Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-05-10

WHATHARRIS HADTOSAY
In His Statement He De-
cIared His Innocence.
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN GERMANY.
Emperor Williams Stand
on the Army Bill.
CAUSED BY A SPARK FROM 4 MATCH.
Thousands of Dollars Lost
by a Fire.
CAUSED BY A SPARK FROM A MATCH.
HARRIS, STATEMENT.

l re declares IN At ne Dld N OF XIII Hit
Wife and Says, Face to Face With
the Greatest Mystery Known to Man,
Knowing That no Concealment or
Untruth Can Mitigate His End He
Solemnly Declares That He Is Inno-
conc of the Crime for which He IL
Condemned-There Were NO Traces
of Nervousness In the Handwriting.
ALBANY, May 9.-The following is the
last statement written by Carlyle W. Har-
ris, which was given out this afternoon
from the state prison department.:
Modification has been brought me that
Governor Flower has refused to interfere
with the execution of the sentence of the
lower court in my case. Evidence has
come to Light that my wife was for years
before her death addicted to the use Tor
misuse) of the drug from an overdose of
which she died. am sentenced to death
upon the superstition that substituted q
capsule containing five grains of morphine
for one of che harmless capaules I pre-
seribed for her ten days before her death.
Now it is self evident to any one hsv-
ing knowledge of medicine that no
one addicted to morphine could be muir
dered with five grains of that drug, be-
cause for such person five grains would
not be a fatal dose. Upon this fact was
based my motion for re-trisl, which Re-
corder Smythe denied, and later my plea
for executive interference.
GIN recognition of this last plea a com
missioner was appointed to investigate the
credibility of the witnesses, who had
volunteered testimony as to my wife's
- - Al Nd hal
and though the prosecution attempted
rebuttal they did not dare to produce in
open court the witnesses whose s&daVits
were the most important of those on which
Recorder Smythe denied my motion for re-
trial refer to Eunioe Rockwell, Rachel
Cookgon, DIR. Treverton and DR.. Hand
who, in their affidavits foreswore the testi-
mony given on my trial, as have shown
and to Dilworth Choate.
"Hence 1t was established before the
commissioner by the testimony of Dr. Kim
mouth, DR.. Woolmsn, Mics Jackson, Miss
Wsddell and others that my wife purchased
morphine frequently, and she foolishly
used 1t to quiet neuralgia pain. 1t is
claimed that my wife wilfully destroy ed
herself, for she was beloved and happy.
But the fatal mistakes of those who self
administer morphine are matters of record
all over the world. When charges of muir
der were first preferred against me de-
livered myself into custody, demanding
an investigation. Again on the Goth of
April last, although under sentence of
death, I refused to take advantages
of a free opening to Escape. AS
to this last matter Keepers Murphy and
Hulse and other prison officials will bear
nee out. So how Is 1t that in a case where
so many facts and the entire behavior of
L. lie l.. TO- 4 -. ao1a,
together with the petition of over $4,000
citizens, among them many who are prom
inent in the national esteem such clemency
should be denied? Because the action Of
the court was not justified by the facts in
the case and hence public cutlery must be
silenced by a seeming justification of the
court outside Of the facts.
"Where there WAS no doubt of guilt
Governor Flower has not hesitated to in
terfere, as in the case of James Minnaugh,
about a year ago, but in that case the facts
justified the court and there was no Re-
corder Smythe clamoring to be upheld.
Carlyle Harris living would be a daily
menace to the career of Smythe. Wellman
and others. Dead, be will coon he forgot
ten and affairs may go on as before.
"rhere is an idea in the minds of many
that at the time of my wife's death de-
sired marriage with some other woman.
Such person has never been found, nor
does she exist 1t is my misfortune that
have bsen prosecuted by libel and innu
endo through the columns of the press
rather than by means Of witnesses in court.
desire in this uttersnce to express my
great thanks to the members of the jury who
have trsvely declared that had they known
of the newly found evidenc- at the time of
my trial they would have acquitted me.
And yet beg that the witnesses who did
not bring forward their knowledge until
too late will not upbraid themselves. I
have for them no thought of blame. In
dividually they did not realizs the peril
nencs of what they knew, nor could they
| be expected to. Also to those many friends
the truth to light send my thanks; that
they are in my thoughts at such time ss
this is an earnest of my gratitude.
at has been reported in the newspapers
| that during my stay here in Sing Sing l
have scoffed at the devotions of my fellow
| prisoners and INDUCED in irreverent jokes.
This is cruelty false. I still enjoy the hopes
| of my childhood's faith, and believe that
shall not be misjudged through all eter-
| nifty. The governor states that he has been
finally convinced of my guilt by the aft
davits of Eunice Rockwell and Rachel
| Cookaon. These affidavits are identical as
to phrase, and are evidently both dictated
by the came person. 1t is my honest belief
that they were signed unreadS for on the
trial Miss Cookson gave testimony that di-
rectly conflicts with her later affidavit, and
the district attorney did not dare to call
either of those witnesses before the com.
missioner.
"No one had 80 many reasons, all ssnti
ment or love aside, for desiring my wife te
live as had. She would have brought me
money and professional success, she would
have graced my home, and had I known Of
her sad habit 1t would have been my hap
piness to shield snd cure her.
81 have now to die. The manner of my
| death Ia of small moment to me. 1 hav.
waited patiently 30 long as there was the
remotest chance of obtaining Justice, re-
fusing to run away even when under cen
tence of death.
"Msy God, in msrcy, bless and guart
those leave behind and give them p> ace
"And, now, fscs to face with the great
eet mystery known to man, knowing tina
NO concealmsnt or untruth can mitigat
my end, do solemnly declare that 1 an
innocent of the crime for which I am con
demned to die.
81 beg of those who think or speak o
write of me in years to come will do go a