Harris, Robert

Harris died Jan 28, 1937, age 38, when Constable Henry Coleman of Cardin Oklahoma, fatally shot him last night at Picher Oklahoma. Robert Harris was a hard rock lead and zinc miner. Coleman said he shot Harris in self-defense. Shot twice, once through the right side that penetrated the lung and the other a light touch on the right arm, Harris died about 8 pm in a Picher hospital, about 15 minutes after the incident occurred. The shots were fired in the alley behind a service station, located near the Picher city hall. The constable said Harris, wanted on a peace disturbance complaint, had attempted to escape. Harris arrested in an apartment at Third and Main Streets, Picher, about 7:30 o'clock by the constable, was taken to the fire station. The officer went to the fire station, leaving the victim in the front while he went toward the rear of the station to get the keys to unlock the jail. The constable said Harris raced out the front door, turned to his left and continued down the alley. The former said he gave chase immediately and ordered the miner to stop. He said the victim then "leveled a gun" at him and that he fired to protect his own life. There were about 30 witnesses questioned. Assistant County Attorney Horace Payne estimated that shots fired by the constable were from a distance of about 20 feet. County Attorney Poteet said that a .38 caliber revolver, carried by Coleman contained four cartridges and two empty shells, while a pistol of the same style, which the constable said Harris was toting, revealed two loaded shells. Coleman was held in the county jail pending complete investigation of the incident. The slain man was described by Coleman as being in a "crouched, twisted position" when the constable fired the fatal shots , officers said. They added that Coleman claimed the position indicated that the victim held a gun in his hand. One of two shots fired from Coleman's gun inflicted only a slight flesh wound, Poteet said. The shot that penetrated the body caused death. ...Harris, employed at a property near Picher, is survived by one son, Maurice Harris, who lives with a grandmother at Granby Missouri; his father, Jim Harris of Joplin Missouri; and three sisters, Mrs. Jonah Green and Mrs. Effie Good, both of Joplin Missouri, and Mrs. Minnie Brown of Nevada Missouri. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The body is being prepared for burial at the Todd undertaking company. Coleman, 32 years old, was elected constable at Cardin in the November general elections. He began his official duties Jan 1. He is the father of eight children.