Volume 11 , Issue 14

March 22 1917 - Sad Experience of Harrison Eller

Continuing with the Alva Murder of Joseph Files in 1917, we come to the news article dated March 22, 1917, that appeared in the Alva paper with the following headlines: "From a Happy Care-free Boy Twenty Days Ago To a Life-time Convict Is the Sad Experience of Harrison Eller."

March 22, 1917 - From a Happy Care-free Boy Twenty Days Ago to a Life-time Convict Is the Sad Experience of Harrison Eller -- "Yesterday afternoon Sheriff Strothers and Marshal Brad Farris left over the Rock Island train for McAlester with young Harrison Eller who on the morning of March 6th cruelly and brutally murdered Jos. Files.

"Whatever might have been the thoughts that flitted through young Eller's mind before the crime was committed certain it was that they did not seriously contemplate the toils into which his deed has lead him.

"His was a swift and speedy retribution. With an avenging conscience smiting him he waved side all thoughts of baffling or cheating the law, confessed his guilt and was sentenced to a life of sevility to atone for the terrible deed.

"It is not a pleasant thing to contemplate. His was an act that ruined the earthly career of two men. It is a serious thing to die. It is a more serious thing to be murdered. But as between the dead man and the murderer there can be but one choice in the mind of a rational human being -- that of the murdered man.

"There is but one thing more to say. Let this awful tragedy be a warning to young when who are not living a life of honor and rectitude. If young Eller had been living the life of a Christian he never would have even contemplated so horrible a deed."
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