The Dickinson press., 1893-05-13
BIS CRIME is AVENGED
CARLYLE HARRIS DIES AT
SING SING.
He Meets Death Calmly. Still Pro-
testing His lnnocence--The
Execution Passes Off
Without Disagreeable
Features,
Displayed Great Nerve.

Displayed Great Nerve.
Sing Sing. y. V. May 9.-Not since the
first ele,trocuticn at Sing Sing. when four
men-Slocum. Smiler. Jugigo and Wood
We're pu. To death with the experimental
apparatus then in use. has there been
such interest displayed here. Throngs of
people gathered on the hillside overlook
ing the gray walls of the prison. and
though they could not hope to catch
glimpse of Harris, or see the implement
of death. they gazed with morbid curios-
ity at the building from which the doomed
man WAS not to emerge until soul and
body had parted.
1t was 1870 when the wit
nesses entered tie room While they
seated themselves. Electrician Davis at
tachel the wires to the battery of lamps
and turned on 1.I60 volts. He finished
testing the apparatus at l2:o6 ana an
nounccd that all was ready. Connaugh-
ton and two guards then went for Harris.
He was awaiting the final summons in
his cell With him was Chaplain Wells:
Harris was ready in Il moment. and
the little procession was quickly formed.
Screens had been placed in front OF t.<
othrc cells so that the men who will soon
meet Harris fate did not see him as he
Went out with a guard on either side. and
riS looked slight and pale as he stepped
into the room. He paused an instant on
the threshold and looked calmly over the
assembled witnesses. kind-hearted War
den Durston had stepped over to the re-
porters and asked them to conceal their
pads. saying: Harris might not like it,
The pads We're put out of sight. and
Harris merely looked over the people.
scanning their faces as his eyes swept
around the room. He walked entirely
alone, just behind Connaughton, and
wavcrcd for momeat more from not
go than from weakness. COnnaughton
pointed to the chair. and without even a
look of curiosity at the thing which was
to end his career. he dropped into the
seat. AS lie did So he began to talk
in II low voice. He said
Il have a word to say if the warden
will permit; He paused and repeated:
Il would like to say something if l have
the warden's consent
Warden DurSt"n stepped over to the
chair and snd: What did you wish to
Harris then in Il weak voice, rs though
each word cost him II powerful effort,
said: II have no further reservation to
make. ! desire, TO say that am abso-
lutrly Innocent
Those We're his last words. After ut
tcrng them he seemed relieved and set
tied back in the chair. to which his legs
and arms had already been strapped by
Eaton and Ford. the two guards. State
Detective Jackson attached the electrode
to Harris right leg, which was barred to
the knee. Il slit in the trousers having
been made in advance. Eaton placed the
helmet containing the other electrode on
the head. Electrician Davis attached the
wires To the two electrodes. MI of this
work wuS done quicker than the telling
nf IT. and then the guards stepped back.
Davis, who had gone to the Switchboard
said:
An ready"
There was an instant's pause, while
every man in the room held his breath.
Then DR.. Daniels raised his hand A
sharp click from the lever and the form
crrake'l. 1t was, just 12;4o II by the
stop watch held by DR.. Merritt. a cur
rent "f l.1tD volts passed through the
body of Carlyle Harris. In two seconds
Davis threw the switch back SO that only
$50 volts We're on. DIR. Daniels still held
above, as though to indicate that the
soul of the man in the chair had passed
upward. Then his arm fell. and in just
% 81 seconds TIL" current WAS shut off.
Doctors Irvine and Haber,haw imme-
dmtely, stepped forward and examined
the chair. Dr. Irvine opened the coat
and vest and tore away the shirt over
the heart. He applied the stetilescope,
and after listening for heart beats turned
and shook his head. This was two min
utcs after the first contact. and DIR.
Daniels thc! invited the other physicians
to step forward and examine the body
III" WAS extinct and it was apparent to
all VIII" were present that death had come
at the first touch of the current. The
only sign of animation after the current
was turned on WAS II slow movement of
la itr1f I,np nd
that was evidently due to muscular con-
traction. r;l,lsc;l by the current, and not
by The v"llton of the subject in the chair.
MI the phHsici;lns present expressed
themselves MS satisfied that death had
been instantaneous. When all had ex-
the witnesses and said: That is all.
Th" witnesses. who had seen other cleo
trocutions. agreed that this was the most
successful one yet. There was no sign of
str;ining nj the point of contact. and
aside ;, from Il pnrplish tinsn appearing rn ON
pearnnce of the body. AS the witnesses
passed out of the building. one of the
newspaper men tainted, and was carried
out by friends. He recovered i'll u few
minutes.
Mrs. Harris viewed the raising of the
black tlng from the window of her room
in II boarding house. When the ominous
signal floatcd on the soft breeze she
turned quietly away. resigned und calm,
as she has been for the past few days.
She said she would see the newspaper
men this afternoon and give them her
statement AT 12:45 Allan Harris ar
rived ut the prison, and Principal Keeper
Connuughton escorted him to the room III
which the body of his brother lay. He
notified Warden Durston that an under
tnker will call this afternoon to remove
the body of his brother.
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