In June 1899, information was received from Georgia concerning a black suspect, Rueben Harris who was wanted for murder and thought to be in Pensacola. Detective Thomas Watts was assigned the case, so he contacted his confidential information (called a "ferret" in those days) "Billy the Devil." Billy obtained information that Harris would be arriving on the night of June 1st by train. Watts and Billy arrived at the station just as Harris disembarked and began walking briskly southward down Tarragona Street. Watts saw Officer John G. Yelverton (1856-1899) nearby and motioned for him to stop Harris. Yelverton approached him in front of the Stratton Ice Works on Tarragona & Chase Street.
Yelverton ordered the suspect to stop but Harris pulled a revolver and fired two quick shots into the unsuspecting officer. One struck him a glancing blow to the head causing him a painful but non-lethal wound. But the force of the bullets stunned him and before he could recover Harris shot him a third time. The last shot passed through Officer Yelverton’s right side inflicting a mortal wound. As the wounded officer fell, he drew his own revolver and shot at and missed Harris who was fleeing down the street. However, before Harris could get away both Detective Watts and Billy ran up and shot Harris, each bullet passing through his lungs. Harris staggered off behind the ice plant and hid himself in the back. About this time Police Chief Frank Wilde came up and he and Watts began looking for Harris. Chief Wilde walked cautiously through the crowded back lot when he suddenly saw him Harris behind a log pile with a revolver in each hand. As the wounded man staggered to his feet, he raised his pistol and attempted to shoot Wilde, but the quick-footed chief charged him knocking him to the ground and immediately subdued him.
Officer Yelverton was carried to the Pensacola infirmary by wagon where Dr. Frank Gale Renshaw found the bullet had penetrated his bowels in four places after entering his side. He died two days later on June 3, 1899, most likely from peritonitis. He was buried in St. Johns Cemetery where his 32-year-old wife Ida H. "Carrie" (1867-1936) would join him on November 26, 1936. Their son Roy G. Yelverton (1885-1952) would grow up to become a jailer and deputy under Sheriff R. L. Kendrick. He would pass away in 1952 and was buried in the family plot in St. John’s Cemetery. He was survived by his wife Irene and two sons John A. and Richard L. Yelverton, the latter retiring himself from the Pensacola Police Department.
In the meantime, Harris was carried to the jail where the city’s physician, Dr. Horace L. Simpson, stated there was no way Harris would survive his wounds. However, as Officer Yelverton’s condition worsened that of Rueben Harris was improving. When he was out of danger he was moved to the infirmary and later to the county jail to be held for one count of first-degree murder.
As soon as he recovered enough to stand trial his case was presented before the Escambia County circuit court on December 5, 1899. On December 6th, the jury returned a verdict of guilty for the first-degree murder of Officer John Yelverton. Based on the facts of the case Rueben Harris was sentenced to death by hanging upon a date set by Governor John L. Crawford. However, on January 25, 1900, the Governor commuted his sentence to life imprisonment at hard labor based on the recommendation of the sentencing court. His fate from this point is unknown but he most likely died in prison and was buried in the prison graveyard. However, many inmates of the day were released on conditional pardons during this period even for offenses as serious as murder.
Pensacola News Journal 1899 where Rueben Harris captured
Dr. Frank Gale Renshaw 1899
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