Socialist and freethinker Sela Paine Harrison was called insane or unstable by most people who knew him, and he and his family suffered because of it. His marriage eventually fell apart due to his wife’s infidelity. A few years before he died, Sela set a trap to catch his wife in an affair. Once he confirmed the affair, he murdered her lover.
Sela was convicted of the murder, even though public sentiment was said to be that he should be acquitted because apparently at the time most men would say “Had I been in your shoes, I would have [killed him] … in the defense of my family.”
On May 24, 1902, Sela purposefully ingested two ounces of laudanum in a Winfield, Kansas hotel. He was found dead the next morning, and was buried in the potter’s field at Union-Graham Cemetery. He left behind a wife, three children, and a lengthy suicide note outlining some of the horrific details of his tragic life.
Instead of re-telling Sela’s story in my words, I’m going to let him tell his own story. What he left out is filled in by others who knew him.
Sela Paine Harrison’s Suicide Note
As published in The Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 29, 1902
Transcribed from: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108047325/ with some spelling errors corrected.
A SUICIDE.
Sela Paine Harrison Takes His Own Life at the Hudson House.
Sela Paine Harrison, an old man and stranger in the city, committed suicide Sunday at the Hudson lodging house on East Seventh by taking four ounces of laudanum. The poison was taken sometime during the night and he died about 10 o’clock Sunday morning. He was buried in the potters field Monday afternoon by the county. Coroner Holcomb decided that it was unnecessary to hold an inquest because a letter the dead man left showed that it was a plain case of suicide.
Harrison had been in the city about one month and occupied a room upstairs in the Hudson lodging house on Seventh just back of the Lyndell hotel. He had been acting strange ever since he came here, and it was the general belief of all those with whom he came in contact that he was insane. He had intimated to several that he was going to take his own life, and last Saturday told some of the people at the lodging house that he was going away Sunday. He made every preparation for the departure, sold his trunk to a second hand man, bequeathed all his earthly belongings consisting of mainly trinkets and small articles in immediate possession, to Will Freebourn, the cripple in the postoffice, and wrote a long letter giving a full history of his life. The letter, whether real facts or the wandering of a crazed brain, reads as follows:
WINFIELD, KANSAS, Saturday, May 24, 1902. To Whom This May Concern:
I am about 51 years of age – was not “well borned” to begin with; my father being a chronic invalid 61 years of age at my birth. Both parents died on an Ohio River steamboat and left me among strangers at 18 months of age. My father’s relatives were too poor to provide for their own children but they half way looked after me until I was 7 years old; since then I’ve suffered one almost constant heartache and been roughly handled by this greedy world of competition.
20 years ago I went to Florida and married the wrong woman. Truly, “Love is blind.” We married with the best intentions, but our natures, our temperaments, mentally and physically, also, because of disease and injuries she had suffered, it was absolutely impossible for us to live together. Life was a continual hell. We were both desperate. I did all I could do to compromise and mutually dissolve our unhappy union, but we could not agree to disagree. We had three bright children.
Just when I was on the verge of desperation and felt that I could not bear my load any longer, a professional libertine came our way and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I put an abrupt end to his sporting career with two full charges of buckshot and am happy today in knowing I did a good deed for society, by ridding the world of such a human brute.
After I had complied with the formality of the law – some said I deserved a pension – I tried to live with the woman again, but found it worse than before. I would not abandon the children which had been the “bone of contention” all the time. I had no money and was not able to do much work. It took 15 months of most desperate stratagem and cunning to get $32.05 and get the children away from the miserable woman. The next she heard from us we were in Texas. I took the girl aged 10 and the youngest boy aged 5 1/2, leaving boy 7 1/2 with mother. I pushed wheelbarrow containing our clothing, bedding, camping outfit, &c., from Shreveport, La., 200 miles into Texas. The children walking all the way. I stopped in Texas one year. Worked and lived like a convict and was about $7 ahead. Then I hitched up my wheelbarrow and went to Belcherville, Tex., back to Gainsville, then up the Santa Fe through O.T. to north of McPherson, Kans. After pushing the wheelbarrow over 800 miserable miles and suffering indescribable heartaches and physical suffering, we stopped with the Osage Indians, where I spent the last five winters, my health being so poor I could do very little work and I traveled of summer times in Kan., Col. and Tex.
My health has been failing for 10 years and my death has been hastened by intense grief for my children. After doing all a considerate father could, driven to despair, crazed with grief, now see where I am at. Shed tears for the poor black man; so bad to sell him from his children. One of my boys in Tampa, Fla., one at Roxton, Tex. and my dearest daughter in Ponca City, O.T. I love them to desperation. None of them are properly cared for and cannot develop full sweet natures for want of better environments. What I have suffered for my children will never be known and few will care. I rather die alone as it is, but my children needs kind, moral advice that none else can give. My health is completely gone; I have had tuberculosis all my life; catarrh and consumption is pulling me down and it would only be a short time and much suffering, so there’s no use in waiting and dreading.
I am neither able nor willing to work. I offered to work for my board for some gardeners, they didn’t need me. I talked of going on the poor farm, but was not a citizen of the county. I’ve outlived my usefulness and there is no room or place for an old worn out horse. I’ve plenty money and will devote it to Socialism that such barbarous forms of society that produces so much suffering may be abolished.
