Bryan Morning Eagle
Bryan, Texas
October 26, 1898

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE SHOT AT POTTSBORO
He Was Approached From Behind and Seriously Wounded by Some Unknown Person

Sherman, Tex., Oct. 25 - Justice of the Peace Dave Harris of Pottsboro was shot 3 times last night, twice in the shoulder and once in the stomach, all 3 are serious wounds, and is now lying in a critical condition.
The facts as obtained are as follows:
Harris had started from his office to his residence, accompanied by his little boy, when about a block west of the railroad station he discovered that a man was approaching him from behind in a manner to create apprehension.  Harris turned upon him to inquire what he wanted, when the fellow applied a scurillous epithet, Harris struck at him with a small cane and the man fired 4 shots, 3 of which took effect as stated.  Harris sank down and the man escaped in the darkness.
Harris cannot give the slightest clew to the identity of his assailant and can not think of any one who would seek to thus waylay him.  Sheriff Hughes and Deputy Davis have gone to Pottsboro.


Dallas Morning News
October 27, 1898

HUNTING FOR UNKNOWN MAN
The Slayer of Justice Harris at Pottsboro Has Not Yet Been Identified
REWARDS OFFERED FOR CAPTURE
People Are aroused and Every Clew Is Being Vigorously Run Down.  Finding of the Clothing.

Sherman, Tex., Oct. 25 - This morning Sheriff Hughes was notified of the statement of a lady, the wife of a farmer who lives near Pottsboro.  She came to town the afternoon of the day (Monday) on the evening of which the shooting of Justice Harris took place.  Having heard of description given by Mr. Harris of his assailant and the fact that certain articles of wearing apparel had been found, she hurried this morning to inform he local officers that Monday afternoon she saw a young man answering the description.  He had a bundle of something on his back.
About dusk, when she was returning home, this was about 2 hours before the shooting, she saw him near the same place - the eastern edge of the village.  This is considered important as it more closely connects the ownership of the clothes found in the culvert and the coat found on the barbed wire fence hard by and in the route of the tracks leading from the scene of the assault, with the identity of an unknown suspected of the crime.  The lady judged the man she saw to be any where from 18 to 22 years of age.
Sheriff Hughes stated as to the status of the investigation:
"It is a difficult case to give any satisfactory statement about.  I know the people are aroused and very anxious that the guilty man be brought to trial.  I ask for myself and the department and the local officers of the precinct in which it occurred a calm co-operation of the people and a patient forbearance of what may seem slow progress.  I want to assure them that no effort will be spared to clear up the distressing mystery."
The deceased was about 54 years of age.  He leaves a wife and family, one son being about grown.  He was engaged in business with his brother and kept his official office in the business house.  He came to Grayson county 20 years ago from Missouri.  He was a life-long democrat and a an ex-Confederate soldier.  At the late county primaries he was nominated for re-election to the office of he had so acceptably filled.  The whole community about Pottsboro is shadowed with grief on account of his tragic and untimely death.  His burial to-day was the occasion for the closing of every business house in his home village.  Civic societies participated.  The whole community stood by the grave with tear-dimmed eyes and saw him laid away.
The work of the officers has been careful, but exceedingly rapid to-day.
At 2 p.m. R.B. Van Anthwerp of Pottsboro appeared before the county attorney and lodged information against a man whose name he did not know, but whose description he gives, charging him with the murder of David M. Harris.
The complaint contains a description as given by Mr. Van Anthwerp as an contained in the sheriff column notice sent out by Sheriff Hughes, and which appears in this issue of The News under it classification.
Assistant County Attorney Adamson, who has recently been attending justice court proceedings at Pottsboro and Gordonville courts, is of the impression that the cause for the assault upon Justice Harris was a desire to hold him up and commit robbery, stating that attempts to rob and one and one successful piece of highway robbery have taken place between Pottsboro and Gordonville is inclined to the belief that Harris' assailant may be one of the gang.
Mr. Beard, a citizen of Pottsboro, said to-day that he shared the opinion of Mr. Adamson, but added that he rather thought the man who made the assault and committed the murder had mistaken Mr. Harris for one of the 3 or 4 merchants who live in the eastern part of Pottsboro and who are often in the habit of taking considerable sums of money and keeping it at their residences over night.


