tanners throat and stabbed him again behind the ear
 "I guess you are all right now he exclaimed. as he walked out of the kitchen with the blood smeared knife in his hand. Tanner struggled to his feet. He attempted to talk but his from his wounds. he then staggered from the house Unto the yard, Harris following. and tried to wash his wounds in a pool of water. lie next walked to the pump several feet away and was about to draw water from the we'll. when weak from loss Of blood, he toppied over in the grass where he died a short time later.
 Harris remained in the yard until Constable Marine. advised of ehe fight, arrived and placed him under arrest.
 The knife used, Orange told the po- liceman yesterday. was one owned oS Milton Pegg, which Harris had DOT