The Bedford County Times-Shelbyville Gazette Besqui-Centennial B ook,
Mrs. We R. Payne, Shelbyville, Tennessee.
The Bedford County Times-Shelbyville Gazette Sesqui-Centennial B ook,
Mrs. We R. Payne, Shelbyville, Tennessee.
The Bedford County Times-Shelbyville Gazette Sesqui-Centennial B ook.
Mrs. We R. Payne, Shelbyville, Tennessee.
Harris, a 23-year-old Bedford County, Tenn., Negro was in the neigh~
‘borhood of the Stump Valley School in the Fall “reek community on
Nove 20, 193), when a young white girl was excused from classes. “He
dragged her into a wooded area,mmt raped her and fled. The girl
identified Harris as her assailant and he was captured by a posse that
evening. Because of the intensity of the fe@ling there in Bedford Co,
he was taken first to the Rutherford County Jail for safekeeping and
then to the Yavidson County Jail at Nashville where he was held until
he was returned to Shelbyville for trial, His attorney requested a
change of venue which was denied and on Dec, 19 a jury was empaneled,
An immense crowd gathered and were demanding mob action, The National
Guard had been summoned to maintain order but they soon lost control
of the situation and fired into the crowd wounding three citizens and
killing a man named E. E. Edwards, The judge declared a mistrial and
Harris was smuggled out of the courthouse and back to the Nashville
jail disguised as a National Guardsman, That night the snfuriated mob
burned the 63-year-old Gourt House which s eemed to take some of the
blunt off their anger, Placed on trial again the next month ris
was A OER, Basan and he was atae oeuted Bea Mar, Bens Haze
HARRIS, Ernest Ke
Harris, a 23-year-old Bedford County, Tenn., Negro was in the neigh-
borhood of the Stump Valley School in the Fall “reek community on
Nove 20, 1934, when a young white girl was excused from classes. “He
dragged her into a wooded area,mmt raped her and fled. The girl
identified Harris as her assailant and he was captured by a posse that
evening. Because of the intensity of the fe@ling there in Bedford Co.,
he was taken first to the Rutherford County Jail for safekeeping and
then to the Yavidson County Jail at Nashville where he was held until
he was returned to Shelbyville for trial. His attorney requested a
change of venue which was denied and on Dec, 19 a jury was empaneled,
4n immense crowd gathered and were demanding mob action. The National
Guard had been summoned to maintain order but they soon lost control
of the situation and fired into the crowd wounding three citizens and
killing a man named E. E. Edwards. The judge declared a mistrial and
Harris was smuggled out of the courthouse and back to the Nashville
jail disguised as a National Guardsman. That night the mnfuriated mob
burned the 63-year-old @ourt House which s eemed to take some of the
blunt off their anger. Placed on trial again the next mepth ris
was speedily convicted and he was Ascher ted on Beh 218982
HARRIS, Ernest K,
he was returned to Shelbyville for trial. His attorney requested a
change of venue which was denied and on Dec. 19 a jury was empaneled,
An immense crowd gathered and were demanding mob action, The National
had been summoned to maintain order but they soon lost control
of the situation and fired into the crowd wounding three citizens and
killing a man named E, E, Edwards, The judge declared a mistrial and
' i in th h, ris
owas soasti iy abel cence tiaras clacton ences eee
Beers oie, Sai
