Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-05-20

warrant was not read by the warden at
midnight. The doomed man had been
told, however, when the end would
come. He retired carly Sunday night and
though he showed no sign Of breaking
down he was more nervous and excit-
able than usual. Principal Keeper
Connaughton said Monday morn
ing that Harris rested we'll His self
control was marvellous His only sign of
agitation was the constant smoking of
cigarettes. He was up early.
He looked over the manuscript
which he had prepared to be given out
to the press by his relatives, after
the final scene in his dramatic life had
ended and the curtain had been rung
down.
Ate Light Breakfast
At s o'clock Harris ate hight break
fast. He was cool and collected and
@-'''ifii TIE fiae announcing the snceess{ni {i
conclusion of the execution. which was
raised from the roof of the warden s
house, could be seen from the windows
of the room which Mrs. Harris occu-
pied in the Amber house. and there she
and her son Allan watched and waited
with straining eyes and subducd grief
for the fatal signal. AT 10 o'clock there
was long string of carriages in front
OF the prison and hundreds of people
were scattered along the hillsides. The
death warrant was formally read at
$50 o'clock. Harris displayed indiffer-
ence and its reading did not noticea bly,
affect him. Warden Durston said Har-
ris showed no signs of breaking down
and appeared cheerful.
Asked for Two Oranges.
The Rev. John G. s. Wells, tho
prison chaplain, went in to see
Harris at o'clock and rehained
for an hour. After he came out DR..
Irving went in and found him showing
nervousness, but otherwise all right.
lie said afterward that Harris did not
ask for morphine or any other stimu-
liant. His only request was for two or
anges. They We're taken in 10 him.
Harris was shaved and had his hair cut
at 1890. He then put on new suit of
clothes furnished by the state.
Electrician Davis, accompanied by
the warden and the witnesses who had
arrived, proceeded TO the death room
when the final test of the apparatus
was made at ll:i0 o'clock A board on
which were run twenty-four incandes-
cent lights was placed across the
arms of the chair and the
current was turned on full head,
showing voltage of l,76O. The cur
rent was cut off for a little while and
again thrown on. The electrician said
everything was satisfactory and the
party retired at 1850 o'clock. The
warden invited the witnesses To go
down TO the execution chamber at I2;i5
o'clock,
The Death Scene.
The witnesses were assembled in the
warden's office at IL o'clock. There
were twenty-seven of them. Seven
physicians and ten newspaper men.
The Others were state officials and
friends of the warden. 1t was 1916
when Warden Dnrston announced that
everything was in readiness and invited
the witnesses down stairs. The wit
nesses entered the execution chant Der
and seated themselves on wooden stools
arranged in half circle at the west
end az the room facing the chair.
Warden Durston, accompanied by DIR.
Irvine, Head Keeper Connaughton and
four guards preceded the witnesses.
Electrician Davis was ready at the
switch board Ii was 1870 when
the witnesses entered tho room.
While they seated temselves Electri-
clan Davis attached the wires to the
battery os lamps and turned on 1,760
volts lie finished testing the appar-
atus at 1896 and announced that all
was ready. Connaughton and two
guards then went for Harris. lie was
awaiting the final summons in lfis cell.
With him was Chaplain WELLS. Harris
was ready In q moment and the little
procession 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 passed 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 tn
threshold and looked calmly over the
assembled witnesses Kind Hearted
Warden Durston had stepped over to
the reporters and asked them to con-
ceai their pads. saying, Harris might
not like IT," The pad were puta out of
sight and Harris merely looked over
the people, scanning their faces rs his
eyes swept around the room He
walked entirely alone just behind Con-
naughton and wavered for q moment.
more from not knowing which way he
was expected to 60 than from weak
ness. Connaughton pointed to the chair
and without even q look Of curiosr
ity ut the thing which was 10 end hia
career, he dropped in the seat Az he