New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-09
HARRIS SENTENCED 70 DEATH
| THE WEEK BEGINNING MARCH 81 FIXED FOR
THE ExECUuoN-AN APrEAL FILED.

Carlyle W. Harris sentenced by Recorder smyth
in the Court OF General Sessions yesterday. TO die by
electricity during the week beginning March 81.
Harris convicted last Tuesday Of having
poisoned his young wife, Helen Nelson Potts, by
giving her morphine. The courtroom wa well
filled when Harris brought down from the Tomhs
yesterday. In the crowd Few women and one
Of them carried BABY In her Harris was
brought in shortly before IL O'Clock His lawyer,
Messrs. Taylor, Jerome and Dawson, already
there They looked more pale and concerned than
their client. The prisoner himself had the same
uDconcerned inpasSiye air that lie wore during The
trial Recorder smyth and Judge Cowing came in
together. and Harris called to the bar. He
stepped forward and placed both hands on the railing
looking the Recorder In the eyes.
After be had given his name and age Mr. Taylor
applied for new trial. His grounds were that the
verdict contrary 10 the evidence, that there was
n variance between the indictment charged and the
evidence, Ia that the indictment charged That I'VE
grain dose OF morphine had been administered, while
the evidence showed that the dose was sulplalc
of morphine. lie also asked for new trial ON
exceptions to rclsals OF the Recorder TO charge re
quest, submitted to him. exceptions to the admi-
sion and ruling out Of evidence; and on the grounds
tha1 the Indictment was not signed by Tie Distn0
Attorney but by person who WAC not legally an
Assistant District Attorney. and that after the defence
rested the prosecution introduced evidence not IN re
buttal.
The Recorder denied the motions and asked what the
defendant had TO say why sentence should mo- be
prpnounced Under advice 81 cOunse! he said nothing
Recorder smyth then said " Harris. you wcf, tired
In this court by jury of unusual Intelligence men,
believe Of The stricc,t integrity. who heard the
evidence in this with great patience and examined
with care and arrvcd at the result that yon are
cuily OF the crime Of murder In the first d"gO IN
having deprived your wife Of her life by the admins
tl.,tion of morphine poison. said al the uhe lHa'
the verdict wa, right, and believe now that no otNc'
verdict could have been rendered by the Jury In TINS
case. The evidence, to my mind, i clear ana con
elusive. The crime that you are convicted o. ana
Justly in my judgment, was one OF most AuV'ious
character" The Recorder then told liGils 'hat nc
had had fair trial and most able counsel, and com
plimented them, and particularly Mr.. Jerome Oh
their work He continued THE Law leaves no
discretion with the Court in the judgment to he
rendered. 1t IS that your punishment Will be the
death penalty TO be inflicted upon yon at day here
after 10 be decided upon, In the week beginning
uorc, ~ 1901 In the meantime yOu Will be
IMPRISONED in a place and nanner az pFescaD'd
by law ,,...,o.
Harris listened coolly and bowed when the Recorder
had finished He turned to the CLERK ana heard TIC
usual formates. and then bidding goodbye - one
Of the court officer, was taken Jack 10 u'c l'"''
Mr. Jerome Immediately served notice OF ape"
10 the Court Of Appeals upon the sheriff ana D''"''
Attorney. This stay
Mr. Taylo- said that he confident Of securing
new trial. lie felt certain that the adi''o" " 80"
.,,idence NJ the physician who attended yount Mr.
Harris was good grounds for one when asked II
h. wond 90 10 the United states Supreme Cohr' il
NECESSARY, lie said he did not KNOW, Dut INV n 10
did not consider il lawyer duty 10 90 uihe' "".
could not possibly benefit his client