As to the hereafter, I’ve no dread. “The World is my Country. To do good is my religion,” and I’ve came very near living up to it all my life. I say the bible is the Blackest fraud any people ever had to contend with, knowing that I’ll soon know how dead men “enjoy life.” I make the above assertion without fear or trembling. I believe in progressive Reincarnation or Plurality of Existence. That our bodies are garments for our souls. That we wear out our bodies the same as our clothing – cast it off and get into a new body and pass through life again and again, each time gaining a little more moral courage and working to abolish ignorance, selfishness and poverty and make this world a happy place to live in by giving every man, woman and child supreme justice and wiping want from the face of nature. See what we have done in the way of supplying the physical needs of man. The moral or spiritual side of our natures have been neglected. When we bring up the moral side it will not be long before we will have food and clothing with as little anxiety as we now have toothpicks and matches. Liquid air will take the place of steam and electricity, every family will have airships for carriages and the horse will be seen in museums as a wonder of dark ages. Science will produce a healthy race of people and we will live hundreds of years and never be sick and die a painless and happy death.
Unlike myself, all peoples, barring rare accidents, will live to see their grandchildren “well fixed” for life. I’ve studied this matter consciously for 33 years; done my my own thinking and my conclusions are based on scientific observations and are free from superstition. Most people get their moral ideas on a business proposition, like they get their meals – ready made.
I don’t believe I am any more crazy than the ordinary man, though crazy men never know when they are crazy. I have been planning suicide for 6 weeks; had the laudanum 2 weeks, but I have to be shy. I can’t say and do some things I wish without betraying my intentions. If Ide been allowed to go on the poor farm 4 weeks ago I could worked and more than paid my burial expenses, but as the people are so stingy, I’ll put my little money in socialism for humanity and you can do as you like with my old worn out body. I’ve no farther use for it. Maybe some young quack Dr. would like to experiment and explore it. My wife and son lives at 251 Spruce St., Tampa, Fla. have some jewelry, combs, photo frames, &c., and my clothing. I desire that all my effects be given to the poor, deformed person that has the little shop in the post office.
I’ve always held a desire to conduct my life in such a manner that when that awful time – death – arrived, as it will arrive for all that I should have little to regret. I am happy in the fact that I’ve done well; I’ve no fears; I feel as though I was preparing for a long ocean voyage.
Good night to all the world. There’s none
Beneath the ever shining sun
Towards whom I feel a hate or spite,
To all the world, a long good night.
SELA PAINE HARRISON
Tampa, Fla., papers please copy.
Suicides and Martyrs
As written by Harry M. Tichenor and published in Free Society magazine, Volume 9, Issue 24, June 15, 1902.
Transcribed from: http://mckinleydeath.com/documents/magazines/FSociety9-24a.htm with source citations added for clarity around individuals/places.
Suicides and Martyrs
A shadow crept into my life the past few weeks.
It came, and has gone; and yet the memory that will remain is more vivid than the shadow.
The name of the shadow was Sela Paine Harrison.
His home—but he had no home—I will call it, therefore, his “starting place,” was Tampa, Florida.
He was what the world calls a common laborer, and he was a wanderer.
He was past fifty years of age, sick in body and sicker still in soul.
He was a slave—a wage slave—who had discovered his slavery—rare event among slaves!—and the discovery had become an awful burden. And yet he had worked at day labor nearly up to the last, and had never begged a cent.
Poor fellow! He scarcely weighed a hundred pounds, and the master class, you know, have little use for weak slaves. So it was hard for him to find work any longer, even at a pittance a day. He came to my home—pardon again, I have no home, I am only, able by hard knocks, to rent a shelter, so I will call it “where I and my dear ones stay”—he came to where I stay, because he had heard I was a radical, and he, in his broken down old age, had become a radical himself.
To know him was to pity him. It brings tears to my eyes to think of him. He was a typical man of sorrows, and he was very meek withal. Without strength to work any longer at hard labor, he was attempting to eke out an existence canvassing for a book—a medical work. He also wore an Appeal to Reason button and took subscriptions for Socialist papers. He was eager to read radical literature, and I supplied him to the best of my ability. His face fairly illumined as he read FREE SOCIETY.
I told him I was poor myself, or I would gladly provide for his few wants, but even with my poverty I told him not to go hungry, that there were a few of us in this locality with souls large enough not to let him suffer. His reply was that he “had money,” and that when it was gone he “had a place to go to.”
I will never forget the look on his wan face when he tried to smile and assured me that he had “a place to go to” when his money was gone.
On Saturday afternoon, May 20 last, he came to my home—I mean to the shelter I pay rent for—and told me he was going away, and left me a memento to remember him by. That night, at a lodging house in this town of Winfield, Kansas, he took two ounces of laudanum—and went to the place he had to go when his money was gone.
There was no other place for him. I had more than half guessed the “place” before he went thereto.
On the Sunday following his death I, in company with a friend or two, looked for the last time upon his lifeless form. And thus I spoke to those with me:
“Suppose,” said I, “a fiercer strain of blood had flowed thru [sic] the veins of poor Harrison—a more rebellious strain than marks the meek and resigned face that lies before us, would you wonder then at a deed like that of a Bresci or a Czolgosz? What care the capitalist class, the rulers, at a suicide like this, that makes no violent protest, but meekly succumbs to the master’s tyranny? Such things as this have happened every day in every clime for ages—and Cæsar only laughs. But once a Czolgosz, with fiercer blood in his veins, dies and dies with an awful protest against the master class, and all plutocracy trembles! I do not uphold assassination, I only ask you if you are so blind that you do not see that it would have taken but a little of sterner stuff to have changed the suicide Harrison into the regicide Czolgosz?”
