The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-05-09
HARRIS IS ELECTROCUYED.
The Wife Prisoner Executed al
Sing Sing Prison.
HE MEETS DEATH CALMLY.
His Innocence Of the Crime He Pro-
claims to the Last.
The Execution said to Have Been Very
Successful One and Death Was Iu-
stantaneous-He Makes
Short Address.

SING SING, n. Y. May S.-Carlyle Bar-
ris, the young medical student whose
trial and conviction in New Y erk city for
poisoning Helen Potts, TO whom he had
been secretly married, attracted SO much
attention, was electrocuted in prison here
today Not since the first execution by
this method, when four men, Slocum,
Smiler, Jugive and Wood passed beneath
the deadly electrodes, has such interest
been displayed here. Throngs of people
gathered on the hillside overlooking the
gray prison walls, though the only thing
they could hope to see in connection with
the execution was display of the black
flag above the tower after he had been
officially pronounced dead. This morbid
curiosity is partly accou nted for by the
fact that he was the first man
of any Intelligence to die in
an electric chair, partly to the wide pub
licity given to the case in the newspapers,
and partly to a question of the man s
guilt, though as to the last the chief ele-
ment of doubt lay in Harris steady as
sertion of innocence. Every possible eff
fort was made to secure reversal OF the
sentence, and, that falling, to induce
Governor FlOWef TO 1nlb1SaL6 bn0 PUBLISH
ment, but without avail.
Contrary to the usual custom, the war
den did not read the death warrant to the
condemned at midnight, but Harris had
been told when the execution would take
place. He retired early last night, show
ing more evidences of excitement than
usual, his heretofore iron nerves giving
evidence of the strain in the unusual
quantity of cigarettes that he smoked.
He slept little during the night, rose
early this morning, looked over the
be given to the press after death. He
seemed cooler this morning and ate a
| light breakfast o clock. At 9 O'Clock
medical witnesses began to arrive, and
half an hour later fires were started under
the boilers which operate the engine
which runs the dynamo furnishing the
deadly agent of execution.
| His mother and brother had already
taken final leave OF him, but occupied q
room in a neighboring hotel, from the
window of which the black flag could be
seen when hoisted as the signal that his
spirit had taken fight. The vigil was 6
sorroWful one, as with straining eyes
they looked away toward the staff or
| which the somber emblem would hoa
when the condemned man passed from
earth.
The death warrant was read at $3.50 but
| the reading had no visible effect on tht
condemned man. Half an bour later tn;
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, but wanted q couple O.
oranges, which were given him. He was
shaved and his hair cut at 1880 q. m. anC
he put on new suit of clothes.
After 1915 witnesses were conducted tc
the execution chamber and the death tiaf
placed in position to hoist. The wit
nesses numbered twenty-seven, consist
ing OF seven physicians, ten newspaper
men. ten state officials, friends OF the
warden. Arriving in the execution
chamber the witnesses took seats in
semi-circle around the death chamber
| and everything being in readiness, two
keepers brought Harris into the chamber
accompanied by the chaplain.
He looked pale as he entered the room,
paused an instant on the threshold anC
calmly surveyed the assembled witnesses
One of the keepers indicated the chair t.
| him and without even q glance of curiosity
at the death dealing machine he stepped
forward and took his seat. AS he did 81
he requested permission to speak. This
was accorded him and he said, speak, rs
as if every word cost him great effort:
ssI have no further reservation to make
[ desire to say that [ am absolutely in
nocent'
Then he settled back in the chair anC
the electrodes were quickly attached; thu
signal was given, the lever clicked
sharply, the form of the condemned mar
stlffened till the straps creaked, while
1 ,76O volts passed through his frame. A
the end OF two seconds the current wa
reduced to LEO volts which was continued
fifty four seconds longer, when Harris
was pronounced dead. AS the curren
was July shut off the body dropped bacl
limp. Examination showed no signs o
life. and it was evident that death wa
instantaneous. The execution was most
successful. Relatives will take the body
away this afternoon.
There was very impressive scene a
| the Amber house in the afternoon whel
! Mrs, Harris saw the reporters. This re
markable woman stood calm and passiv
facing them with dry eyes, and In tlrn
voice said:
sit has been said that Carlyle Harris Ii
guilty because he shed no tears Whel
Helen Potts died. / shed no tears, ant
God knows loved Carlyle Harris. Nj.
bow is innocent. You men who saw hin
die know he went to the chair an limo
cent man. With his last word he de
clared his innocence and yet ne has beel
killed. He has been judicially murdered
His last statemant was to be given to Ii
as soon as he was dead, and have not re
ceived it yet. / don't think l shall eve
see it: at least not as my boy wrote it.
was my boys last wish that it be give
out today, but am powerless to carry
out.
Warden Durston when asked for Car
lvle Harris' statement, which it is under
stood he prepared for the press, an
which Durston promised to turn over
Mrs. Harris, this afternoon said
thought it best to submit it to the superin
tendent of prisons first, and ne will ma
it to that official this evening.
At 3 O'Clock Undertaken Kipp drove u
to the prison. He procured the prise
physicians certificate of the cause {
Harris death, and then drove into ia
prison grounds. In the wagon was
highly polished oak casket which wa
carried into the death chamber where Tia
body of Harris, dressed in the dark SUI
of prison-made goods, reposed upon
table. The body was placed in the casket
The undertaken refused to disclose tn
plans for the disposition of the body Th
silver plate upon the cover OF the caskt
, contained this inscription:
"oARYLE W. HARRIS.
Murdered May s, 1893.
Aged % years, months, 10 days.
We would not if we had KNOWN