The evening world., 1892-02-12
HOLDS OUT HOPE FOR HARRIS.
Carl Peterson Says Helen Potts
Helped Herself to Poison.
But the Condemned Man Finds n
Flaw in His Friends Story.

While Carlyle ". Harris is in the cell OF q
condemned murderer at the Tombs and his
lawyers are striving to obtain new trial for
him, there com,s from Chicago startling
tale from the II IS OF young man who claims
TO have been "A bosom friend OF the young
medical student aud his gir-wi G, Helen
POTTS.
This young man Is Carl Petersen. lie says
that he was engaged to be married to MISS
Mollic Mcckcr, Of Asbury Park, In 1901, and
that his nancec and Helen Potts were insepu-
rahlc friends.
Through Miss Mecker, Petersen says. he
became acquainted with Harris and Miss
potts, ana adds that Harris often spoke OF
his intention to marry the latter.
Then Petersen goes on to say that he has
been addicted to the morphine or opium
habit, and that once while he was in ply ST.
clans office and the doctor left the room IN
which was an open case OF poisons he (Pctcr-
sciD pockcted small vial OF morphine.
SAYS HELEN POTTS TOOK SOME OF THE POISON.
"rhat bottle of poison was on the mantc!-
piece ia my room at Asbury Park" says Pc
tersen, zone day when Helen Potts entered
the apartment. 1t was about Six weeks be-
fore her death.
"shc took the bottle from the shelf and
poured out about half Of Its contents into a
piece OF paper. | protested, but She laugh
ingly replied;
"Oh, don't he a goose! / shall not poison
myself am going to take 1t to improve my
complexion.
"She wrapped the morphine up ana took 1t
away. ! thought nothing more OF 1t TIL I
read the account OF liarris's trial. thought
he was In no danger from what read, and as
| had LEFT New York to escape certain debts
that was unable to pay did not mention
the important evidence that l might have
given.
:" never saw more loving couple than
Harris and Helen potts. Harris frequently
said he should marry her, and he talked hope
fully OF his plans. He once told Inc he had an
Offcr or Il place as assistant to q leading ply
sician at $50 week as soon as he got his
'shcepskin,' ard that then he and Helen
would be married.
"OT course ! did not know that they were
already married, and suggested to him that
$40 week would not be a very large capital
ior n young couple In New York.
"To that he replied that 1t would be q
start and that they would get along some
how"
An EVENING WORLD reporter called at the
TOmbS this morning. Under the present law
a condemned prisoner is not permitted to re-
ceiye any callers save his lawyers and mis-
family. The reporter therefore sent IN note
relating what Petersen had said and asking
for II corrOboratiOn or denial oi 1t. In re-
sponse Carl Harris returned the following:
WHAT HARRIS HIMSELF SAYS.
al met Mr.. Petersen and have no reason to
doubt his vcracity. He and Miss NJ, Helen
and myself were together several times Just
before Helen went to the ComStOck school.
81 never heard Of morph Icing used for
| complexion, tho
My courage is still all there Thanks.
| HARRIS"
| The last sentence was In reply to an inquiry
| aS to his mental condition.
one Of the singular things about Harris Is
his apparent fairness. lie has at all inter.
views suggested the weak points In his own
case, and seemed to be able 10 be Judicially
fair and unprejudced. 1t was he who, In pro
ducing one OF the capsules given by hin tC
his wife, cXonerated Druggist Mcintyre, and
he spoke IN loving terms OF Mrs. Potts, the
| CHIEF accusing witness against him.
| Now he suggests the only Inconsistency In
Petcrscn's story-he had never heard OF NOR.
phine being used for the complexion.
| Petersen is said 10 have mailed a cOpy OF
his statement to William Travcrs Jerome, OF
counsel tor Harris. 1t has not yet arrived
| Mr.. jerome pOuh-pOohs the story. He says
that he has been deluged with letters Of 0
similar character, ana declares that they ar,
| all from cranks.
one man signing the name "Jurgensen ,
says he knows or Helen Potts buying NOR.
phine OF n druggist and can prove II.
| Petersen, however. Is described by TIL
! EVENING WORLDs Chicago representative a.
n tail, handsome, refined young Swede, wei
educated, and speaking several languages
ns II man who would Impress II listener AS Q
/ candid, straight forward man. lie has bcsi
twice around the world, and shows Letters
written to him by Helen Potts