As for myself, I uphold neither assassination of the master nor the self. To me, non-resistance is the greatest force conceivable. But I cannot be blind to cause and effect, nor refuse to admit that a desperation of which I, fortunately, have not been forced to taste, can create a Harrison—or a Czolgosz.
I believe in non-resistance. I believe in the kingdom of heaven—the up-lifted society—wherein “ye shall take no worry of the morrow, of what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, or wherewithal ye shall be clothed,” but because all men do not believe in it, because one half the men (when I speak of men I refer to the race, male and female) do not believe in it, because one quarter nor one third the men believe in it, I look for hell to pop, and that not very far away. Armageddon will be fought, and fought to a finish. And the slaves will win. Otherwise evolution is a lie.
Man, when he destroys his master and acknowledges his own brotherhood, is absolutely divine. And the evolution from the monkey to the Republican party is just as wonderful as the evolution to the free society that shall deify the race.
Gods! Man is a god, and just as figures are the expression of mathematics, so Man is the expression of the Soul of the universe! Man, kingless and priestless and free, with Love dominating every action of his life, is the sum total of evolution, the companion of the stars.
And the kings must go. The masters of every class, kind, and description must go. With Malachi, the old Hebrew seer, I exclaim, “The day cometh, that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud . . . shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up.” Then the people will live. And the martyrs—Jesus, and Harrison, and poor Czolgosz—will be glorified, and the monument at Waldheim will be a sacred place.
His Last Letter
As published in Appeal to Reason, June 7, 1902.
Transcribed from https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/appeal-to-reason/020607-appealtoreason-w340.pdf.
Dear Comrades: After nearly forty years of hard toil and consuming anxiety, the poor house and suicide is my only choice. I have a wife and little boy in Tampa, Fla., a little boy in Texas and a daughter in Oklahoma – scattered to the four winds of the earth – will likely go to ruin for want of my advice and protection.
Just think, comrades, we used to hear talk of the poor black man sold from his children, is it not worse for a white man? Just think, no one is secure and your dear loved ones are likely to be torn from you and left in the hands of ignorant, selfish persons.
That this beautiful, fertile nation is recking and groaning under a huge load of ignorance, crime and misery. I’ve been the most willing worker for the last ten years, I’ve done all I could, I never tire of working and talking for Socialism. In 1899, not being able to do any better, I took a wheel-barrow load of books and papers, and pushed along the dusty roads through the scorching hot winds of Kansas. Two months in 1900, I took a one-horse cart and went to Grand Junction, Colo., and back to Oklahoma, and put over a thousand books and many papers into the hands of thinking people, convincing many that Socialism is our only salvation.
Socialism has been my only religion for ten years. I would not die if I could do any more for the good cause; but my health is gone. While I should be in my prime I can do no more for myself or for humanity. I will take a big dose of laudanum tonight and die a few weeks sooner in order to put my little hard earned money into the good cause I’ve worked so hard for, that would otherwise go to feed me, and also to avoid unnecessary suffering.
I can do no more, but I hope my soul will be with you. I pray and beg of you to be of good cheer and courage. “Do not fear to own the cause or blush to speak of the name.” If you can’t talk (nearly all persons can if they will try) you can do a world of good by distributing literature.
Don’t let ’em rest until such barbarous customs are completely abolished. We now have more than half the people half converted. Nearly all the people are thinking of Socialism, have got over the scare and are investigating. Our principles cannot be refued, for Right is on our side and we are bound to succeed and the end is not far.
_
The above letter without signature, address or date upon it, and a postal money order for $2.50 enclosed were received at the Appeal office May 25. There were no instructions as to what the money was for and the name of the writer was obtained at the post office from the postal advice. The money with more was sent to the family of the deceased in Tampa, Fla. by the Appeal.
Alas! for the sadness and misery of this world to the many, when it should and can be an Eden for all.
–
Murdered by Capitalism.
At Winfield, Kan., Saturday night, May 24, Sela P. Harrison, wearing an Appeal Army button, died by taking laudanum. He was about fifty years of age, in very poor health, out of work, and unfitted physically to do heavy labor. He was at my house the evening of his death, and bade me good bye. He simply said he was “going away.” Poor fellow! He has “gone away” – gone where the capitalist ceases from plundering and the weary are at rest.
Comrade Harrison, weak in body, but strong in soul, had been selling Socialist literature from town to town and doing odd jobs of light work, endeavoring thereby to earn his bread and butter. I asked him a few days ago if he had money, and told him that while I was only a wage-slave myself, to tell me if he was in want. He replied that he still had some money, and “that when it was gone he had a place to go to.”
He has gone to that place – the only haven, alas! for the worn out slave.
He was only a common working man, a day laborer when he was young and full of strength. He was useless, therefore, to his masters, the capitalist class, when age palsied his muscles and disease unfitted him for hard toil.
Say not that Comrade Harrison committed suicide – he was murdered by a savage social system as inhuman as the most infernal machination of devils could conceive.
His body rests today in the Potter’s field, nor would Comrade Harrison will it any other way. Could he speak, I know he would refuse that the Socialists should contribute to bury him elsewhere. He would rather, a thousand times rather, that any offering made in his behalf be spent in Socialist propaganda work. And yet, if I had the money, I would bury his poor body in a piece of land by itself, and place a simple shaft there, inscribed – Murdered by Capitalism – Thomas P. Harrison, a working slave, worn out and homeless, forced to leave this world because it needed him no more.”
