The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1893-05-09
He BORE 1T BRAYELY
Carlyle harris Mst His Dsalh Without
Plinchins.
HIS MOTHERS ANC
She Mourns Because Her Sons
Last Statement Was Not Given
to Hsr-Scenes at
tho Prison.


SING SING, N. v, May s.-Carlyie Harris.
the young medical student, whose trial
aud conviction in New York city. for pois.
oning Helsn Potts, To whom he had been
secretly married. attracted SO much
attention. was eloctrocutcd In prison to-
day. Not since tho first execution by
this method. whom four men. Slocum,
SmIler. Jugivo and Wood passed beneath
the deadly electrodes, has such interest
been displayed here. Throngs of people
gathered on the hillside overlookin
tho gray prison walls. though tho only
thing which they could hope 10 SEQ in con-
nection with the execution was the display
OF the black flag above tho tower after he
had been officially pronounced dead. This
morbid curiosity Ia partially accounted for
by the fact tha, he Was the first man OF
any intelligence to die In the electric
chair. partly to the wide publicity given by
the newspapers. and partly tn the qucs-
tion Of the mans guilt. though as TO tho
last, the chief element of doubt lay i'm
Harris steady assertion Of innocence.
Every possible effort was made to secure
q reversal Of the sentence and, that fail
ing, to induce Governor Flower TO miti-
gnte the punishment, but without avail.
Contrary TO the usual custom, the warden
did not read the death warrant 10 the con-
demned at midnight, hut Harris had been
told when the execution would take place.
lie retired carly last night showing more
evidences OF excitement than usual, his
heretofore iron nerves giving evidence OF
tho strain in the unusual quantity OF
cigarettes lie smoked. He slept little dur
ing the night and rosc early this morning
and looked over tho manuscript he had
prepared to be given To the press after
death. He seemed cooler this morning
and ate light breakfast at o'clock.
At THE PRISON.
At 0 o'clock medical witnesses began 10
arrive mud half an hour later the fires
were started under the boilers which
operate tho engine which runs the dynamo
furnishing tho deadly agent of execution.
His mother and brother had already taken
final leave OF him. but occupied room II,
neiRhboring hotel from the window of
which tho black flaR could he seen when
hoisted as a signal that his spirit had
taken flight. The vigil was n sorrowful
one as, with straining eyes, they looked
AWAY toward tho staff on which the
sombrs emblem would Aoat when the con-
demned man passed from earth.
Tho death warrant was read at 2 80.
The 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 oi
nervousness. but nothing more. Harris
did not ask for morphine or any stimu.
liant. but wanted n couple OF oranges,
which were given him. He was shaved
and had his hair cut Mt 10 30, and put on a
new suit Of clothes.
THE END.
AZ . quarter past ~ the witnesses were
conducted to the execution chamber and
the death nag was placed in position "a
hoist.
The Witnesses numbered %. consisting
Of seven physicians, 10 newspaper men
aud 10 state officials aud friends of the
warden. Arrived In the execution cham
her. tho witnesses took seats in semi
circle around the death chair and. every,
thing beinQ In readiness, two keeper
brought Harris into the chamber. accom-
panied by the chaplain.
He looked pale as he entered tho room,
paused an instant on tho threshold and
ralmiy surveyed the assembled witnesses
One OF tine keepers indicated the chair ts
him and without even n glance Of curiosit,
at tho death-dcaling machine, he steppc,
forward and took his seat. As he did sc
no requested permission TO speak. Thi,
was accorded him. lie said. speaking a,
II every word cost him great effort:
II have no further revelation TO make
dcsire to say am absolutely innocent.
Then he settled back In tho chair an,
the electrodes were quickly attached. III,
signal was given. the lever clicked slarvi,
and the form Of the condemned man stiff
encd ill the straps crcakcd. while 20
volts passed through his frame.
At the end Of two seconds tho currrn
was reduced 10 l5O volts. which was con
tinued A seconds. when Harris was pro
nouuced dead. As the current was full,
shut OF, the body dropped back limp.
An examination showed no signs of lif
aud II was evident death was instantau
eous. Tho execution was most success
fui. Relatives took tho body away thi
afternoon.
REMOVAL or THE BODY.
Al 3 o'clock Undertaken Kipp drove 4
tho prison. He procured the prison physi
clans certificate OF the cause of Harris
death and then drove into the priso,
grounds. In his wagon was n highly pol
ished oak casket. which was carried int
tho death chamber, where the body O
Harris. dressed in dark suit Of prisol
made goods. reposed upon table. TIN
BODY was placed in the caskct. Tn
undertaken refused to disclose tho plan
for the disposition OF the body. The silve
plate upon the cover Of the casket con
tained this inscription:
CARLYLE W. HARRIS,