The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-09

THE MURDERER'S MOTHER AMONG
THOSE WHO WATCHED.
Harris Was the First Man of Education
and Refinement To Be Executed by
Electricity-He Died Without Finch
Statement-An Account of Harris's
Crime

Crime.
SING SING, N. Y, May s.--Bright
spring sunshine did not tighten the gloom
that hung over the prison this morning.
Not since the first electrocution, when
four men, Slocum, Smiler, Jugigo and
Wood, were put to death with the expe-
rimental apparatus then in use, has there
been such an interest displayed here.
Throngs Of people gathered on the hill
side overlooking 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 curiosity at the building. The
crowds began assembling early, and they
were larger larger and of more intelli-
gent class of people than is usually
drawn to this spot. The fact that Harris
is really the first man with any preten-
sions to culture, refinement and intelli-
gence who has taken his place in the
electric chair is appreciated.
| Contrary to the usual custom here, the
den at midnight. The doomed man had
been told, however, when the end would
come. He retired early last night, and
though he showed no signs of breaking
| down, he was more nervous and excitea-
| BILE than usual. Principal Keeper Con-
naughton said this morning that Harris
rested well. His self-control was mar
velous. His only sign of agitation was
| the constant smoking of cigarettes. He
was up early this morning and looked
over the manuscript which he had pre-
pared to be given out to the press by his
relatives after the final scene. At s
o'clock Harris ate light breakfast. He
was cool and collected and appeared to
be capable of going through the ordeal
which awaited him.
Mrs. Harris having made her final fare
well to her son on Saturday, remained at
the Amber House, shut in from all Wis
| itors. Her youngest son, Allan, was
with her. She was calm and less ner-
vous than usual, and awaited with fear
full silence the sign which would inform
her that her son Carlyle had passed out
from this world. The flag announcing
the successful conclusion of the execu-
ton could, when hoisted, be seen from
the windows of the room which Mrs.
! Harris occupied in the Amber House,
and there she and her son Allan watched
| and waited with straining eyes and sub
dued grief for the fatal signal.
| The death warrant was formally read
| to Harris at $50 o'clock. He displayed
Indifference, and its reading did not no.
| ticeably affect him.
| Harris was shaved and had his hair cut
at 1880. He then put on a new suit of
clothes furnished by the state.
/ +l,a
tered the execution chamber. Keeper
Connaughton and two assistants then
went for Harris. With him was Chap
lain Weilles. The condemned man was
| ready in a moment and the little process
sion was quickly formed. He looked
pale as he stepped into the room. Con-
naughton pointed to the chair, and
without even look of curiosity at the
| thing which was to end his career Harris
/ dropped in the seat AS he did SO he
began to talk in low voice. He said /:
II have word to say, if the Warden
will permit
Warden Durston asked: ''What do
you wish to say?"
Harris, in weak voice. said: 81 de-
sire to say that I am absolutely inno-
| cent"
Those were his last words.
The execution was entirely successful.
State Detective Jackson attached the
electrode to Harris's right leg, which
was barred to the knee, slit IN the
trousers having been made in advance.
Eaton placed the helmet containing the
other electrode on the head. A current
of 1850 volts passed through the body of
Harris. In two seconds Davis threw the
| switch back so that only $50 volts were
on. DR.. Daniels 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 IS 3-4 seconds the
current was shut off.
Mrs. Harris gave out for publication
| today a statement in which she reafirms
that her son died innocent of the murder
of Helen Potts. Mrs. Harris asserts that
Helen was engaged six times before she
| married Carlyle and that Helen was a
morphine eater. She says that her sons
lawyer at the first trial took $4,000 for
the expenses of the defense, leaving her
penniless.
Harris's Crime.
Harris was born in Glens Falls in
! September, 1869. His grandfather was
DR.. Benjamin w. McCrerdy. His father
lives in Syracuse. After being an actor
in the sPaul Kauvar'' company for a
time, he began course in the College of
Physicians and Surgeons. The summer
of 1889 he spent at Ocean Grove, and it
was at ball in the Coleman House at
Asbury Park, that he met Mary Helen
Nelson Potts. She was only eighteen
years old, pretty and accomplished.
Harris paid constant attentions to her,
and finally wanted to marry her. On
February IS, 1890, they were secretly
married in the New York City Hall by
Alderman Rinckhon, giving assumed
names.
Later ssthe young woman made Harris
tell friend of hers, Miss May Soholefield.
of the marriage, and later Mrs. Potts
was informed of it. She insisted on a
religious ceremony and Harris agreed
that they should be married.
On January 20, 1891, the young wife
complained to her husband of having
headaches. She was then pupil at The
Comstock School in West Fortieth street.
Harris had six pills made for her, each
containing one-sixth of a grain of NOR