Victims of a wild west style shootout in downtown Asheville still roam Eagle Street and the now closed down Bailey’s Taproom.
Is the apparition of a policeman still searching for Will Harris, the outlaw who massacred three bystanders in an attempt to escape?
Could Harris himself still be roaming the streets, unable to move on from the scene of his crime?
Will Harris had a reputation for his daring escapes from imprisonment. He first fled a chain gang during his incarceration in Charlotte, N.C, only to be captured by Detective Van Griffin and returned to county jail.
Determined to regain his freedom, Harris escaped again and once more was caught by Van Griffin.
Not taking chances, Van Griffin had the outlaw transported to Raleigh Prison and was put on the chain gang once again.
Unbelievably, the escape artist managed to break free of the chain gang on a wagon filled with bricks and fled to Asheville, hoping to avoid detection.
Upon his arrival on November 12, 1906, Harris figured he’d search for an old girlfriend and possibly hole up with her.
Obtaining a rifle and a jug of hootch, Harris set out for the home of his sweetheart’s sister where the sister advised him that his girlfriend had moved.
With no immediate plan, the convict lingered at the sister’s home until her male partner arrived. By this time Harris was drunk and out of control.
Fearing for his life, the partner managed to escape from the home and summon the police.
Two officers were dispatched and what ensued equaled a shootout straight out of the Old Wild West.
One of the policemen was shot and instantly killed, while the other suffered a shotgun wound to the arm. Three bystanders were brutally gunned down. Harris fled on foot hoping to evade the mob that had now organized to bring the convict to justice.
Several days later, Harris was found in the nearby town of Fletcher, holed up in an old barn. By the end of the day, his dead body, was riddled by over 100 bullet wounds.
Today, it’s said that the spirits of the victims still roam Eagle Street, possibly unable to move on. The apparition of an old-fashioned cop has been spotted running as if still chasing Harris. Shadow figures have been sighted and the bark of a ghostly dog can often be heard.
Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria on Biltmore Street, also in the immediate area, reportedly hosting a shadow man, often seen entering through the front door. The taproom is home to many paranormal occurrences, including apparitions, unexplained sounds, objects being moved, and the flickering of lights.
Barley’s is now closed permanently but the spirits still linger and travel the area, trapped in a loop of time.