Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-02-12
HELEN USED MORPHINE.
Carlyle w. Harris Girl WIFE
Was Addicted to the Drug.
THIS LAY SET TIE STUDENT FREE

A Sensational Piece OF New Evidence
from a chum OF the Convicted mar
which VIII Have nm Important Bear,
Ing en- the Question or New Trial.
CmcAeo, Feb 1s.-The Press prints ia,
following: It was but few days ago that
Carlyle ". Harris was sentenced to death
in New York city FOR the alleged murder Of
his young wife, Helen NJ. Potts. The Press
says alleged" murder adyisedly, as on the
strength Of evidence in its possession it hiss
no doubt that the appeal taken hy Harris
lawyers viii be granted, and that the skill
fully constructed chain OF oircumstantial
evidence which led to his conviction win be
completely shattered
The main point in the evidence on which
Harris was convicted was the discovery Of
morphine il his wifes stomach by the
chemical analysis made for the state While
zot found in sufficient quantity to Be ordi-
narily fatal, It was shown that the quantity
she had taken, IN conjunction with certain
conditions then existing Of her liver ard
kidneys, would il a person unused to the
drug result fatally, as it did.
Here is the vital peint in the entire his
tory Of the case: 40 person unused to
The drug" 1t was assumed, as q matter Of
course, that Miss Potts was unused to tho
drug, and no attempt WIS made b. the de-
Tense to prove the contrary.
There is now in this city young gentle
man, Carl Petersen by name, who was an
intimate friend Of young Harris in New
York city mir. Petersen Is engaged to a
Miss Mollie Meeker, OF Asbury Park, n. j.
Miss Meeker and Helen Potts were insepa-
rable friends, and thus the four young
people passed great deal Of their time to-
gether. Six weeks before Helen Potts
death Petersen, Harris and Miss Potts were
all at Asbury Park together The rest of
the story is told IN Petersens own words,
Helen Potts Used Morphine.
81 have been addicted to the use Of NOR
phine at one time in my life, and generally
carry a small bottle Of il with me. While /
was at Asbury Park had this bottle stand
ing on tho mantolpiece in my room was
sitting in my room reading the paper one
morning when Miss Potts came in con-
tlnued reading, but at last attracted by her
silence ! looked up. I was Mortified to find
that she had taken the bottle Of morphine
from the mRntelpiece and had poured a guam
tity Of it out on a sheet Of paper
My God, Helenr ! said what are You
going to do with thatl Why, you have
enough poison there 60 kin dozen men,
:" Don't be q goose she replied, i only
want to use it to improve my complexion
"she then wrapped the morphine up, put
1t IN her pocket and left the room"
why have you suppressed thisimportant
evidence until this late day, Mr.. Petersen
asked the reporter.
II had absolutely forgotten it, and it was
not until ] read Of my friend Caryle's con
yiction that the recollection OF this circum
stance came back to me Besides this, my
business has obliged me TO be away from
New York a great deal lately; and was
not aware OF the nature Of the evidence
which resulted in my friends conviction. /
shall al once place myself ia communication
with bis lawyers, and ii the revelation Of
this fact win avert his dreadful fate I shan
do an can to rectiiy the fault at this late
day
This May Clear Harris.
"From your intimate acquaintance with
Harris and his WIFE, were you not surprised
ct the accusation Of murder against himT
II was astounded. / never saw couple
that were more deeply in love- They
thouBnt tine world OF cnch other and the
mere suggestion that Harris would be capa-
bic OF such a crime is absurd Only shortly
before Heleu's death he was exulting to me
because he had prospect Of being em-
ployed in physicians Office as assistant at
twenty dollars week 'and then, he said,
Helen and win get married I did not
know that they We're already married, SO
wen had they kept their secret. pointed
out to him that twenty dollars q week was
rather q small capital Tor 4 young married
couple in New York. but he only replied.
Wen get along somehow
Mr.. Petersen is tan. smooth faced. ine
appearing young man, a swede by BIRTH
vel educated. speaking several languages,
and i considerable ui q traveller. having
made two trips around the world. He ~
much deprlsal over the unfortunate ~
suits q lis suarrHsill ~ this important
testimony ami ys % will clear Harris Ha
BIS Ca liz possession letters written 10 him
by bliss Potts showing the intimacy 81 the .r
friendship Whcl he exhibited a. c1lrobor..-
lave q TIC EaLllleras ~ LIS statelnpnts