HARRY M. TICHENOR
Sela Paine Harrison Murder Trial
Tried For Life.
As published in The Tampa Tribune, Thursday, January 10, 1895.
Transcribed from: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108099327/ with some typographical errors corrected.
TRIED FOR LIFE.
Sela P. Harrison on Trial for Murder of Hendley
A HARD LEGAL BATTLE.
The Attorneys for Both Sides are Contesting Every inch of the Ground, An Array of Witnesses, The Case Attracts Great Interest.
On the convening of the Circuit Court yesterday morning both the state and defense announced ready and Sela P. Harrison was placed on trial for his life.
The first witness placed on the stand was B. C. Kyle who saw the killing. He testified he was on the dock at St. Petersburg, Hillsborough county, State of Florida, about 9 o’clock, August the 22nd, 1891. Saw W. M. Hendley standing not far from the fish house, and saw Sela P. Harrison the defendant approaching with a double barrel shot gun in his hand. When within eight or ten feet of Hendley he raised the gun and fired both barrels at him killing him instantly. One load struck him in the right side, the other took off the right side of his head. Harrison did not speak to Hendley. Witness identified the gun with which the killing was done. A crowd began to gather round and Harrison walked back up the dock.
The next witness was Clarence M. Gill. He testified as follows: Inside of thirty minutes after the killing the defendant gave me the gun which belonged to Mr. Ellis. Harrison had borrowed it from him. Witness identified the gun. He said he had shot Hendley. One barrel had 24 buck-shot in it, the other had a number of slugs cut from bars of lead. Saw body of Hendley lying on the dock, as described by former witness.
Ella J. Hendley, wife of deceased was the next witness. She testified: I was married to deceased at St. Petersburg three years ago. He was in perfect health the morning he was killed. He started to the dock at 7 o’clock that morning. The next I saw of him he was dead on the dock. This was about 10 o’clock – a messenger came for me. Saw two wounds, one on right side, one in head. He was murdered. Cross, I know Harrison. Had nothing to do with shooting. (Here defense attempted to show that Mrs. Hendley was in collusion with Harrison and advised the shooting, but the court ruled it out.)
“Did you not write a letter to Harrison telling him to shoot your husband?” was asked by counsel. At the same time a letter purporting to have been written by witness was handed her.
Witness: “I know nothing of the letter,” I cannot write well enough for anybody to read it. Have attended public schools, can trace all the letters of the alphabet. never had any conversation with defendant about shooting. Had some conversation. State objected to this question, objection sustained.
(This letter may play an important part in the case.)
I was married to him three years ago, was divorced from Geo. W. Arnold, first husband a year before. He went away and I procured a divorce from him.
Wm. Holloway testified: I had known deceased two years, was friendly with him. Had known defendant only a short while. Did not see shooting, saw defendant come up beach to dock on the 20th with gun, cannot identify gun. He walked on down wharf, on morning of 22nd. Saw Harrison sitting at foot of dock with a gun – barrels lying on left leg and stock unbreeched sitting on right knee. Twenty minutes later I heard the shooting. Soon after Harrison came back by me and when asked who done the shooting, made no reply but held up the gun. I went down the dock to where deceased was lying dead, found hole in right side and head. He was dead.
Cross examined said: Don’t know the gun. Can’t say whether he frequently carried a gun. He made no effort to conceal it. Noticed nothing strange in defendant’s conduct. I was never convicted of any crime – served 20 days in county jail for being drunk. Hendley and I were neighbors. Have no ill will towards defendant.
At the close of the testimony of this witness the state announced that its testimony was all in, and the court adjourned to meet at two o’clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
B. C. Kyle was recalled by the state immediately after court convened, and stated after the withdrawal of objections by State Attorney Macfarlane, when he asked Harrison at the time why he killed Hendley, he replied, “because he, Hendley, has ruined my wife.”
THE DEFENSE OPENS.
Counsel for the defense demanded of the State’s attorney, the correspondence between Hendley and Mrs. Jennie Harrison, wife of the defendant, during their intimacy.
The Court: “I would like to know what relevancy these letters have in this case.”
M. B. Macfarlane, counsel for the defense: “We propose to show by these letters the existing intimacy between W. M. Hendley, deceased, and Jennie Harrison, the wife of the defendant. Further that these letters show, and we will prove, the said Jennie Harrison was seduced by the said Hendley, and that Sela P. Harrison, the defendant, was aware of the contents of the letters prior to killing. Mrs. Hendley, wife of the deceased come into possession of these letters and conveyed them to the defendant, a knowledge of which so excited him that he committed the deed while in a temporary fit of insanity.”
This brought State’s Attorney H. C. Macfarlane to his feet in a moment, and he refused to turn the letters over to the defense.
The court ruled that the defense should prove by testimony the contents of the letters desired, after which such letters should be placed at their service. To do this Mrs. Harrison was called and placed on the witness stand.
MRS. JENNIE HARRISON TESTIFIES.
“I was married to defendant at Mango, this county, in 1885. I have three living children by him, and three dead. I got acquainted with Mr. W. M. Hendley, deceased, last fall was a year ago – while myself and husband were fishing on the dock at St. Petersburg. In a short time after, he came to my house, and after that several times. Once when he came I was sick in bed. My husband was absent. He had a bottle with him labelled “Hop Tea,” and told me if I would drink it it would help me. I drank it, and it set me crazy. At this time he became intimate with me and remained all day. My husband was absent, and was every time he called. The next time he called I raised a racket with him and accused him of poisoning me. He acknowledged he had put stuff in the bottle out of which I drank the first time.
