The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-05-10
HARRIS STATEMENT.
"A Remarkable Document from the
tho Brink of Che Grave.
NOT A REvILER OF RELIGION.
Me Died with tho Hope of His Child
hoods Fnith--A Critical Review of the
Evidence in His Case and Criticism
ofGoyernor Flower and Recorder smyth.

hoods Fnith-A Critical Review of the
Evidence in His Case aud Criticism
ofGovernor Flower and Recorder smyth.
ALBANY, N. Y, May 10.-The following
q the last statement written by Carlyle
W. Harris, which was given out last even
ing from the-state prison departments;
Notification has been brought me that
Goyefnor 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, I'D
dicted to the use Tor misuse) of the drug
from an overdose of which she died am
sentenced to death upon the supposition
that substituted capsule containg five
grains OF morphine for one of the harm
less capsules prescribed for her ten days
before her death.
Now 1t is self evident to any one having
the knowledge of medicine that no Que
addicted to morphine could be murdered
with five grains of that drug. Upon this
fact was based my motion for retrial, which
Recorder Smyth denied, aud later my plea
for executiveinterference.
In recognition of this last plea commits
sioner was appointed to investigate tho
credibility OF the witnesses who had vol.
unteered testimony AS to my wife's habit.
Their evidence remained unshaken, and
though the prosecution attempted re.
buttal, they did not dare to produce in
open court the witnesses whose affidavits
were the most important of those on which
Recorder Smyth denied my motion for rcI
trial. | refer to Eunice Rockwell, Rachef
Cookson, DIR. Trcverton and DR.. Hand,
who in their affidavits foreswore the testi,
mony given on my trial, as have shown,
and to Dilworth Choate.
Hence IL was established before the gov
ernor commissioner by the testimony OF
DR. Kinmouth, DIR. Woolman, Miss Jack
son, Miss Waddcll and others that my
wife purchased morphine frequently and
that she foolishly used it to quiet neu-
ralgic pain. 1t is not claimed and never
has been that my wife wilfully destroyed
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 murder were first pre-
ferred against me | delivered myself n
once into custody, demanding an inyesti.
cation. Again on the 2lth Of April, last,
although under sentence Of death | re-
fused to take adv antage of n free oppor-
tunity to escape. ~.
facts and the entire behavior of the de-
fendant all invite executive elenency, to-
Rether with the petition of over 50,0GO
citizens among them many who are promi-
nent in the national esteem, such clemency
should be denied? Because the action oi
the court was not justified by the facts in
the case, and hence public outcry must
be silcnced by seeming justification oi
the court outside of the facts.
Where there was no doubt Of guilt Gov
error Flower has not hesitated to inter
fere, as in the case OF James Mnnaugh
about n year ago; but in that case the facts
justified the court, and there was no Re
corder Smyth clamoring 10 be upheld
Carlyle Harris living would be q daily
menance to the careers. of Smyth, Wei,
man and others. Dead he will be sooi
forgotten, and the affairs may go on "a
before.
There is an idea in the minds of many
that at the time of my wife's death de
Bircd marriage with some other woman
6uoh a person has never been found, MOI
does she exist. 1t ia my misfortune that
have been prosecuted by libel and inuend,
through the columns of the press rathe
than by means of Witnesses in cours.
desire in this utterance to express I'M
great thanks TO those members of my jur,
who have brarely declared that had the,
known OF the newly found evidence at h
time of my trinl they would have acquittel
me. And yet beg that the witnesses win
did not bring forward their knowledge
until too late will not upbraid themselves
have for them no thought of blame.
1t has been reported in the newspaper
that during my stay here in Sing Sing
have scoffed ut the devotions Of my feiloy
prisoners and indulged in irreyerent jokes
This is cruelty false. | still enjoy til
hopes of my chtldhood's faith md believ
that shall not be lnisjndg ii through al
eternity.
The governor states that he has bee
finally convinced of my guilt by the all
dnyits of Eunice Rockwell and Rache
Cookson These afii davits are identical n
TO phrase and were evidently both die
tated by the same person. 1t is my homes
belief that they We're signed unread for O.
tho trial Miss Cookson gave testimony tina
directly conflicts with her latter affidavit
and the district attorney did not dare t
call either of these witnesses before th
commissioner and submit their statement
10 cross examination.
No one had so many reasons, all sent
ment or love aside, for desiring my wife t
live as | had She would have brough
ma money and professional succor, sh
would have graced my home, and had
known of her sad habit it would have bee
my happiness to shield and cure her
/ hnye now to die; the manner OF m
Death is of small moment to me; hav
waited patiently so long as there was tn
remotest chance of obtaining Justice, r,
fusing 10 run away even under sentence c
death.
May God in mercy bless and guard thos
leave behind and give them peace.
Aud, now face 10 fucc with the greates
mystery known to man, knowing that n
concealment or nntruth can mitigate IN
end, Tde solemnly declare that am inn
cent OF the crime for which / am col
demned to die.
/ beg that those who think, or speak
write of me in years to come, will do so
kindly as Rsey can, not forgetting tina
when much proof of my innocence W,
found, i. was inhumanly thrust aside.
CAYLYLE HARRIS.
Harris renainS.yere buried in the Rur
cemetery here yesterday afternoon. III
lot was purchased several days ago, but
whom ii could not be ascertained. Mr.
Harris and her son, who accompanied Il
body, refused to talk.
Mgr. Satolli's Future Home.
WASHINGTON, May 10-The moyemei