New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-24
ON TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE.
STRIKING PHASES OF THE HARRIS CASE
DRAMATIC SCENES IN THE COURTROOM "hNNr'
THE YOUNG MEDICAL STUDENT STANDS
CHARGED WITH THE MURDER
OF HIS WIFE.

OF General sessions are hcle mas DEC" INV ,,
many criminal trials have sensational lca'urc''
Aldermen and other city officials nave 'h''e oo''.
tried. convicted and sentenced. the TWO "i'.' u
Alderman McOuade occupying the attention OF the
court for the greatest number Of consecutive u"'
George II. Pell. the broker. was cohVcteo oi '.S'
n fate which Henry = Ives narrowly escape" w
disagreement OF the jury. Wives nave Oech io"''
guilty of numbering their husbands, ana hnSoaHos VI
killing their wives mothers have testified against
their children and wives against their huSph'us'
mothers with nursing babes have been sent to prison.
and children OF tender years convicted OF serious
crimes, and women have been carried S''lo"e VI
Printing from the courtroom after nearing Seh'coeS
pronounced against their loved ones. N"eVu't vi "
voting stories Of wrong and Outrage have been tod
from the witness stand, and the emo'lohS oi oSc WIN
attend the have been constantly stTeu by scehc'
pecuiaily pi,iful dramatic repulsive
Rarely If ever however. have so many elements
OF romance been united in proceeding aS In the
trial OF Carlyle W. Harris which has been III progress
for several days before Recorder emy'h' Inc Yo"h
of the accused and of the girl whom it Is charged
that he murdered the social position of their families
the story OF the secret marriage the presence at the
trial Of the mother of the dead girl and the mother
OF the living prisoner the efforts after the DEAN
NJ the girl to conceal the facts concerning her rela
lions with Harris, and above all tie method used
according TO the prosecution to end the HE oi ue
secret wife of whom il is charged the young man was
weary. make a tragedy such rs i seldom made pubic
even within the walls OF a criminal court
Poisoning is not an American method Of committing
homicide and few cases Of death by poisoning form the
subject OF investigation in the courts. Not for thirty
years at least has there been conviction In this cF
Of murderer who used this to destroy his
victim Of all pOisons morphine is one OF the f'res
used by the criminal and one OF the hardest to detect
after IL has been administered. The person 10 whom
fatal dose Of morphine has been given falls into A
uuie sumber in which beautiful dreams appear to the
sleeper If awakened il is noted that the pupils OF the
eye contracted sometimes so as to be almost im
perceptiblc the breathing is slow and labored, the
muscles are entirely relaxed and the skin turns TO n
palish blue color If efforts at saving HE are con
Iinued hours may eapse before the final change comes
Then there will be dlalon Of the pupils. quicken
ing OF the breathing and the heart ceases 10 beat
and death occurs. Morphine is quickly absorbed n
the system, and a large dose leaves only >len
trace in the stomach Of the victim The symptoms
resemble those of other Of DEATH though there
are slight differences from which expert may reach
a conclusion which he considers positive one rev
cases are reported in the Law books of poisoning by this
drug and the expert testimony concerning its effects
will be one of the most interesting features Of the trial
in progress.
The persons active in the trial and their surround
,ngs are also Of interest. The room in which the
trial takes place is lighted by large windows red
canopy is suspended back of the judges desk, the
carpet and some of the fixtures are new ard
bright. Though i'll ventilated and at times too cOid
or TOO hot for comfort. the room is not as gloomy
as criminal courts sometimes are. 1t was occupied
many years ago by the supreme Court and has
gone through many changes until a few years ago
when il was added to the other rooms in the building
used by the General sessions Court. The Recorder
who now occupies the beech at the trial was admitted
10 the bar By the General Term Of the supreme
Court in the same room where he j. now the pre-
Siding Judge The Recorder himself i, almost too
NnrIy.r- tn. papd los
His strong. clearcu features, his impressive dignity
his cold clear uteIances, his stern rebukes OF care
less lawyers and saucy witnesses, and DIS earnest
endeavors that neither the rights OF the people
nor OF the accused inerered with, have been
shown in many trial in which public interest has
been aroused. lie has presided Mt Il larger number
Of criminal trials than any other judge In this county,
md probably in the world. in the period OF time
covered by his term Of service and his knowledge Oh
criminal law and his acutcness of observation make
lin ut avoided by ignorant and careless lawyers
and respected by those who are careful anc 'hofoush
in their work.
Francis L. Welman. the Assistant District Attorney
who conducts the prosecution has brilliant qualities
which were never 30 strongly manifested as III tle
case which he is trying. He Is OF ATTRACTIVE
manner is short and stout In build. and his white
skin makes more prominent his dark eyes uaih
mus,ache and the fringe black hair which surrounds
his prematuIcly bald head. When he is repeating
some familiar statement TO a jury his tongue moves
with such rapdlty that his words are indlsunct Dut
when he has important question TO ask or desires
10 attract the attention Of the jury to some particular
point his voice is clear aud impressive. His opening
argument TO the jury was a model OF ciearhcSS ana
accuracy. and for hours he tod without single
note. story involving great mass OF detail, remark
ably well arranged In his retentive memory lie was
TIE leading prosecutor in the " Frenchy' ana othcr
sensational trials occurring within the hNt year
Charles +. simms, jr. who assists Mr. Wehhah Is Il
careful and studious lawyer, who has arranged with
great skill and industry the details Of tie testimony
30 be offered.
The defendants lawyers arc also able and eX-
perienccd William Travels Jerome who principally
conducts the case f)g young Harris prosecuted hi2e
number Of cases under District Attorney Fellows. He
has studlous air the few occasions when he Is III
repose and ne is keen and industrious student In all
matters connected with his profession. When hs
begins to examine witness it apparent that he mas
also the skill and readiness Of Il tlial lawyer. HIS
sharp incisve voice rises at time, almost to Shrek
but his intense earnestness makes his every EFFORT
Impressive. lie has prepared himself by a thorough
course of study for the examination OF the menicai
witnesses and his knowledge Of chemistry has SIR
priscd and in discounted the witnesses
His associate John A. TAYLOR Corporation Counsel
az BROOKLYN under Mayor Low, and has peculiar
dignity and courtesy OF manner. He has raised some
intery sting points which required long discussion
before the Recorder reached his decision upon them
The prisoner would not be noticeable figure II
met outside OF the courtroom. lie is only twenty-five
wears old is tail, of dark complexion. dresses in good
taste and has soft Of speech. His eyes are
somewhat drawn together but apparently from The
extreme near-sightedness which compels him to wcai
glasses. During the first sessions of the trial his
deueanor was one OF careless good nature but the
DAYS have gons BY he has become Iller, and drawn
tense expression shows that the strain OF his situation
is telling upon him. His mother sits beside him, and
n, the first day OF the trial kept her hand almost
constantly In his some Of the testimony given has
however, brought look OF shame, grief and surprise
fnto her countenance, and her manner is now one OF
determined faith rather than of the easy confidence
she first seemed u feel.
The trial is not half over but The fact' aiic"dy de