WANTED TO GIVE AWAY THE CHILDREN.
We lived at Peru and in this city before going to St. Petersburg. While we lived at Peru the defendant wanted to give the children away, and buy an ox-team and wagon and move south. He kept it up for three months. When we went to St. Petersburg he wanted to preach and to lecture. Two or three times he posted notices to lecture on “Is marriage a failure” and “a Skeleton in the closet.” He also wanted to lecture on the “coming nation” and challenged Mr. Eady to meet him in debate.
HARRISON WAS SICK.
Six years ago I noticed Mr. Harrison was sick. He had catarrh of the head, and a disease of the bladder and kidneys. He read the “Coming Nation” a great deal and could never sleep. Many a night I left him up reading and found him up reading again in the morning when I awoke. I regarded him as a man of unsound mind.
AT PORT TAMPA CITY.
In May last year I came to Port Tampa City, and secured a job in the cigar factory of B. Garcia & Bro., as a tobacco stripper. The money I made I gave to defendant and he used it in the support of the family. He remained at home, cooked and took care of the children. It was while I was at Port Tampa City that I corresponded with Hendley. I wrote him five or six letters, maybe more.”
A WRANGLE.
This brought up the subject matter of the correspondence and the court sent the jury out of the room. State’s attorney Macfarlane asked that the witness also be sent out of the room, as he had some statements to make which he did not wish her to hear.
State’s attorney Macfarlane – “The statement I wish to make is, that the witness now being examined, has either perjured herself before the grand jury, or before this court, and further I will show by respectable witnesses that she is a notorious character from one end of this county to the other.” At this point a wrangle arose between counsel for the state and counsel for the defense, during which much feeling was manifested in spite of the conciliatory admonitions of the court. The court finally ruled that if it could be proven that the contents of these letters written by Jennie Harrison to the deceased was known to the defendant prior to the killing of Hendley they were admissible.
HARRISON KNEW.
The witness was called and testified in substance as follows: “My husband knew the contents of these letters because he told me what was in them two or three weeks before the killing. When he told me these things I knew he was in possession of the facts and acknowledged it.”
When the letters were shown to the witness she identified them as the ones she had written to Hendley and the court ordered that they be submitted as testimony.
BITTER TEARS.
The letters were then ordered read and counsel for the defense proceeded to read them. During the reading bitter tears traced their way down the cheeks of the witness, and she turned away from the jury.
ANOTHER WRANGLE.
Several tilts had been indulged between counsels during the day and as the reading proceeded other remarks were made, which caused State’s Attorney H. C. Macfarlane to rise to his feet.
He said: “May it please the court, I desire to be respectful to this court, and to council for defense, but a number of times remarks have been indulged, which I cannot longer permit. And I am here to state in my place that I refuse to go on with this case if these things are to continue.”
The court saw that much needless feeling was being indulged in, and proceeding to lecture the attorneys on the manner in which they were conducting themselves. At the close of his suggestions M. B. Macfarlane sprang to his feet, and began a reply to remarks of the state’s attorney, when Judge Phillips asked him to please be seated.
Mr. Macfarlane: “Then do I understand the court does not wish to hear me any further on this subject.”
The court: “I do not.”
Mr. Macfarlane: “Then I wish to state that I think it is to the interest of this defendant that I withdraw from this case.”
He then packed up his hat and started to walk out of the court room when the court requested him to stay and he again took a seat.
Judge Smith, (counsel for defense, and Mr. Macfarlane’s colleague) “I hope Mr. Macfarlane will not go out of the case as he his more familiar with its details than I am, having studied it more thoroughly.”
It being dark the court adjourned until this morning at 9 o’clock when this witness will again be placed on the stand.
Enough testimony is in to show the theories of the prosecution and defense in this case.
1st. That the defendant is of unsound mind owing to chronic physical afflictions.
2nd. That a knowledge of the ruin of his wife by the deceased so enraged him that in a fit of temporary insanity he committed the deed.
3rd. That the killing was in defense of his family and home, and therefor justifiable.
The prosecution will endeavor to impeach the credibility of the main witness for the defense by showing that she was a bad character prior to her marriage with the defendant, and that therefore Hendley could not have seduced her.
During the afternoon Dr. Loing the witness who was sent for, appeared in court, was sworn, placed under the rule and allowed to go to his hotel. The State also had W. J. Dombrowsky and C. A. Joyce, two members of the grand jury who found the indictment against Harrison, summoned, and Mr. Dombrowsky was sworn, placed under the rule and allowed to return to his business.
Evidence All In
As published in The Weekly Tribune, Thursday, January 17, 1895.
Transcribed from https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108100064/ with some typographical errors corrected.
EVIDENCE ALL IN
And the Lawyers Will Begin Arguing the Case Monday.
LOOKS LIKE ACQUITTAL.
Vile Mrs. Harrison Condemned by Husband, Public and Even Herself by Her Own Testimony – A Long Case Drawing to a Close
The trial of Sela P. Harrison for the murder of W. M. Hendley at St. Petersburg on the 22nd day of last August, increases with interest at every step, and each new piece of testimony as it goes before the jury, is of a decidedly sensational character. A man of weak temperaments marries a woman who had been betrayed at the age of sixteen by a false lover. After ten years of married life, under various conditions and circumstances another man, passionate, fond – a villain, if you will, comes across the peaceful threshold of a contented home and by means at once plausible and hellish seduces the wife of a loving trusting husband by dastardly means. Their illicit relations continue for months until the clandestine correspondence carried on between the false twain falls into the hands of the wife of the seducer, and by her conveyance to the injured husband. The husband heart-broken with grief at the destruction of all that earth holds most dear to him, and most sacred to home, accuses his faithless wife and she confesses her guilt.
