The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1893-05-13
His CRIME IS AVENGED
CARLYLE HARRIS DIES AT
SING SING.
He Meets Death Calmly, Still Pro-
testing His Innocence--The
Execution Passes Oft
Without Disagreeable
Features.

Execution Passes OFT
Without Disagreeable
'., Features.
Displayed Great Nerve.
Sing Sing, N. Y, May 9.-Not since the
first electrocution at Sing Sing, when four
men-Slocum, Smiler, Jugigo and Wood
were pu: to death with the experimental
apparatus then in use, has there been
such interest displayed here. Throngs OF
people gathered on the hillside overlook
ing the gray walls of the prison, n
though they could not hope to catch a
glimpse of Harris, or see the implement
of death, they gazed with morbid curios-
ity at the building from which the doomed
man was not to emerge until soul n
body had parted.
It was 1890 when the wit
nesses entered tie room. While they
seated themselves, Electrician Davis at
tached the wires to the battery Of lamps
and turned On 1,76O volts; he hn,sned
testing the apparatus at 12:S6 n an
ton and two guards then went for Harris.
He was awaiting the final summons in
his cell. With him was Chaplain Wells;
Harris was ready in q moment, n
the little procession was quickly formed.
Screens had been placed in front OF the
othre cells SO that the men who Nv; WIN :. soon on
went out with a guard on either side, and
the faithful chaplain following him. Har,,
ris looked slight and pale as he stepped
into the room. He paused an instant on
the threshold and looked calmly over tne
assembled witnesses. Kind-hearted war
porters and asked them to conceal their
pads, saying: Harris might not 1 it,
The pads were put out of sight, and
Harris merely looked over the people,
scanning their faces as his eyes swept
around the room. He walked entirely,
alone, just behind C~onnaughton, a ana
knowing which way he was expected to
go than from weakness. Connaughton
pointed to the chair, and without. even q
look of curiosity at the thing which was
to end his career, he dropped into the
seat. AS he did SO he began to talk
in a low voice. He said:
II have a word to say if the warden
will permit" He paused and repeated:
y would like to say something if l have
the warden's consent"
Warden Durston stepped over to the
chair and said: "What did you wish to
saKw ,o;oo % +bo,,b
each word cost him q powerful effort,
said: Il have no further reservation to
make. 1 desire to say that l am abso-
lutely innocent"
Those were his last words. After ut
tering them he seemed relieved and set
and arms had already been strapped by
Eaton and Ford, the two guards: State
Detective jackson attached the electrodc
to Harris right leg, which was barred to
the knee, a slit in the trousers having
been made in advance. Eaton placed the
-0,~.- A. Al0r -rl11fvsnrvn nm
the head. Electrician Davis attached the
wires to the two electrodes. All of this
work was done quicker than the telling
of it, and then the guards stepped back.
Davis, who had gone to the switchboard
'.All ready"
every man in the room held his breath.
Then DR.. Daniels rdised his hand: A
sharp click from the lever and the form
in the chair Strengthened up till the straps
creaked. 1t was just 12:4O IL by the
stop watch held by Dr.. Merritt. A cur
body Of Carlyle Harris. In two Seconds
Davis threw the switch back so that only
$50 volts were on. DIR. Daniels still held
his hand aloft and n finger pointed
Nbove,. as though to indicate that the
soul of the man in the chair had passed
upward. Then his arm fell, and in just
w OF ScSOlNS luC Su1ASAk wac oAu O"s
Doctors Irvine and Habershaw imme-
stepped forward and examined
the body, (which had settled back limp i'll
the chair. DR.. Irvine opened the coat
and vest and tore away the shirt over
the heart. He applied the stethescope,
and shook his head. This was two min
utes after the first contact, and DIR.
Daniels then invited the other physicians
to step forward and examine the body.
Life was extinct, and it was apparent to
all who We're present that death had come
only sign of animation after the current
was turned on vas a slow movement OF
the little finger on the right hand. and
was evidently due to muscular con-
traction, caused by the current, and not
by the ~volition of the subject in the chair;
All the physicians present expressed
Seen instantaneous. When. all had ex-
umined the body. DIR. Daniels turned to
the. witnesses and said: THAT is ALL"
The witnesses. who had seen other cleo
trocutions, agreed that this was the most
successful one yet. There was no sign Of
aside from a purplish tinge appearing on
the. skin, there was no change in the ap-
of the body. As the witnesses
passed out of the building. one of the
men tainted, aud was carried
out by e he recoVeIeu III U Ae"
Mrs. Harris viewed, the raising of the
black flag from the window Of her room
in a boarding house. When the Omlnous
signal doated on the soft breeze she
turned quietly away, resigned !nd calm'
she has been for the past few days.
She said she would see, the newspaper
men this afternoon and give them her
statement. At .12:45 Allan Harris ar
rived at the prison, and Principal Keeper
escorted. him to the room N
notified Warden Durston that nm under
taker viii call this afternoon to remove
the body Of his brother.
A Fleeing ForEer.
Philadelphia, May 9.-Frank Bush, q well
known business man, has disappeared from
Spring City, Pa, after froging the name OF
Francis Latschar, his brother-ln-law, to the
extent Of $4,000, A ~rhoenixyille ma sts
his wife the forger Indicated that.
be would commit suicide, n yesterday his
was found on q Delaware river
wharf in this lcity. The police. grapp!ed
iieyed that the coat was left for a blind.
n. i tat es.5
Resulted In Death.
!. Cairo, H., May 9.--Six more OF the men
scalded by the bursting Of the flue Of the
steamer Ohio have died. They were James
Howard, William Hurshman. Fred Neil,
William Henry !saE Eugene enc; ,W ssSsHi and 1ad Cherries
A Nice LdtiIe JrnIkst. a
washington, May Ex-senator Faulkner,
Of the committee son; territories;
selected. I'm addition to himself, Senators,
E4all pjaff Rafe and Dav3a. aa the an71con.