Tazewell County Virginia USGenWeb Archives News.....Murder Charge Is Filed Against Pocahontas Police Chief Wright May 25, 1977
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Patty Ann Harmon Chambers mspatty1967@yahoo.com May 20, 2008, 12:27 pm

The  Clinch Valley May 25, 1977
Murder Charge Is Filed Against Pocahontas Police Chief Wright-He scared the 
hell of me.It was a face that I knew was out to kill me,"recalled Pocahontas 
Police Chief Donald L "Ben"Wright. Wright has been charged with first degree 
murder in connection with the shooting death of James F Harmon Jr of 
Skygusty,WV,The shooting occured about 11:00 am Friday in the lobby of 
Consolidated Coal Company's regional headquaters in Pocahontas. 
   According to the investigating officers Mike Sargent and Roy Brewster of 
Tazewell County Sheriff"s Department,Harmon allegedly pulled a .22 caliber 
revolver on Wright."I walked into the Lobby and there were 4 or 5 people in 
the lobby,"said Wright "I've been a Temporary marshall,serving papers on the 
strikers,I went to the Consol Office to see if they had any papers for me to 
serve.I got a drink of water and was bent over the fountain when I looked up 
and he was standing over me.He grinned and said,"I'm a Christian and if you 
don't believe it I"ll show you my bible the he pulled a gun".
    Wright shot Harmon 6 times according to the Authorites and Wright does not 
deny that.I rememeber thinking it was him or me.I thought I was dead man.I 
remember getting off the first shot,I'm not conscious of what I did after 
that.I wasn't conscious of what happened.he related.
      The body had been moved from the lobby by the time Sargent and Brewster 
arrived,"Somebody called the ambulance.They say I said to move it {the body} 
but I don't remember saying it.By God,I didn't remember it and I'm telling the 
truth.I could'nt tell you what I said no more than the man in the moon.I was 
in a pretty bad way after that time,"stated.Wright and Harmon had several run-
ins in past years.One time Wright stopped a pick-up driven by Harmon because 
he ran a stop sign.According to Wright,Harmon struck him with a hammer.
       The Last time Wright saw Harmon was in 1974.That time Harmon open fired 
on the chief as soon as he saw him.NO one was hurt in the incident.
        Wright has been a policeman for 15 years and chief of police in 
Pocahontas for the past seven years."I asked for suspension but the police 
commission refused to suspend me.As far as I know.I have to complete support 
of the town and town council," he continued.
         Other officers had trouble with Harmon,He was a man to be feared.That 
man ought to have been in an institution"said Wright.
         After the shooting Wright was taking before the Magistrate Arch Brown 
and released on his own recognizance."It just made me sick.I was sick two days 
over it.I feel sorry I had to go through this with him.He swore he would kill 
me.He had it in for me he was gonna kill me,"Wright recalled.
         Harmon's body was taken to Ronoake for an autopsy and a hearing has 
tentatively been schedule for June 29.

Additional Comments:
This was a sinless killing Justice wasnt served Here at all

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.org/va/tazewell/newspapers/murderch112gnw.txt

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