Astonished beyond measure at the wicked confession, and enraged – justly enraged beyond the power of human endurance at the awful crime committed against he, he determines to revenge the wrong and defend the honor of his home. Armed with a deadly weapon he seeks the demon clothed in the likeness of humanity – but a devil none the less, and on first sight fires the fatal shot with deadly aim, and the seducer, demon, fiend incarnate, is hurled into eternity to meet a just God who knoweth the ways of the wicked and will give to every man a just recompense of reward.
This is a brief resume of the facts as developed in the trial now occupying the attention of the court. We do not desire to bias public sentiment nor to prejudice the public mind, but a common cause of humanity demands that the defendant should have the benefit of the good his deed has done in defense of mother, wife and home, with all that they imply. No man is so dead to honor nor so blind to fate, that he does not feel a strong impulse to say to Sela P. Harrison, “Had I been in your shoes, I would have done as you have done in the defense of my family.”
The temporary storm in legal circles Wednesday had run its course and reason assumed her throne when court was called yesterday morning. Mrs. Jennie Harrison, who was on the stand at the closing of the court the day before was called, and her testimony proceeded with. The first thing was a hitch between counsel concerning the admissibility of the letters constituting the clandestine correspondence. During the day all the correspondence was ruled to be competent and was admitted. In the morning however the letters written by Hendley were excluded because the defense only claimed to introduce them to prove cause for killing. The defense stated that they had only one witness by whom they could prove cause for the killing and the state would make an effort to impeach that witness. The witness was then allowed to proceed: “I told defendant that Hendley and I corresponded, that I had promised to run off with him. His head looked like it would split open and he was crazed with grief. I further told him Hendley had said he was nothing but a poor fisherman, nobody liked him, but that he, Hendley, was rich, had a saw mill in Key West, land in Georgia, and an orange grove. His wife was old, he did not love her, but he did love me better than anybody in the world, and if I was his wife I would not have to work.
My husband is a quiet man, never had difficulties with people – attended to his own business as a rule. Does not drink, gamble, nor stay away from home at night. Since my marriage to him I have been utterly true to him except as stated. When sixteen years old I was betrayed by T. B. Coleman under promise of marriage, after coming to see me six years. I told husband this before marriage.
At this point the letters were again introduced and the details of their illicit lives gone into, which furnishes a chapter in this case unfit for the public prints. Suffice it to say on this point that the testimony in brief given by the witness was abundantly corroborated by this correspondence.
Cross examined – I am wife of Sela P. Harrison, was married to him in 1885. We lived together at various places in this county for ten years. More than a year ago I met W. M. Hendley the first time. Our intimacy began last April and was kept up until he was killed. The fall before I was sick, and my health continued poor during the winter and when he visited me April I was in bed. Had drank hop tea several times before then. Nobody drank balance of bottle from which I drank on this occasion and which made me nearly crazy.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mrs. Harrison was again placed on the witness stand when the court convened and was subjected to most rigid cross examination by states attorney Macfarlane. She testified I did not tell my husband before because I feared trouble.
(Noticing several boys in the court room, the court ordered the Sheriff to exclude them.)
I told him two or three weeks before the killing.
Here a letter marked exhibit 4 was shown and identified by her as one written after she had confessed all to her husband. Statements not altogether true. I knew I had taken the husband of Mrs. Henley away from her, and was wronging her. I laughed at the way she was trotting over to see my husband about the case. When I confessed my husband and I got down on our knees and he placed his arms around me and said he could forgive me. We both cried, I was fretting about it.
A letter written by Hendley to witness was identified by her – and it was read. It is in part as follows.
HENDLEY’S LETTER
My Dear Jennie:
June 20. – “Your sweet and most highly appreciated little missive reached me safe Monday morning at 9 o’clock. Oh, it is some pleasure to have something in my hands from one I love if it is but a few little lines written with lead. Yes my dear your letter was in the same envelope you put it in just like the other one. It had not be interfered with by any one at all.”
“Oh, dear, I went to see Mrs. S. Saturday night. She was alone and I staid there ’till eleven o’clock. We were talking of you most of the time for my mind was on you so close ’till I could not enjoy her company.”
“Oh, sweet, how I would enjoy a slice of that melon you spoke of if I could eat it with you, (then poured a most impassioned volley into her ears.)”
“No my love it is not to flatter you or to betray you in any way whatever that I have been going on in the way I have been going on like I have. It is something direct from the heart and soul that I can’t deny or overcome. It is something that God alone can give and human can’t take away. I could not lie to you and be true to myself – no never. I believe I could be happy with you. Of course we are both in a bad condition now to get together for good.”
“Dear if I make the deal this winter that I expect to make I will take you and bid good bye to this old place and we will go where we can be together for the joy and comfort of each other the balance of our lives.”
