The Gerald –Harris Affair.
by mcump (Michael Cumpston)
The Brazos River Valley in Central Texas divides post oak and pine from prairie and in the closing decades of the 19th Century, comprised an uneasy but vibrant cultural crucible for the deep south, the industrial east and the last vestiges of the western frontier. The cities along longitudes 29-31 were connected to the rest of the world by rail and wire service and the citizens of such towns as Dallas, Waco, Austin and San Antonio had grown accustomed to the innovations of Misters Edison and Bell. The non -material culture had not yet encompassed the degradations of the European Socialists and the concepts of individual worth and honor were very much alive. Judge Colt occupied the back- bench in deference to the orderly processes of law and redress but, still and all, some affronts could vindicate only by the spilling of blood.
By the late-‘90s Waco was the proud possessor of two powerful intellectual forces. Baylor University had moved up from Independence, Texas the Brann newspaper “ Iconoclast” had emerged worldwide as a clarion of social commentary and progress. When Brann referred to the Baptist University as a factory for the production of “Ministers and Magdalenes”, he was accused of equating Baylor women with prostitutes.
(Current thought is that Maryam of Migdala never was a hooker but she had the rap at the time.}
The University brought in speakers to castigate him as an apostle of Satan and an atheist. Brann rejoined by saying “ I have no quarrel with Baptists, It’s just that most of them weren’t held under the water long enough.” (During Baptism.} When he blew the cover off a sex scandal in the home of the University president, he was pistol whipped and nearly lynched by irate partisans.
A liar, a coward and a cur
McLennan County (Waco) Judge George Bruce Gerald submitted a letter to The Waco Times-Herald in general support of Brann and criticizing the mob for their treatment of him. When editor, James W. Harris declined publication, he demanded the letter back and was refused. The letter, it seemed had been passed to a third party. Judge Gerald and Harris came to blows
– an uneven fight as the Judge had suffered debilitating arm wounds during his service for the Confederacy. He challenged Harris to meet him on equal footing at a time and place of his choosing. The editor declined and continued to refuse return of the letter.
Judge Gerald then posted a broadside accusing the editor of having physically assaulted him despite the great disparity in their age and physical condition’ deeming him a liar a coward and a cur. This notice was sufficient to bring Editor Harris into the street armed with a Colt. His brother Bill Harris similarly armed, came along just to keep things uneven. Judge Gerald came to the appointment armed with a
4 3/4” barreled Single Action Army chambered for .41 Long Colt. . Editor James (Jim) W Harris faced the judge firing the first shot. Bill had positioned himself across the street and shot from that position. James Harris’ shot had missed and the Judge returned fire knocking him to the street. At this point, William (Bill} Harris fired a single shot from his 44-40 frontier colt striking Judge Gerald in the left arm. A local policeman grabbed Bill Harris and attempted to wrestle him to the ground. The severely wounded Gerald lurched across the street and fired a single shot directly into William Harris’ head.
Upon declining the first challenge to meet on equal terms, James W. Harris deemed the affair not sufficiently serious and added that “ I am not a fighting man.” He arrived at the
appointment with a 45 caliber Calvary Colt in an ornately carved Mexican loop holster and a gun belt of matching pattern. The holster rig appears new to this day. That- combined with his hasty and ineffectual shooting tends to support his assessment of his combative skills. Brother William Harris carried his nickel- plated, Ivory handled Frontier Colt in a near-identical rig. The leather shows little evidence of use. His marksmanship cost Judge Gerald an arm. The editorial practices of the day generally included an assessment of the known gun fighting skills of the participants. There was no information regarding William Harris.
This 44-40 Frontier Six Shooter cost Judge Gerald an arm.
Judge George Gerald was widely known as a firebrand, quick to resent and repay any insult. He had invited James Harris to meet him with his shotgun if he preferred – just so he came forth to expiate the perceived abuse. If he would show fight, the Judge would willingly apologize for an epithet hurled in a moment of anger. When the duel was joined, Gerald felt adequately armed with his nickel civilian model Colt .41. Whether he knew he was facing two well armed respondents is not recorded. The Judge was determined to end the affair on the spot as his behavior under fire attests.
Judge Gerald underwent surgery in his residence. The injury inflected by Bill Harris’ 44 WCF necessitated the amputation of his long-crippled left arm. Emerging from the chloroform, the Judge’s first words were “ I know I killed Bill – what about Jim?” A witness assured him that J. W. was also deceased.
“ Where did I hit him?”
“ You got him right in the adams apple.”
“ I was aiming at the son of a bitch’s collar button!”
Months later, Gerald loaned the Colt to W.C. Brann and it played a key role in the revolver duel of April 1, 1898.
A McLennan county grand jury indicted George B. Gerald for the double homicide. Apparently his actions were vindicated, as he was re-elected to his judgeship in 1900.
The Judge continued a public servant to McLennan County, Waco, Texas until his death in 1914. A firebrand, a freethinker and a skeptic his monument reads:
“It may be oblivion’s dreamless sleep
It may be another and a better life.
‘Quien sabe”
We are content.”
