Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-03-23
cAnLrLE nARKIs, NOON.

Sentenced to Death by Recorder Smyth
Last Monday--Tho Condemned Man
Makes "a Plea for Ills Iife--A Dramatic
Scene In the Court Room.
NEW YORK. March 20.-Rafely il ever
has there been SO much excitement around
the court Of general sessions building as
there was this morning. Carlyle w. Harris,
after having exhausted every possible
means 10 escape the penalty for the muir
der Of his wife, was to be finally sentenced
by Recorder Smyth. The court room was
crowded before . o clock aud dense crowd
surrounded the building on all sides.
AT $50 o'clock Harris left the Tombs,
shacklcd to Deputy Sheriff Brown. Deputy
Sheriff Burke followed closely. Arriving
at the court, Harris sat down in remote
corner, closely guarded by the deputy
sherifls. Harris looked very pale and sank
back in his chair as if utterly exhausted.
At sharp 10 o'clock Recorder Smyth took
the bench. Amid silence so deep that
every sound outside could be distinctly
heard, tho recorder said slowly, Carlyle
W, Harris to the bar.
Harris arose with start and walked
unSteadily through the rows of spectators
up to the rail. District Attorney Nicol. in
low voice, made the usual motion that
the sentence be passed. There was silence
for moment when the district attorney
sat down. Then the recorder, somewhat
husNily, said:
Carlyle w. Harris, have you anything
to say why tile sentence Of the court should
not he passed upon your
Harris, standing up with both bands on
the rail, bent forward and began to speak
in tones so inaudible that the deputies
! who stood close behind him on each side
| could not hear what he said, and leaned
their heads 10 catch the words. There
was slight buzz OF whispering among the
spectators. Recorder Smyth's voice, this
time harsh and commanding, interrupted
| Harris.
Let every whisper cease, he Numbered.
THE man or woman who speaks or
| whispers will be elected. This is too
| solemn matter for idle chatting"
| The court room was again as quite as
| possible. Harris began again. just then
the officers opened the door to let in two
women. The door creaked and the
women's skirts rustled.
Let no man, woman or child enter or
| leave this courtroom" thundered the re-
corder. The door was closed and three off.
GERS stood against it. The women shrunk
behind group of men clustered around
the door.
Harris began again. The scene was
dramatic III the extreme. Harris leaned
his left hand on the railing and slightly
| swayed as ne spoke. No one could catch
Il syllable OF what the prisoner was saying
for the just five minutes that lie talked.
Judge MARITIME sat on the bench along
side of Recorder Smyth. Mrs. Harris
Carlyles mother, was not to be seen. II
was said that she had been persuaded to stay
away. Harris himself feared that the
scene would lie too much for her.
Harris was evidently weak. lie swayed
backward and forward as he spoke, and al
times seemed to save himself from falling
by clutchlng convulsively at the rail
4 After the first 10 minutes he grew stronger
| and his voice could be heard by those III
his immediate vicinity The spectator.
cotlld only gather that Harris was speak
ing of the aiiidavits which were presented
by the defence on the motion for new
trial.
The first time that Harris accents rams
out strong and clear was when he spoke Of
| Dilworth Choatc, with sllddeness that
startled every one, in the words There il
one man for whom | have been looking
around this courtroom. | do not see him
he is Dilworth ChOate: Dilworlh Choate
He repeated the name with such intense
scorn and bitterness that shudder rar
around the room.
"Dilworth Choate" continued Harris
"Dilworth Choate, sneak and perjurer
newspaper Outcast-the district attorney!
l,tool." Harris continued to eNecratt
Choa.e, but his voice fell. II was this way
all through Harris most remarkabl,
speech. For minutes at time his voice
was SO low that no one could hear him
Then he would burst forth with som,
dramatic exclamation that penetrated tC
the furthest recess of the court room
Then for a few minutes all could hear dis
tinctly what he said. During these periods
Harris seemed strong and vigorous.
A big bundle of notes lay on the tablt
to Harris right, in front of Lawyer Howe
Harris occasionally turned and referred tt
them.
There was a dramatic moment aftei
Harris had spoken of the affidavit o.
Juror Mason that he the juror would
have given a different verdict if the ey
dence presented by the recent aIfidavits
had been before him. Harris turred t.
Mr.. Howe, and bending slightly towards
him, said in low but distinct tones: Don
file that affidavit with the county clerk
Mr.. Howe, lay it on my coffin" There
were wet eyes in the court room.
Harris devoted considerable attention Il
Assistant District Attorney Wellman. who
was prosecutor on the first trial While
he was talking about Wellman, saying
that Harris was married i'll 1883, Harri!
suddenly Kissed out. II know, and Well
man knows that Wellman lied" a few
sitting alongside MIR. Michel, arose and alb
ruptly left the court room.
He had better have gone before, re
marked Harris.
MIR. Wellman, after little while, came
into the court room again by the public
entrance, but did not go within the rail
lie stood back of the crowd and was visibl
affected.
SENTENCED To DEATH.
Recorder Smyth sentenced Harris to b.
put to death by electricity during the weel
beginning May Sth