The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-05-09
A TERRIBLE CRIME IS EXP|ATED
Carlyle ". Harris EleCtrOCutGd YeStGr-
day at Sing Sing,
MISS POTTS MURDER AVENGED
Harris Pronounced Dead Before the Ex-
piration of Minute-Relatives to
Have the Body.
MISS POTTS MURDER AVENGED
Associated Press.

Associated Press.
Sing Sing, May S.-Carlvle w. Harris,
the young medical student, whose trial
ami conviction in New York city for
poisoning Helen Potts, to whom he had
been secretly married, attracted so
much attention, was electrocuted in
prison here today. Throngs of people
gathered on the hillside overlooking
the gray prison walls, though the only
thing which the beholders could zee
was the display of the black flag above
the tower, after he had been officially
pronounced dead. Every possible eff
fort was made to secure a reversal of
the sentence, and that failing, to in
duce Governor Flower to mitigate the
punishment, but without avail. He
slept little during the night, and rose
early this morning and looked over a
manuscript he had prepared to be Civ
en- 70 the press after his death. He
seemed cooler this morning and ate q
llkHI DISdhlcol at " CAOCh. Lit QClIh
warrant was read at $3.50. It's reading
had no visible effect on the condemned
man. Half an hour later the prison
chaplain spent an hour with him. Then
one Of the medical examiners visited
him, and found him showing some
signs of nervousness, but nothing more.
Harris did not ask for morphine or
any stimulant.
The witnesses numbered twenty
seven, consisting of seven physicians,
ten newspaper men, ten state officials
the executive chamber, the witnesses
took seats in semi-circle around the
death chair, and everything being In
readiness, too keepers brought Harris
into the chamber, accompanied by the
chaplain. He looked pale as he en-
tered the room, paused an instant, and
calmly surveyed the assembled wit
nesses. One of the keepers indicated
the chair to him, and without even a
glance of curiosity at the death-dealing
machine, he stepped forward, and took
his seat. AS he did so he requested
permission to speak. This was accord
ed him and he said speaking as If
every word cost him great effort: II
have no further reservation to make;
l desire to say 1 am absolutely inno-
cent" Then he settled back in the
chair, and the electrodes were quickly.
attached. The signal was given, the
lever clicked sharply, and the form Of
the condemned man stiffened till the
straps creaked, while 176O volts, passed
through his frame. At the end of two
seconds the current was reduced to 150
volts, which was continued 81 seconds
longer, when Harris was pronounced
dead. AS the current was finally shut
off the body dropped bach limp. The ex-
animation showed no signs of life, and
1t was evident that death was instan-
taneous. The execution was most sue
cessful. The relatives will take the
body away this afternoon.
Undertaken Kipp procured the pris-
on physicians certificate of the cause
of Harris death and then drove into
the prison grounds. The wagon con-
tained o. highly polished oak casket
which was carried into the death cham
Der where the body of Harris, dressed
in a dark suit of prison-made goods.
20 hn hOdu q
placed In the casket. The undertaken
refused to disclose the plans for the
of the body, A silver plate
upon the cover of the casket contained
this inscription: Carlisle w. Harris.
murdered May Sth, 1893, aged 23 years.
7 months, Is days. We would not If we
had known"
There was a very impressive scene
at the Amber House in the afternoon,
where Mrs. Harris saw the reporters.
The remarkable woman stood calm and
passive, facing them with dry eyes
and firm voice, said:
''It has been said that Carlisle Har-
ris was guilty because he shed no tears.
When Helen Potts died, l shed no
tears. and God knows 1 loved Carlisle
Harris. My boy was innocent. You men
who saw him die, know he went to the
chair an innocent man. With his last
word he declared his innocence, and
yet he has been killed. He has been
judicially murdered. Hts last state
ment was to be given as soon as he
was dead. and have not received it
yet. 1 do not think 1 shall ever see 1t;
at least not as my boy wrote 1t. 1t was
my boys last wish that It be given
out today. but am powerless to carry
1t out"
Warden Durston was asked for Car
Isle Harris statement which 1t was
had been prepared for the
press. Durston promised to turn this
statement over to Mrs Harris. but
this afternoon said he thought 1t best