PRESENTATION OUTLINE
THE HANGING OF CHARLES HARRIS
Between the hour of daylight and sunrise on the morning of January 17, 1878, Charles Harris killed his brother, John Harris, in the home in which they both lived with their father, Charles Harris Sr., on Framers Creek about 13 miles North by East from the Town of Montague, by shooting him with a shot-gun. Death came instantly.
On June 4, 1878, the Grand Jury, returned an indictment for First Degree Murder against Charles Harris for the Murder of his brother John. The case was set for trial on June 11, 1878, but was continued until Monday, November 11, 1878. On October 28th 60 jurors' names were drawn as a Special Venire, and the Sheriff was directed to summon them to report on November 11. On November 11th only 35 of those summoned reported . The Judge then directed the Sheriff to go beyond the court house yards and summoned 25 other persons to complete the Special Venire. Court then recessed until the following day. On November 14th a motion to quash and set aside the indictment was overruled and the case proceeded to trail.
On Friday, November 15, 1878, the jury, through its Foreman, D. F. Speer, returned its verdict into open court. The jury found Charles Harris guilty of First Degree Murder and assessed the death penalty.
