Nelson – Discharged Negro Soldier Who Killed Sarah McHarris in Grant County

Nelson, a discharged negro soldier, shot and instantly killed a woman named Sarah McHarris (also colored) and her 3-year-old child, and also wounded the child of another party at Chapman's dance house in Grant County ^[1]. Jealousy caused the murder, as Nelson had been living with the woman ^[1]. He was arrested by special officer George Lehigh ^[1]. While in the officer's charge, a negro sergeant from Fort Grant named Thomas, a friend of the murdered woman, attempted to kill Nelson but succeeded only in putting a ball through Nelson's wrist ^[1].