The state chronicle., 1893-05-09
HARRIS ELECTROCUTED.
HE PAYS THE PENALTY OF THE
LAW IN THE ELECTRIC CHAIR.
He Meets Death With Goodness ana
DeliberatioD, and His Last Words
are Declaration OF His Innocence.


BY Southern Associated Press.
SING SING. N. Y, May S.-The
flag was raised on the prison at
12:43 showing that Carlyle W. Har-
ris had been electrocuted. He re-
tired early last night and though
he showed no signs of breaking |
down was more nervous and excited |
than usual. He did not sleep much.
HIS self control was marvellous. He
was up early this morning and
looked over a manuscript which he |
had prepared to be given out to the
press by his relatives after the final
scene in his dramatic life bad ended.
| At o'clock Harris ate a light
breakfast. Mrs. Harris having made
a final visit to her son Saturday, re-
mained at the Amber House Her
youngest son, Allan, was with her
The flag announcing the successful
conclusion of the execution could be
seen from the windows of the room
occupied by Mis-. Harris, and there
she watched and waited with strain
ing eyes and subdued grief for the
fatal signal
The death warrant was formally
read to Harris at $3.50. He displayed
Indifference, and its reading did
not noticeably affect him. He
showed no signs of breaking down,
and appeared cheerful after the
reading of the death warrant.
At IL o'clock the witnesses as
sembled in the Warden's office,
there we're 27, seven physicians and
twenty newspaper men, State off
cials and the friends Of the Warden
Warden Durstin at 1916 announced
that everything was ready, and in
vited the witnesses down stairs. It
e was 1890 when the witnesses en-
tered the execution chamber. Har-
ris was brought in looking pale. He
! paused an instant On the threshold,
, and looked over the assembled Wit
nesses. He walked entirely alone,
and when the guard pointed to the
chair without even look of curl.
osity at the thing which was to end
his career he dropped into the seat
= As he did so he had word to say
if the Warden would permit. The
Warden asked what he wished tC
say.
: Harris in weak voice as though
each word cost him powerful ef
fort said: 81 have no further obser
, vation to make. desire to sa,
that I am absolutely innocent,
= These were his last words Afte
uttering them he seemed relieved
:. and settled back in the chair t,
which his legs had already beer
or er strapped by the two guards
'e' The hemlet containing the othe
- electrode was placed On hi
head and the wires were attache
ION ION to the two electrodes There wa
ms an instant's pause while every ma
to to in the room held his breath, Their
ito was sharp click from the leve
Z. and the form in the chair straigh
o ened up till the straps creaked.
WAS just 12:4oa and the current {
a 1,760 volts passed through the bod
.ss, of Carlyle W. Harris
nn' ,v,' In two seconds the current WI
lay reduced to $50 volts and in $50 &C.
.sa ISa onds it was shut off entirely. A
md of the physicians present expresse
re, themselves satisfied that death vi
Anu instantaneous. The witnesses wi
had seen other electrocutions agre.
that this was the most successf
= one yeti. There was no sign
steaming at the points OF contat
and aside from the purplish TIM
by by appearing on the skin, there W
said no change in the appearances Of Il
745 AZ body. As the witnesses passed o
'der of the building, one of the newsE
Inc 1ne per men tainted, and was carri
y in out by his friends. He recover'
't @ OF in q few minutes. Witness
Nor were escorted to the Warde
.nds Office when all was over and ca
and and one signed the official statement
lort quired by law. Drs. Irvine a
Daniels conducted the autoI
. which was begun ten minutes at
- the electrocution was over. The ,
=, topsy was completed at 2 p. m. I
result shows that the body was "
nourished and healthy. There '
some signs of slight burning on
inside calf of the right leg
ESs none on the temple. Doctor DAM
"a said the electrocution was the ~
- successful of the seven which
had witnessed. "Harris died wi
out pain, said the doctor, can
8. do not see how his execution co
c,,ad have been bettered from hum
firing standpoint"
Baseball.