The Daily Chieftain (Vinita, Indian Territory)
Saturday, February 11, 1899
pg. 3

CHARGED WITH MURDER
Dave Petty Turns Up In Texas

Dave Petty is under arrest at Sherman, Texas, charged with killing a Justice of the Peace named D.M. Harris at Pottsboro on the 24th of October last.
Petty will be remembered as the man who led Dick Adams into the trap when E.B. Frayser's cattle were stolen, and when the officers waylaid the thieves at the end of Tom Buffington's lane, and where young Elihu Lynn was killed, 2 or 3 years ago.  Petty was the chief witness against Dick Adams in the cow stealing cases against him in this court.  Petty killed a negro at Chelsea and escaped from the marshals and left the country and has not been heard of since till the Texas killing.  On preliminary hearing Thursday of this week Petty was committed to jail without bail, to await the action of the grand jury.  The Denison Herald of yesterday contains the following:
Half a dozen of the employees of the Katy at the west Denison yards have been summoned as witnesses in the case charging Petty with the murder of D.M. Harris.  They have all identified Petty as the man they saw in the yards on the night of October the 24th after the murder was committed and their evidence will have great weight in the trial.  No case has ever been tried in Grayson county that has attracted as much attention as this is destined to attract when it is put on its final trial.  The evidence has been worked up with skill by the officers, and will present some sensational features.  This added to the prominence of his death will all add to the interest in the case at its final trial.  The witnesses wanted by the officers have all been secured and the state will be ready for trial when the case is called.


The Sunday Gazetteer
February 12, 1899
pg. 3

LOCAL CONDENSATIONS
Tuesday, February 7 - The Sherman Democrat gives the particulars of the arrest of Dave Petty for the alleged murder of Judge Harris at Pottsboro several months ago.  Petty was arrested at McKinney by the sheriff and is now in jail at Sherman.  It seems that Petty had threatened the life of the judge who intended to have him arrested for adultery.  Petty lived for a number of years on Commissioner Ed Barnes farm about 8 miles north of Pottsboro.  He had a wife and 4 children.  A widow woman moved into the neighborhood and Petty became acquainted with her daughter, who was about 18 years old.  The young woman finally went to the home of Petty to live.  Judge Harris and other officers of the Pottsboro precinct threatened to file complaint against him charging adultery.  The case was finally investigated by the grand jury, but in the meantime Petty and the young woman left.


The Weekly Chieftain
Vinita, Indian Territory (Oklahoma)
February 16, 1899

CHARGED WITH MURDER
Dave Petty Turns Up in Texas

Dave Petty is under arrest at Sherman, Texas, charged with killing a Justice of the Peace named D.M. Harris at Pottsboro on the 24th of last October.
Petty will be remembered as the man who led Dick Adams into the trap when E.B. Frayser's cattle were stolen, and when the officers waylaid the thieves at the end of Tom Buffington's lane, and where young Elihu Lynn was killed, 2 or 3 years ago.  Petty was the chief witness against Dick Adams in the cow-stealing cases against him in this court.  Petty killed a Negro at Chelsea and escaped from the marshals and left the country and has not been heard of since till the Texas killing.  On preliminary hearing Thursday of this week Petty was committed to jail without bond, to await the action of the grand jury.  The Denison Herald yesterday contains the following:
Half a dozen of the employees of the Katy at the West Denison yards have been summoned as witnesses in the case charging Petty with the murder of D.M. Harris.  They have all identified Petty as the man they saw in the yards on the night of October the 24th after the murder was committed and their evidence will have great weight in the trial.  No case has ever been tried in Grayson county that has attracted as much attention as this is destined to attract when it is put in its final trial.  The evidence has been worked up with skill by the officers, and will present some sensational features.  This added to the prominence of the deceased and the manner of his death will all add to the interest in the case at its final trial.  The witnesses wanted by the officers have all been secured and the state will be ready for trial when the case is called.


Houston Daily Post
April 23, 1899

BIG BATCH OF INDICTMENTS
Sherman, Texas, April 22 - The spring grand jury, which has just adjourned until the last Monday in May, returned 91 indictments, 63 for misdemeanors and 28 for felonies, among which were bills charging Dave Petty with the murder of Justice of the Peace Harris at Pottsboro in November 1898, and Bob Smith with the murder of Arria Taylor, whose horribly mutilated body was discovered in the heart of the city on the morning of January 17.


The Van Alstyne News
Friday, April 28, 1899
pg.3

The Grand Jury at Sherman found indictment last week against Dave Petty, charging him with the murder of Justice Harris at Pottsboro.


Sherman Daily Register
Monday July 2, 1900

LOCAL BREVITIES

S. B. Cox, attorney for Dave Petty, charged with the killing of Justice Harris at Pottsboro, states that his client is ready to make bond and be set at liberty as soon as Judge Bliss returns.


Sherman Daily Register
Tuesday, September 25, 1900
pg 4

IMPORTANT CASES
Set for Trial in Criminal District Court

The following cases of importance have been set for in the criminal district court:
Dave Petty, charge with murder of D. M. Harris, set for November 19, venire of 180 men.


The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, November 25, 1900
pg. 4

PERSONALS
Dave Petty, the alleged murderer of Mr. Harris at Pottsboro, was for the third time place on trial in the district court at Sherman Monday morning.


Shiner Gazette
(Shiner, Texas)
Wednesday, January 23, 1901
pg. 7

TEXANETTES
The case of the state of Texas vs. Dave Petty, charged with the murder of Justice of the Peace C.M. Harris at Sherman, was continued until the district court by agreement of both sides.

1900 United States Federal Census
Grayson County, Texas
Precinct #1
June 25, 1900
Grayson County Jail