In the winter of 1945, the community of Melbourne, Arkansas, was struck by a tragedy that would be remembered for decades. Izard County Sheriff James Lawrence Harber, a 43-year-old male lawman with two years of service, met an untimely and violent end on Tuesday, December 4th. The events of that day unfolded as Sheriff Harber and the Melbourne town marshal were serving a warrant for check forgery.
The situation escalated dramatically when the suspect, who was being escorted from his home, managed to slip out of his handcuffs and attack Sheriff Harber. In the ensuing struggle, the suspect's wife brandished a revolver, holding the town marshal at bay. This diversion allowed the suspect to break free, run back into his house, and retrieve a shotgun.
Returning outside, the armed suspect ordered the town marshal to leave the premises. He then turned his weapon on Sheriff Harber, firing twice at close range and killing him. Following the shooting, the suspect and his wife fled into the surrounding hills, sparking a manhunt that lasted for nearly two weeks before they were apprehended.
The suspect was ultimately convicted of Sheriff Harber's murder and was initially sentenced to death. However, he was later granted a new trial which resulted in a conviction for second-degree murder and a sentence of 21 years in prison. In a turn of events, he was granted a furlough and released from prison on May 3, 1951. His freedom was short-lived, as an altercation at a cafe in Bradford led to his return to prison by order of the governor on February 25, 1953. In the wake of her husband's death, Sheriff Harber's wife was sworn in to complete his term of office, serving from December 10, 1945, to December 31, 1946.
