New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-09
CARLYLE w. HARRIS KILLED.
EXECUTED AT SING SING FOR THE MURDER
OF HELEN POTTS. I
CALMLY PROTESTING HIS INNOCENCE WHILE IN
THE DEATH.CHAIR-HIs MOTHER AD-
DRESSES THE REPORTERS AND AP-
mn IL

DRESSES THE REPORTERS AND AP-
PEALS TO TIE PUBLIC.
sing sn:, May (SpeciaD.-Carlye W. Harris has
snally paid the penalty for the crime of which he
vas convicted lie was executed In the prison here
=, - 40 IL this afternoon. His death In
s,an,aneous painless, and the last words that
spokc were those declaring his innocence. The
.yecuticn was a complete success. With the thought
r.uoved that the life OF human being about to
r.. taken a woman could have witnessed /, without
the slightest tremOr. From the instant that the
current touched the body there was not the slightest
i,d,ca,on that either mental or animal life existed
Thought Is hardly more rapid than the death Of
Harris.
The condemned man lost OF that
cmragc whatever 1t may be called. that has marked
his conduct the day when first the clarg of the
murder OF his girl-wiie was brought against him.
When he walked into the death chamber his step was
firm. his head was poised ii an easy angle and he
G., down in the death chair with the air Of IA man
VINO about to take his after-dnncr cigar feeling
a, peace with all the world and himself. When he
asked the warden's permission say few words, his
voice firm and unwavcring though he were
asking the time of day from stranger II a
remarkable and astonishing exhibition of coolness
DELAYING THE EXEC U1lON AN HOUR.
The execution was DELAYED until hour after the
time at which II originally intended to c2me off.
due tho desire Of Warden Durston have the full
power OF the engine that works the dynamo from
made II Necessary tina, the workshops be closed for
time that the execution take place when the con.
victs were not employed. The most convenient time
fo- this was between IL and O'Clock this afternoon.
The witnesses lad been requested to report At the
prison al IL O'Clock hi> morning but some time be-
fore that hour all of them on hand. They did
not find an armed guard defending dead line 70
confront t-em but uninterrupted to She war
den's office The days Of warden with shot gun
policy for visitors and a careless and reckless pJicy
IN managing criminals when Warden Ours
assumed charge here The wait for the
word 90 60 10 the chamber trying one for all
OF those who were unused TO seeing human life taken.
Only two or three OF those who witnesses OF The
execution had ever application OF the capital
puns fment law. Hearts. therefore. throbbed vgor-
ousy and pulses beat quickly while the minutes grew
into hours.
All OF this time Harris In the death cell, cx-
pecing at every Instant The word TO 60 10 the eXccu
tOnroom. He appeared 10 be utterly o3liviouS Of the
Impending execution Of the laws decree. At times
he would sit on the edge Of his cot pulling at his
cigarette, and his face would come halfamused
expression, though he sti thinking that there
lad been mistake. and that he simply had been
dreaming. Then he would get up and walk up and
down his cell, and the guards who were watching
him said that his step showed not the least
symptom OF fear. He ate his breakfast this
morning soon after he arose. which he did at o'clock
with absolute indifference what 1t consisted Of
But he ate all that was placed befoc him.
THE CHAPLAIN VISITS HARRIS.
Harris did not know the exact time when he was
to die until few minutes before he was taken to The
death cha mber Warden Durston does not believe In
adding any more mental torture TO a condemned man
than is possible. He does wish TO have their last
seconds hours their minutes days. and their hours
weeks. When the death week began this morning h.
told Harris. 10 prepare to die al any time. Chaplain
weiles OF the prison. wen, TO llarrs's cell early In
the morning. Harris received him kindly and listened
10 the chaplan's words of spiritual comfort with
spect and attention. Unlike most condemned men he
did not spend his few remaining hours In prayer, I'M
less he did mentally DR.. Irvine. the prison
physician, also visited Harris and he found him I'm
excellent physical condition and In good spirits.
During the long wait for the execution hour crowds
of people lined the hillside facing the jail. lingering
there after hohr in the 10 stare at nothing
but row OF bare walls and finally 10 little
black flag mount 10 the peak OF STAFF TO tell them
that Carlyle W. Harris dead. II indeed a
disgusting and nauseating sight 10 with
babies In arms and In carriages fighting with one
another for desirable vantage ground from which TO
see the prison and the little hsg.
Warden Durston down Harrls's cell a
few minutes after the midday hour, and while the
convicts were marching toward t-e whore they
take their MONDAY meal The chaplain had pre-
coded him BY a few minutes and at that minute was
engaged In prayer Harris t. his knees.
but he took part in the service. The warden
told him that his execution would take place In few
minutes. Harris simply said:
An right, SIR
After TIE warden left him be handel 20 the chap
lain a large, fat envelope. 1t directed 10 his
brother Allan. 1t is supposed 10 be the statement
OF the case upon which he tad been working ever
since the Governor refused to act favorah,v on the
appeal In his behalf. The chaplain remained with
Harris until his dead body taken from the cleo
trio chair.
WITNESSES OF THE EXECUTION.
Immediately after leaving Harris the warden re-
turned 10 The main office and told the witnesses To
prepare 10 ., 10 tie death chamber The machinery
ana the apparatus - be- used in the execution had
been put 10 a thorough test and had been iounn u
be In perfect condition. II worked without "'ch
any sort.
Dr. G. NJ. Daniels. OF Buffalo, was to take charge
of the execution ana tho other medical men prrsfh
wore DR. Irvine the prison physician: DR.. T..
s cehan Of Sing Sing Dr. D. i. Merritt. OF f'mra
Dr. IIabershaw, OF Ncw-YOrk; DR.. {. > Grant. o
saratoga: Dr.. l.. d. Kidd. OF Newburg: Dr. 80,
Madden, Of Sing Sing, and Or p. :. Payne Oh 'o""
Besides these number OF newspaper "e' ""'
the usual officials present.
The witnesses went into Inc nea'h '"''"
IL 30. They found that II had been chahseu i'''
terialy from the condition that IL was III ~ Wv %
execution. In place Of being dark ara p'rn''"o
light and cheerful rs such n room can pc "
10 look. The death chair also bad been improve"
There were no leaking water bags ana the i''s
syringe with which an attendant formerly KEPT II"
spOnges in the electrodes saturated with water YIN
about. All there In the room was the oeau
chair an ordinary one much resembling an od-laSn
toned oak chair, Of century ago, ana the s"''o
box where the current is turned into the ROOM y
10 80 Mr. Connaughton the principal keeper. wen
10 Harris's cell and told him 10 be ready TO go NJ
moments notice. While he was gone the cnrre'
sgan was tested Lying across the arms OF the nea'
chair was n board on which twenty -four incandesccn
was put through them. J. E. Davis, who has IN
charge OF the electrical apparatus at most OF the eA
ecuons, explained TO those present that l,70o Won
we're pa ssing through them This board occupied IN