“I liked you too well from the very first acquaintance to ever think of trying to flatter you or fool you in any way. Yes my love make the best of life you can till I see you and I will do the same. If I were able or had the money I would spend next Sunday with you or die in the attempt. But times are so awful dull here and money so scarce ’till every time I get hold of a dollar I have to give it for the necessaries of life. But, dear you must look over that for you know how I am situated just between hell and Halifax. Excuse the remark. I hope next year to occupy a position on the right hand of my love. Oh! my sweet, how I would like to roll into your arms tonight, but as it is I will have to sleep with my face to the wall thinking of you. Oh dear write to me again on the 29th, and tell me where you will be on the 4th of July. With many kisses. By, by Darling.”
During the reading witness wept. It was suggested she go to the window to read it. She said she had enough light, but felt so badly addled she wanted to rest a moment. The court granted the respite and adjourned until nine o’clock this morning.
The witness will go on the stand again this morning, and also Dr. Loing will be examined. Mr. W. J. Dombrowsky and C. A. Joyce who were on the grand jury which found the indictment will be placed on the stand to show what the witness testified to before the body at that time. This will be for the purpose of impeaching the state’s witness. Yesterday counsel for the defense spiked the guns of the prosecution on one important ground of impeachment by introducing testimony themselves which the prosecution expected to introduce to show the witness to be a notorious character. One more slogan is left in the hands of the state, and it remains to be seen whether counsel for the defense will not this morning steal that thunderbolt from the state and cause it to explode a harmless play thing before the jury.
From Saturday’s Daily.
Circuit court convened at 9 o’clock yesterday morning, Judge Phillips presiding. Mrs. Jennie Harrison, wife of the defendant, was again placed on the rack, and subjected to a deep laid plan of the most rigid examination by State’s Attorney Macfarlane.
She was handed a letter written by her to W. M. Hendley, deceased, and asked what portions, if any, were false. In her direct examination she had stated the day before she had told her husband all that had transpired between herself and Hendley. In this letter she told Hendley she had not told her husband all. These portions were pointed out as false by her.
Then followed another chapter in the case not fit to appear in print.
“After I found out Hendley would lie I did not love him like I did before. This was about two weeks after the last visit to St. Petersburg” – 12th of July.
At this point defense endeavored to introduce testimony to prove cause for this dislike and the court ruled it out on account of irrelevancy. The cause attempted to be shown was that after Harrison knew of the correspondence, and after his wife had confessed her crime and both had knelt in mutual prayers and years – one the injured, the other forgiven – promises made and confidences restored. Harrison the defendant, wrote a decoy letter to ascertain if his wife was really true to him. The receipt of this letter Mrs. Harrison testified to, and her response to same, which fell into the hands of husband and was taken from his person when he was arrested showing that in spite of her confession, in spite of her pleadings for forgiveness, that she still loved Hendley, and was plotting to elope with him. It was the knowledge conveyed to him by this letter written nearly at the time of the killing which unbalanced the defendant’s mind and which caused him to kill deceased.
Letters showing that Hendley still pursued and infringed with the false wife of the defendant after he knew that Harrison was aware of their relations, were attempted to be introduced, but ruled out, and witness permitted to state facts contained therein.
At this point the attorneys got into a wrangle during which state’s attorney threatened again to resign his place if certain things were permitted to continue.
He then examined witness in reference to the obligations of an oath. He charged the witness had perjured herself and intimated prosecution for the offense. This was considered an attempt to break down the witness by the defense.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session was spent in wrangling over the admissibility of other letters written by Hendley to Mrs. Harrison after the confession. These letters were ruled out but the witness was instructed to state from memory what she had told her husband. The attorneys had it hot and heavy over and under, up and down, round and round.
The letter over which they had such a bitter battle was one written to Mrs. Jennie Harrison, wife of the defendant, in response to a letter she had written to him to notify the deceased that her husband knew all. The following are a few extracts taken from its contents. “He (Harrison) never was so shocked in all his life to find that I and you were writing love to each other.”
“I do love you and I don’t give a continental who knows it.”
“If your old man was to quit it would not be much loss, but rather a blessing for he is no pleasure nor comfort to you no way.”
“Goodby to my darling.” To fully understand this, it will be noticed that Mrs. Harrison was at Port Tampa City at work in Garcia’s cigar factory, and Hendley was at St. Petersburg. Deceased wife had sent Mrs. Harrison’s letters to her husband, and Hendley had found out how things were and had notified Mrs. Harrison.
At the close of Mrs. Harrison’s testimony, Dr. Loing who had known defendant from 1882 and who had been his family physician for seven years, was placed on the stand to prove the mental condition of the defendant.
He stated he believed such a state of affairs as had risen in his household would unbalance his mind. He stated this from personal knowledge of the man and his mental condition.
From Sunday’s Daily.
The Harrison case was taken up yesterday morning in circuit court, and Dr. Loing continued his testimony as to Harrison’s sanity. Defendant not entirely sane, but many insane people are outside the asylum. Melancholy habit of defendant would weaken his mind.
C. E. Worth was called and testified as follows: Have known defendant twelve or fourteen years. Two years ago he spoke of the inferiority of his wife’s intelligence and the trouble it caused him in rearing his children. Feared it would run him crazy. Ten months ago he said the same thing. I considered him insane.
S. B. Truman’s testimony: I was in St. Petersburg the day of the killing – talked with defendant. Saw him when he was arrested. Told me he had killed a man for interfering with his family. Wanted to find the marshal to be protected by him. He was laboring under hallucination somebody was following and wanted to kill him.
W. E. Bledsoe’s testimony: I am tax collector of Hillsborough county – have known defendant ten or twelve years. His reputation for peacebleness is good. Saw him frequently. He was absent minded and at times acted in a peculiar manner. I considered his mind unbalanced. Saw him last summer. He seemed to be blue some way.
