Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-08

out by temporary passageway built OF pine
boards 10 screen the witnesses from the outside
public. This passsgeway led to the outer door
of the execution chamber.
The witnesses entered and seated themselves
on wooden stools arranged in a half circle ct
the west end of the room, facing the chair.
Warden Durston. accompanied by DIR. Irvine,
Head Keeper Connaughton and four guards,
preceded the witnesses.
Electrician Davis was already at the switch
board. The spiral wire suspended from a bent
iron rod dangled threateningy above the chair,
and another spiral wire. cooled at the foot Of the
chair, gave an iDkling Of the nature of the appa-
ratus Rubber bags filed with water and sus-
pended overhead. with tubes reaching TO sponges
in the electrodes. added 10 the formidable ap-
pearance of the outfit.
1t was 1890 when the witnesses entered the
room. While they seated themselves Elec-
trician Davis attached the wires to the battery
of lamps and turned on ]. .76O volts. He finished
testing the apparatus at 1886 and announced
that all was ready.
THE DEATH MARCH.
Connaughton and two guards then went for
Harris. He was awaiting the final summons in
his cell. With him Chaplin Wells. Har-
ris was ready in a moment. and the little pro-
cession 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. with a guard on
either side. and the faithful chaplain following
him.
He looked slightly pale as he stepped into the
room. lie paused an instant on the threshold
and looked calmly over the assembled wit
nesses.
kind-hearted Warden Durston had stepped
over 10 the reporters and asked them to con-
ceal their writing pads-Harris might not like
il. The pads were put out of sight and Harris
merely looked over the crowd. scanning their
faces his ewes swept around the room. He
walked entirely alone just behind Connsughton
and wavered for a moment. more from not
knowing which way he Was expected 20 60 than
from weakness. Connaushton pointed TO the
chair, and, without even look Of curiosity st
the thing which was TO end his career, he
dropped into the seat.
As he did so he began to talk in . low voics.
HARRIS DECLARES HIS INNOCENCE
He said: ''I have a word to say IL the warden
viii permit" Hepaused and repeated: al would
like to say something if 1 have the wsrden's
consent"
Warden Durston stepped over to the chair
and said: "What did you wish to say?"
Harris then. in h weak voice. as though each
word cost him powerful effort, said: II have
no further reservation TO make. 1 desire 10
say that am absolutely innocent"
Those were his last words.
After uttering them he seemed relieved and
settled back in the chair. TO which his legs and
arms nad ALREADY peen strapped py Eaton
and Ford, the two guards. State Detective
jackson attached the electrode to Harris
right leg, which was barred to the knee. Q
slit in the trousers having been
made in advance. Eaton placed the helmet con-
tanning the other electrode on the head Elec-
tricisn Davis attached the wires to the two
electrodes. All of this work was done quicker
than the telling Of it, and then the guards
stepped back.
THE CURRENT TURNED on.
Davis, who had gone to the switch board, said:
san ready" There was instant pause
while every man in the room held his breath.
Then DIR. Daniels raised his hand. q sharp
click from the lever and the form an the chair
Strengthened up till the straps creaked. IL was
Just ~ :40lz by the stop watch held by DIR. Mer-
ritt. current Of l,760 volts passed through
the BODY of Carlisle Harris.
In two seconds Davis threw the switch back
so that only $50 volts were on DIR. Daniels
still held his hand aloft and one finger pointed
above as though TO indicate that the soul of the
man in the chair had passed upward Then
his arm fell and in just 55s4 seconds the currt Mt
was shut off.
Drs Irvine and Habershaw immediately
stepped forward and examined the body, which
had settled back limp IN the chair. DR.. Irvine
opened the coat and vest and tore away tho
shirt over the heart. He applied the stethe-
scope, and, after listening for heart
beats. turned and shook his head. This was
two minutes after the first contact, and DR.
Daniels then invited the other persons to step
forward and examine the body. Life ex-
tinct. and it WAS plain to all WIG we're present
that death had come at the fAt touch Of the
current
INSTANT DEATH.
The only sign of animation after the current
was turned on was a slow movement OF the lit
tie finger Of the right hand, and that
was evidently due to muscular contrac-
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