The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-09
IMIJRDERER'S DEATH
c.rlyle W. Harris Electrocuted
in Sing Sing Prison.
.r WAS A wFE-PoisoNER.
...,.v OF His Awful CPime-His Trial
and His Life-His Mother Loyal
to the Last.


usrris was electrocuted in the prison here
.aasv. Harris slept little during the night,
.o.s earIy this morning and looked over
y, manuscript he had prepared to be
.,en TO the press after his death. He
ss.ued cooler this morning and ate light
,,sakfast at S o'clock. His mother and
& ,-o,he- had taken final leave of him early
n the morning, but they occupied a room
neighboring hotel, from the window
ofxhich the black flag could be seen when
soisted a. a signal that his spirit had
exon fight. The vigil was o sorrowfW
one AZ with straining eyes they looked
.vav toward the staff on which the somber
.mhlem would float when the condemned
man passed from earth.
The death warrant was read at $50
o'clock. The reading had no visible effect
on the condemned man. Harris did not
ask for morphine or any stimulent, but
wanted a couple of oranges, which were
gwen him. lie was shaved and his hair
eu. at 1870 and ne put on new SUIT Of
clothes. At 12:15 the witnesses were con.
dacted to the execution chamber. The
Witnesses numbered twenty-seven. con-
ss.ing of seven physicians, ten newspaper
men and ten state officials and friends of
the warden. When they arrived in tho
execution chamber the witnesses took
their seats in q semi-cYfcie around the
death chair. and everything being IN read
mess, two keepers brought Harris into the
chamber. accompanied by the chaplain.
He looked pale. and as he entered tho
room paused an instant on the threshold
and calmly surveyed the assembled wit
nesses One of the keepers indicated the
chair to him. and without even 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 accorded him and he said, speak
ing as if every word cost him great effort:
have no further reservation to make and
desire to say tina. am absolutely innocent.
Then he settled back in the chair and the
electrodes were quickly attached. AT Il 40
p N. the signal was given, the lever
clicked sharply and the form of the con-
demned man stiffened till the straps
creaked while ,76O volts passed through
his frame. At the end of two seconds the
current was reduced to 80 volts, which
vas continued for tifty-four seconds longer,
when Harris was pronounced dead. AS
the current was fully shut off the body
dropped back limp. An examination
showed no signs of life and it was evident
that death had been instantaneous.
Ats o'clock Undertaken Kipp drove up
to the prison. He procured the prison
PHYSICIANS certificate of the cause Of Har-
RS death and then drove into the prison
grounds. In the wagon was a highly
polished oak casket, which was carried
into the death chamber where the body of
Harris, dressed in dark suit of prison.
made goods. reposed upon a table. The
body was placed in the casket, but the
undertaken refused to disclose the plans
lis disposition. A silver plate upon
The cover of the casket contained this in
srption: Carlyle w. Harris. murdered
Nay s, 1898, aged % years, Z months and
Il days. We would not have permitted it
1--WE had known"
There was an impressive scene at the
Ambler house in the afternoon when Mrs.
Harris was seen by reporters. The re-
parkable woman stood cain and passive,
iasing them, and with dry eyes and firm
voice said:
Il has been said that Carlyle Harris was
gliiiy because he shed no tears when Helen
Potts died. / have shed no tears and God
saows loved Carlyle Harris. My boy was
Innocent You men who saw him die know
he went to the chair an innocent man. With
BIS last word he declared his innocence. and
yet he has been killed. He has been judicially
murdered. His last statement was to have
been gwen soon he was dead,
and have not received IL yet.
! 60 not think shall ever 1t. at least not as
my boy wrote it. IL was my boys last wish that
be given out today, but l am powerless to
carr II cut
Warden Durston was asked for Carlyle
Harris statement, which it is understood
he prepared for the press. Durston prom
lsed 10 turn this statement over
to Mrs. Harris, but this afternoon
said he thought it best TO submit it to the
superintendent OF prisons first, and he will
mail 1t 10 that official this evening.
Csr.y.e " Harris was ciectrocuted for the poi
huipg. through the agency Of morphine, of
he,en Neiisou Potts Harris, his Is year old wife,
wao died February !, lS1i. In the summer of
ls'4 Harris. with his mother and II younger
h'eiaer. lived AZ Asbury PARK, " J., which was
as tae home oi iIe.ou Potts. She was the only
tAi.d as Mr. aua Mrs. George Potts. Mr.. Potts
IA wcit-Jo-,io railroad contractor, with an Of
Ice al Ne o. ali street, in New York city, aud
tae nature ot his business apt him away from
BONE ior .vteuded periods. Harris met the
i9lhg Sir, who WAS then only IL years OF age
az na1 just graduated from the high school
l. made owe 10 her and before the summer
sliel ed marriage. his offer. however,
ieiag - 'cieI ~ IIeleu's mother on the ground
the yuathfItness of The lovers. At this time
ha'r.E evidently hal honorable intentions, bu,
US 'eidsa, %. Mr.. fotts 10 listen to his proposal
S'Rsed tie dormant evil IN him He deter
q ei & lure the innocent and conading girl
hert1'n. lie had pliab.e material TO work
eaon. and Helen, ia her innocence,
Ls'eue3 II tho words OF her lover
u p'aIosea secret marriage. and to
sfe'mp.'sh El> ends he told the girl that her
1o'-e''- s"ie 81 .cct was to wed her to money
Aaf ttnpttr prevailed Carlyle ". Harris sue
's--tt ~ last n inducing Helen Nelson F0its
"t'lseHt lhvy made a Journey TO New Yosk
a. ihc-c, Uu!Cr thG name nj Charles Harris
t4a deeo Nelson, they were married before
A-s-maa ". T. NnoEhuf on February H. 1890
a4tt returned home the same day. Thence.
l''"afi. sa.I Mrs Potts. in telling of her
eAls-ier's !a'e, -'tAcir manners were so simple
81 natural lh.t never had the falntest sus-
~ '3 "a tac tT-tA." But the constant lear OF
"a VERY, Sic rcnorse tha. she had deceived her
I'taef, t-oaSIt ga failing health. Helen potts'
sSs'I'ne@s. her Insomnia and the change in
aei sp.Elis her trIcuds recog isad but could not
ealef,tand In August. iS9o, she became seri-
'-NN ILL., Her mother discovered the secret and
'-e 10 tie Story 10 words full of tender and
Neching beauty. Helen had been sen; TO Re.
sac.e' D.. Tfeycf;oa. OF Scranton. aud TO him
'aS 'Sl told her pitiahle story OF damaab,e
s,'ue aud cowayd,y crime on tho part o; BIN
- aai promised 20 love aud safeguard her
70 aeaih- sae Tas dangerously i'll for
.''aia. and teen ;he mother was teiegrapaed
=. +ae na,Jfe Of the sickness opened the
N0'atfssyes. These are the mothers words:
SON after my arrival her uncle told me all.