Testimony of John M. Roberts: I have intimately known defendant for two or three years. We fished together on dock at St. Petersburg. Saw him nearly every day. He would sit on “lone fisherman’s post” for hours at a time where no fish would bite when he was constantly urged to go where they were biting rapidly. He did this way weeks at a time. Said he didn’t care whether he caught anything or not. He fished for a living. He would get his net caught and jerk it loose – they it would take him three or four hours to mend. Would break his poles and throw them in the bay. After an intimate acquaintance I did not consider him a man of sound mine – he was a crank. No regular fisherman would fish on the lone post. He was peaceable.
The next witness was Mrs. Hendley, wife of deceased. She testified. I told Harrison I found his wife’s letters which showed her intimacy with husband. Sent them to him. He was so flurried he did not know what to do – said he would not disturb us – but get a divorce. Husband confessed his guilt to me. This was three weeks before killing. He made no threats the last time I talked to him but seemed to think the trouble was settled.
Roberts re-called – I consider a crank is a fool – Harrison nearly always acted cranky so far as I could see.
The next witness was Clarence M. Gill, Marshal of St. Petersburg and who arrested Harrison. He proved to be a regular slogan in the camp of the State.
He was put on by the state in the first stage of the trial – but the defense put him up this afternoon. He testified. I know defendant Harrison – arrested him after killing. He was on the porch at hotel Detroit. When I told him I arrested him he gave me the gun, and said he wanted a safe place – was hungry and wanted to sleep as he had not eaten nor slept in twenty days. He seemed perfectly quiet and not to realize what he had done. Asked me to go and see about the children and to see about bread he had put on for them before going to the dock as he did not expect to be gone long when he left. On way to calaboose he pulled out letters and read part of one and pointed out a part to me. He said: “There, that means me,” pointing to the letters H. A. R. He imagined he hadn’t done anything. In afternoon he said he wanted to go home to get some more letters. It was hot and I had an umbrella. As we went along he held up one hand and said: “This thing has been brewing for thirty years.” I thought him insane and asked him to get on the others side and hold umbrella. I did this so I could handle him if anything happened. At mid-night in his cell, when he did not know any one was near, he stood up and talked to Hendley telling him he brought a wagon and mule to his house with oranges to entice his wife. My opinion is he was crazy or insane at that time. He was peaceable. Three weeks before the killing Harrison and Hendley had words at the post office – Defendant told Hendley – “young man I have caught up with you. If you don’t let my family alone I will hurt you.” Hendley turned off and laughed, saying something I did not understand – I kept them from fighting. Cross examined he said I found him at hotel in thirty minutes after the killing. Hotel is on his way home. I am sure he told me he got the letter I have identified here as one read to me on the way to the calaboose, that morning’s mail. (This was the letter written by defendant’s wife in answer to a decoy letter written by him and which showed defendant’s wife was still intriguing with deceased after her confession and promise to let Hendley go.) That letter I have identified is the letter he showed me the day I arrested him.
Tom Head testified: I have known defendant ten or twelve years, and have always considered him of unsound mind at times.
This closes the testimony in this long and tedious case, and arguments of attorneys will be made before the jury on Monday. Public sentiment is nearly a unit as to his acquittal. If he were sane it would be hard to find a jury that would convict him under the circumstances. There is one reason in the way of this presumption which would have its weight before the jury were it not for the fact of defendants insanity. That is the perfidy of defendants wife. She was vile enough to intrigue with deceased – and when she was caught up with and promised reformation she was base enough to continue her illicit relations with the man who ruined Harrison’s home. But his insanity is hardly a question now since all the testimony is in and it is believed the jury will acquit him.
Verdict: Manslaughter
As published in The Weekly Tribune, Thursday, January 17, 1895.
Transcribed from https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108155046/ with some typographical errors corrected.
MANSLAUGHTER!
Was the Verdict of the Jury in the Harrison Case.
SIX MONTHS IN COUNTY JAIL
Is the Sentence of the Slayer of W. M. Hendley – The Verdict Quite a Surprise to the People, as an Acquittal Was Expected.
After eight days the court has reached a conclusion in the trial of Sela P. Harrison for killing W. M. Hendley at St. Petersburg on the 22nd day of August 1894. All the testimony was in and the attorneys began their argument before the jury at 3 o’clock Monday afternoon. H. C. Macfarlane opened the case for the state. He was followed by Harry Peeples, Judge P. W. Smith and M. B. Macfarlane for the defense. At the close of his speech the court adjourned until 8 o’clock when H. C. Macfarlane made the closing argument for the state. At 11:30 o’clock yesterday morning the jury retired to consider the verdict and at 2:30 yesterday afternoon returned a verdict of manslaughter. The counsel for defense gave notice of a motion for a new trial and the court gave them until Friday evening to file their pleading. After this proceeding, on consulting the counsel, and the court it was agreed that Harrison should be sentenced to six months in the county jail.
The verdict of the jury was quite a surprise to the people of this city who had acquainted themselves with the facts and circumstances surrounding the case. Almost without exception it was expected that the verdict would acquit the accused. But the verdict will be accepted with good grace as it amounts almost to an acquittal.
Additional Sources:
https://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/trees/193522/I44167/selapaine-harrison/individual
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/haymarket-martyrs-monument-and-radical-row
https://www.jstor.org/stable/20700298
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4535&context=fhq
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/183491122/person/342415636560/facts
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