The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1893-05-17
BY ELECTROCUTION.
Carlyle Harris, the Wife Murderer,
Calmly Meets Death.
IAN ABSOLUTELY INNOCENT"
These Were the Last Words Which in
aWeak Voice He Whispered in
the Ear Of Warden Durston.
WHAT HIS MOTHER SAYS.

CiNu DING, W. ., may os-NuiiyiS iiai
ris was executed by electricity in tn
prison here at l3:4Ol today. He was TIN
first man Of any considerable intelligence
who had been so educated, and for tba
reason, as well as the great interest which
the public has manifested in his case, al
enormous crowd gathered near the prison
to gaze upon the building where the worl
was to be done.
They knew they could not see any par
Of the terrible work, but that seems t.
have had very little effect upon them
They sat upon the hillside for hours, in
tently watching for the flag to be raised
which was to be the signal that Harris
was dead. When this was raised they
quietly dispersed, apparently satisfied
with the end OF one Of the most famous
criminal cases in America.
Harris was up early this morning and
at o'clock ate a light breakfast. He was
cool and collected and appeared to be cap
able OF going through the ordeal which
awaited him. The death warrant was
formally read at $50 o'clock. He dis
played Indifference and its reading did
not noticeably affect him. The Rev. Jno.
S. G. Wells, the prison chaplain, went in
to see Harris shortly after 8 o'clock and
remained for an hour. After he came
out DIR. Irving went in and found Harris
showing some signs of nervousness, but
otherwise all right. He said afterward
that Harris did not ask for morphine or
any other stimulant. His only request
was for two oranges. They were served
to him.
AT 1890 Harris was shaved and his hair
cut. He then put on new suitof clothes
furnished by the State, and sat down to
await the summons to go to the death
chair. Chaplain Wells was with him,
and more calm person was never seen.
Shortly after 1890 the guards came for
him. He was ready in a moment, and
the little procession was quickly formed
Screens had been placed in front of the
other cells, so that the men who will soon
meet Harris fate did not see him as he
went out, with guard on either side,
and the faithful chaplain following him.
He looked slight and pale as he stepped
into the room. He paused an instant on
the threshold and looked calmly over the
assembled witnesses.
He walked entirely alone and wavered
for moment, more from not knowing
which way he was expected 10 go than
from weakness. Connaughton pointed
to the chair, and without even look OF
curiosity at the thing which was to end
his career, he dropped in the seat. AS
he did so, he began to talk in low voice.
81 have word to say" said he, "if
the Warden will permit" He paused
and repeated: "Iwould like to say some
thing If l have the Warden's consent"
Warden Dursten stepped over to the
chair and said What do you wish to
say ?"
Harris then in weak voice said: 81
have no further reservation TO make. /
desire to say that am absolutely limo
cent"
Those were his last words. After ut
tering them he seemed relieved, and set
tied back in the chair to which his legs
and arms had already been strapped.
After the electrical apparatus had been
adjusted to his temples and to a leg a
current OF 1850 volts was turned on,
which was gradually weakened to $50
volts. In 55i seconds the current was
turned off and the body pronounced dead.
An autopsy was held later, after which
the body was turned over to his brother
for burial.
During the entire morning Mrs. Harris,
Carlyle's mother, sat at window OF her
hotel which opened out upon the prison.
She was slightly nervous, but displayed
so much calmness that the nervousness
was hardly noticeable. When the flag
was raised announcing the completion of
electrocution, she quietly withdrew from
the window and retired with her son from
the gaze OF every one. She was convinc-
ed Of her sons innocence, had fought for
him in the courts and was reconciled to
see him die, as she still believes, an in-
nocent man.
At $50 o'clock this afternoon Mrs. Har-
ris, mother Of the murderer, received
about twenty reporters in the parlor at
her boarding place. Standing in the mid
die Of the folding doors, Mrs. Harris mo-
toned the newspaper men into semi
circle and addressed them.
"Gentlemen, my boy has been killed."
said she, "because he was accused of muir
der, and what was the principal evidence
against him? That he did not weep
when his wife died. Look in my eyes,
you do not see tear there. Not tear
has been there, and who OF you doubt
that l loved Carlyle. Carlyle is dead, but
he is free. His death is a warning to
every one of you young men. II you hap
pen TO do wrong, run away, no matter
how innocent you are or how confident
your friends are in your innocence. Did
you not believe him innocent? Lookme
in the eye and tell me II you don't believe
him innocent?"
Mrs Harris paused moment for re-
ply, and, in answer TO personal inquiry,
one Of the reporters replied
A 4 T..