Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-02-13
DRlF TING INTO MYSTERY
Some One Is Not Telling the
Truth in the Harris Case.
PBTERsEEs STORY UNDER HOT FIRE

PETbRSEN'S STORY UNDER HOT FIRE
The Condemned Man Corroborates II,
Miss Meeker Denies II, Harris Rcitcr-
ates It's TruthTulness and Miss Meeker's
Friends Denounce IL as a Falsehood.
NEw York, Feb ls.-An air Of mystery
begins to surround the case Of Carlyle w
Harris, under sentence Of death for poison
ing his girl wife, Helen Potts
A reporter visited the condemned man
at the Tombs prison, and asked him by
note if he knew Carl Petersen, 81 Chi
oago, who alleges that Miss Potts smoked
morphine for her complexion lie sent this
answer; u remember the gentleman
perfectly, and 70 the best Of my knowledge
all he says is true He was an intimate
friend Of my wife's friend, Miss Meeker, 50
Helen knew him better than l. No one
could be in better position ta4speak Of the
affection between Helen and myself, be-
cause we were an together only few weeks
before she died II is TO be hoped that the
truth Of this terrible tragedy win be proved.
Sincerely, Haris,n
corroborated BY Harris.
Harris underlined the word "truthr and
the keeper said that he seemed much pleased
at the news from Chicago and had been
more cheerful since reading it than he had
been at any time since he had been sentenced
to death for the murder Of his unaclnowl- !
edged schoolgirl wife, Helen Neilson Potts |
The reporter then called on Miss Mollie
Meeker at sl6 West Nineteenth street He
found her on the point Of going out for a
walk. She is a tail, young girl, with brown
hair and eyes and pleasant features.
Have you read the story from Chicago
about Carl Petersen and Carlyle w Harris
and Miss Potts and yourselfr he asked her.
Yes" she replied. II have read it,
"Were you engaged 20 be married 70 Carl
| Petersenf
''No, said Miss Meeker, II was not only
not engaged to be married to him, but
never even met such person.
Are you sure Of thati Remember, the
life Of young Harris is at stake. II Carl Pc
tersen's story is true it win probably save
Harris life. Are you sure that you never
knew Carl Petersenf
Denied by Miss Moeker.
mot only that replied Miss Meeker,
"but ] never even heard of him. ! WIS
never more surprised than when l read that
he said had been engaged TO him. II Is q
very strange thing il seems 20 me that this
man Petersen, il there is such a person, did
not come forward while Carlyle Harris was
being tried for his lifen
"Do you know Carlyle HarrisF' inquired
every slightly answered Miss Meekor
~ met him only two or three times with
his wife-and, Of course, did not know she
was his wife. thought as everybody else
did, that they were jnst friends Ny mother
knew Mrs Potts, Helens mother, very
well, and in that way knew Helen. We
were friends, and she used to call on me
quite often in this house
"Did you ever hear OF her using morphine
for her complexionw / asked.
Never answered Miss Meeker, prompt
~. II never heard OF her using morphine
or anything whatsoever for her complexion
She was a very dark complexioned girl
Her eyes were remarkably black. Her skin
was a clear olive. She did not need any
thing for her complexiOu."
The reporter read TO Miss Meeker the
note he had received from Harris at the
Tombs, emphasizing the words, 1--WE all
were together only few weeks before she
died, and explaining that 1--WE all" referred
10 Petersen, Miss Meeker, Miss Potts and
Harris.
That is not true said Miss Meeker
1--WE certainly We're not together. We could
not have been I never heard Of such
person as Carl Petersen"
Nor Of any one whose name sounds like
thatW
Never was Miss Meeker's reply.
Harris stil sticks to IL.
The reporter hurried back 10 the Tomhs
and sent card to Carlyle Harris, on which
was written: Who and what is Carl Peter
Sent Where did he live in New York; Who
else knows himl Do you know whether he
was engaged to marry Miss Mollie Meekeri
This is his answers
Everything that Mr. Petersen says Is entirely
true He was boarding Il thinl) at $40 West
| Twenty-ninth, in the house with Miss M. Ny
wife visited the latter and all four went TO this
theater etc. together Mr. +. IL, as far as
I know entirely reliable, and yon can well i'm
agine how sincerely hope be may hold the key
10 this sad mystery. Yours, etc,
CARLYLE HARRIS.
Who tells the truthg Is it possible that
Carl Petersen is an assumed nameg Can il
be that he is some one who has been known
to Miss Meeker and her mother by another
| name2