Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-10
CARLYLE HARRIS LAST WORD.

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CARLYLE HARRIS LAST WORD.
A Declaration OF His Innocence and Criti.
cism of the Judges.
Following is the last statement written by
Carlyle W. Harris, which was given out yester-
day afternoon from the state prisons depart
ment at Albany, N. Y:
Notification has been brought me that Gov.
Flower has refused to interfere with the execu-
ton OF the sentence of the court in nv case.
Evidence has come to light that my wife was,
for years before her DEATH addicted to the use
Cor misuse) Of the drug from an overdose of
which she died. am sentenced to death upon
the supposition that 1 substituted a capsule
containing five grains of morphine for one of
the harmless capsules l prescribed for her ten
days before her DEATH
Now. 1T is self-evident to any one having
knowledge Of medicine that one addicted to
morphine could not be murdered with five
grains of that drug, because for such a person
five grains would not be a fatal dose. Upon this
fact was based my motion for retrial, which
Recorder Smyth denied. and later my plea for
executive interference.
In recognition of this last plea a commits.
sioner was appointed to investigate the credi-
bility of the witnesses who had volunteered tea
timony as to nv wife's habit Their evidence
remained mistaken, and. though the prosecu-
tion attempted a rebuttal, they did not dare to
produce in open court the witnesses whose aft
davits were the most important of those on
which Recorder Smyth denied my motion for
retrla.. L refer to Eunice Rockwell, Rachel
Cookson, Dr. Treverton and Dr. Hand, who in
their afidavlts foreswore the testimony given
on my trial, as have shown, and to Dilworth
Choats.
Hence 1t was established before the governors
commissioner by the testimony of Dr. Kim
mouth, Dr. Woolman. Miss jackson, Miss Wad-
dell and others that my wife purchased NOR
phlne frequently. and that she foolishly used it
to quiet neuralgia pain. 1t is not claimed. and
never has been that my wife willfuly DESTROYED
herself, for she was beloved and happy, brit the
fatal mistakes OF those who sef-administer
morphine are matters of record all over the
world.
When charges of murder we're first preferred
against me delivered myself at once into Gus
tody, demanding an investigation. Again on
the 2oth OF April last. although under sentence
OF death. l refused to take advantage of free
opportunity to escape. AS to this last matter
Keepers Murphy and Hulse and other prison
officials will bear me out.
30, now is it that in case where SO many
facts and the entire behavior Of the defendant
all invite executive clemencv together with
them many who are prominent in the national
esteem. such cemency should be denied? Be-
cause the action OF the court was not justified
by the facts in the case, and hence public out
cry must be silenced by seeming Justification
OF the court, outside of the facts.
Where there was no doubt of guilt Gov
Flower has not hesitated to interfere as in the
case OF James Minnaugh, about year ago, but
In that case the facts justified the court and
there was no Recorder Smy tn clamoring to be
upheld.
Carlyle Harris. living. would be daily menace
to the career of Smyth. Wellman and others.
Dead, he will soon be forgotten, and affairs nav
go on as before.
There is an idea in the minds of many that at
the time of my wifes death desired marriage
Win some other We ran. Such person has
never been found, nor does she exist. 1t is nv
misfortune that have been prosecuted by libel
and lnnuendo through the columns Of the press
rather than by means of witnesses in court
desire in this utterance to express my great
thanks to those members of my jury who have
bravely declared that, had they known of the
newly found evidence at the time of my trial.
they would have acquitted me. And vet beg
that witnesses who did not bring forward their
knowledge until too late will not upbraid them
selves. l have for them no thought of blame
individually they did not realize the Sertnence
OF what they knew, nor could they be expected
to. Also to those many friends who have labored
so diligently to bring the truth to light send
my thanks; that they are in my thought at
such time as this Is an earnest of my graft
tude.
1t has been reported in the newspapers that
during my stay here in Sing Sing | have scoffed
at the devotions of my fellow prisoners and in
dulged in irreverent Jokes.
This is cruelty false l still enjov the hopes
OF my childhood's faith and believe that l
shall not be misiudged through all eternity.
The governor states that he has been finally
convinced of nv guilt by the affidavits Of
Eunice Rockwell and Rachel Cookson These
afhdavlts are Identical as to phrase and were
evidently both dictated by the same person.
1t Is my honest belief that they were signed
unread, for on the trial Miss Cookson gave
testimony that directly conflicts with her later
affidavit, and the district attorney did not dare
to call either Of those witnesses before the COM
missioner and submit their statements to
cross-examination.
No one had so many reasons, all sentiment
and love aside. for desiring my wife to live as |
had. She would have brought me money and
professional success she would have graced nv
home, and had L known of her sal habit it
would have been my happiness to shield and
cure her.
have now to die; the manner of nv death is
of small moment to me; / have waited patiently,
so long as there the remotest chance of
obtaining justice. refusing to run away even
when under sentence of dea tn
Nay God in mercy bless and guard those l
leave behind and give them peace.
And now, face to face with the greatest mvs-
terry known to man, knowing that no conceal
ment or untruth can mitigate my end | do
solemnly declare that | am innocent of the
crime for which | am condemned to die.
beg that those who think or speak or write
of me in years to come will do as kindly as
they can. not forgetting that when much proof
of my innocence was found it was inhumanlv
thrust aside.
(Signed) CARLYLE Hams
Sing Sing. MAY 6. 1898.
The remains of Harris we're buried in the
Rural cemeteryat Albany yesterday afternoon.
The lot was purchased several DAYS ago. but by
whom it could not be ascertained. Mrs Harris
and her son. who accompanied the body, re-
fused to talk.
Reward Paid for Catching the Bowie MUIR