New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-03
HARRIS GUILTY AS CHARGED.
MURDER IN IHE FIRST DECREE IS THE
VERDICT
CONVICTED OF POISONING HIS YOUNG WIFE
THE JURY OUT ONLY An HOUR AND
TWENTY MINUTES.

| the Court of General Sessions last night His
mother sank back into her chair in Mysteries and
he bent over 10 press her hand and to whisper
rcassuring words into her ear.
| After the jury retired the courtroom was filed
with a buzz Of conversations This grew louder
and more earnest al a quarter to | o'clock, when
the calls OF the court officers, "Gcntlomen, take
your Seats" announced that the jury would soon
return to the room The friends of the defendant
looked grave. The jury had been out only about
an hour and twenty minutes They could not
have disagreed. and verdict of acquittal could
not be arrived at so hastily. The early return
Of the jurors must mean that they had found
Harris guilty, unless they merely wished to ask
a question Of Recorder Smyth.
In few minutes, the jury filed in, led by their
foreman, Samuel r. W. Mckee. Every eye
scanned the features Of the twelve men. Inc
faces Of the jurors wore a serious look their eyes
had a CLEAN Of determination and their jaws were
firmly set The whisper went around That
looks bad for Harris Cries of Hats of in
! court announced the coming of Recorder Smyth.
lie took his seat on the bench. his face almost
colorlcss The clerk. Albert Eltcrich called the
roll Of the jurors and asked:
"Gcnrlcmcn OF the jury, have you agreed on n
vcrdict?7
I'VE have" answered Mr.. Mckee.
fcndant will rise The jurors will look on the
defendant, and the defendant will look on the
jurors How say you do you find the defendant
guilty or not guilty - asked the clerk.
Guilty
"Of what?7
Murder in the first degree
The prisoners mother gave n shrek and fell
back. How could they? ~ she moancd.
Harris tried TO comfort her. 1t was tho
Recorder she shricllcd, before she could re
stopped.
The clerk went on: lIcarkcn unto your
verdict as it stands recorded. You find the de-
fcndant guilty of murder in the first degree, where
Of he stands indicted and so You say all
Nr. Jerome asked that the jury be pocd. rs
each mans name was called he signiicd his as
sent to the verdict. The Recorder said in low
tones Il thank YOU for the performance of
your duty. Nv present impression is that no other
verdict than the one given could have been de-
liycrcd under the evidence. Gentlemen, you are
diechargcd.n
Recorder Smyth told Mr.. Jerome that he
woull listen TO his argument on a motion
for new tial on Monday Court
WAS adjourned until Friday, and the Jurors filed
out.
Mrs Harris molrcl continuity and cried.
What wicked men! How could they? Where
is Carl?' and her sons words quetei her lettlc.
She was placed on three chairs and smelling salts
were given her. Soon Deputy Sheriff Burke took
her son away to the Iombs, the prisoners last
words 10 his mother being ASSURANCES that "A higher
court would reverse tie conviction.
The jurors had pledged themselves to secrecy
about tLcir deliberations, but it was learned that
the first ballot was ) 10 in favor Of n conviction
OF murder in the first degree, one man not voting.
In the next ballot. only opposed con
victIon, and he was soon over Said ono
Juror: Il I'm mighty glad it's over. | have Kept
from my clubs and avoided in every Other pos
she way hearing any mention OF the case out
Of co1ri. My own children don't know that
have hcrn on the jury"
sir. Jerome said that hc felt certain tha, the
Court OF Appeals would reverse the conviction
Tho scene IT the court room was not cNactly "A
reproduction Of that at the trial Of Warren Has
tings, but TO witn,s, it would sharpen ones APP
probation Of the classic account of the surround
ings under which Edmund Burke delivered his
great philippe. The hail in General Scs.i ms
is of limited capacity and il would have been fll'd
many times over with the crowd that sought adj
mission IL was about ! 30 o'clock before all
the persons connected with the proceedings reached
the courtroom. Then Miss Carson. a roommate
OF Mis- Helen Potts at the Comstocll School was
called 10 the witncsssstand by Assistant District
Attorney Wcllman. She asked if Miss Potts
had been restless in her sleep in the few weeks
before her d,ath. Recorder Smyth put a stop TO
the examination, saying that il too late To
90 into anything of the kind now.
Then William Traycrs Jerome for the defence
introduced Detective Sergeant Philip Reilly TO
show that Harris had surrendered himself when he
learned that there was a warrant for h-s arrest.
John \. Taylor began his summing up for the
defendant He started at / 80 O'clock and spoke
Interestingly and forcibly until , 80 o'clock, with
an hours recess for luncheon. lie began as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen Of the Jury the life of this young man,
the peace Of mind OF hls gentle mother ana th'
good rcpute Of this Commonwealth ar: M Nour Keep
F Gesue iy il ,roS SS S tSaoc S N ma % Of
testimony YOU decide the prisoner guilty tine fpunhl
Let examine the indictment under when th' tIi'i
/, held. II begins 10y saying that Iicl'n fNs ii,d
from morphine poisoning That T. the gate oi tht
structure. II that /, closed against you you cannot
20 further. Il mn,t also Ge sh.wn lm'' t1 m lo'ns @
Further. the prisoner shall not be iDuhd sulN uhlt''
II i- proved that If he did do this he did 1t with the
Let us look into the evidence about Helen Pots
death Even the physician & %o M Wa r,r nro fIu tht s In
died from morphine Pd>onng lie VIII ncreN ,. SMrar
that in his opinion She did. The pr'ccntns attor4ry
fold YOU that the prisoner cunning. br>gnIhS
rascal That does no coincide with hi, retaining the
two cap-ulcS and with hi givns one oi len 10 lhe
DENNY Coroner Don't -rc that III TINS way
he destroyed hls strongest and Ms mo't apparent
defence that the druggist had m1ar miii ne t
prosecution Ia, shown 10 pO-etl" motlNc luf ,nc
crime. beg YOU to ave bh'N u' ,lnE ~ I"'
mothers ann, and to give him back tonight
Court had been adjourned at 10 o'clock Tor
an hour. Mr. Taylor finishing his address after
ward In the afternoon the crowd was allowed
TO fill the room completely, and tie air became
sitting Mr. Wcmnn began 10 sum up ut 80
o'clock. He said in part
approach this with desire 10 be- moderate
I'm what say | may strike hard but shdIl 'tilkr
fairly. The defence hayc no drnnit" nue. V t"rE,
but seek merely To beclOud your minus NJ hrst lly
Sccsc that enilan.y or heart disease. apopleNy,
or brain tumOr. ldOS' nci1,y as rg'ds hioiPhIhc'
might have caused death. Then th"y dropped these
mns Hv one md NOW min their faith TO hemoIrage Of
~ ~ 49, ~ 80 ,a I'm. latent kidney disease. our
medical witnesses give il as th'ir 3Iil, t.t he Irl
died from morphine polsoang Inc syn ptome were