Harry Spencer
Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 August 1914, page 12
NEWPORT
George Fischer, a plumber, residing at 343 Isabella street, shot
and almost instantly killed Harry Spencer, a colored hot carrier,
residing at 331 Isabella street, within sight of Fisher's home, shortly before 6
o'clock last evening.
The shooting occurred at a time when the street was crowded with people returning from their day's work and created great excitement. Fischer surrendered to Constable Roehl, who turned the prisoner over to Officer Knarr and the latter locked him up at the Newport jail, on a charge of shooting to kill, which was later changed to murder after word had been received that Spencer died just as he was being taken to the operating room at Speer's Hospital. One bullet entered the left lung, the other penetrated the abdomen. after the shooting Spencer walked to Fifth and Isabella streets where he fell.
Fischer at police headquarters said that Spencer had been trying to "do him up" for some time. A few nights ago he said he was arranging to go fishing; that he asked Spencer to roll up a seine for him and that Spencer then hit him in the nose with a brick. He exhibited a pair of discolored eyes to prove this part of his story. He further stated that last night, while standing near the corner of Fourth and Isabella streets, Spencer came toward him, making threats and that he immediately drew his revolver and shot four times, three times at Spencer and once at another colored man with him.
Two of the shots struck Spencer and the other two went wild. Coroner Digby upon being notified of the murder, assigned Dr. Claude Youtsey to make a post mortem examination.