Harman-Stockwell part 2: "Community rid of a bad character"

Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

The New Era, Saturday, May 12, 1894, reported a preliminary trial for city marshal Allen Stockwell was set for Monday, May 14, before Justice Beland.

The New Era, May 14:
"Monday, the case was called before Justice Beland and Mr. Stockwell's attorney, Messrs. W.F. Gilluly, G.W. McCammon and P.J. Hamble waived preliminary examination and asked that the defendent be bound over to the District Court for trial. Acting County Attorney M. Gephart, at the request of the prosecuting witness, Colfax Harman, dismissed the case and paid the costs. No further action has been taken, and whether the Harmans will have Mr. Stockwell re-arrested is not known. Perhaps they have found how the public sentiment is and have wisely decided to drop the matter.

"The coroner's jury was composed of our best citizens and men who treated both sides fairly. Their verdict was in accordance with the evidence and our people are well satisfied."

THE OTHER SIDE:
"Thursday afternoon (May 17) we received a call from N.H. Harman, father of Fora Harman, to the editor of the New Era. He took exception to the article we published last week in regard to his son's death. The New Era aims to publish the truth and will not knowingly publish any false statements. We wrote the article as we thought the facts warranted and did not try to publish a prejudiced account of the unfortunate affair. We aimed to give all parties justice in our article and certainly did not intend to make any false or misleading statements.

"Mr. Harman said our statement that his son was a 'dangerous character' was false, and instead of saying 'a bad career ended,' we should have said an 'indiscreet,' not bad career ended. He said that the statement that Fora had threatened the marshal's life a number of times was false, and that the evidence did not show that Harman had threatened to kill Stockwell. He said the time Stockwell shot at two other parties, giving an excuse that he thought he was shooting at Harman, Fora did say that he had better go prepared for Stockwell, that was all he ever threatened, and that was after he heard Stockwell had done the shooting, thinking he was the man. He also said that the statement that Harman made towards the marshal after he had been ordered to leave the jail window was false, because Harman had no time but to run away and was shot in the back side. He also said that 'Durham and wife saw Stockwell sneak up to Harman and giving him no warning, fired. Harman did not start toward Stockwell.'

"It is but natural that Mr. Harman should take the part of his dead son, and no doubt objects to the way in which the death was caused, but now that it is all over, he should not try to stir up any more strife in the community. We publish his side of the case because we want to be fair and not prejudiced. We believe, however, that the verdict of the coroner's jury was a just one and that the community is now rid of a bad character."

The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4.