Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-05-10
HIS LAST WORDS.
Carlyle Harris Last Statement
Now Made Public
He Reviews Case and Gives Reasons
for Asking New Trial,
And ciinss 10 Assertion that We Was iaasceat
si Murder.

ALBANY, n. Y, May 9.-The last state
ment written by Carlyle W. Harris was
given out this afternoon from the state
prisons department:
Notification has been brought me that
Governor 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, addicted TO the use (or
misusel of a drug from an overdose of
which she died. was sentenced to death
upon the supposition that substituted
capsule. containing Ave grains OF NOR
phine, for one of the harmless capsules
that prescribed for her ten
days before death. Ii is self evident to
that no one addicted to morphine could be
murdered with i've grains of that drug, be-
cause for such person five grains would
not be fatal dose. Upon this fact was
based my motion for re-trial, which Re
corder Smythe denied, and later my plea for
Executive interference. In recognition of
this last plea commissioner was appointed
TO investigate the creditability of the wit
nesses who volunteered the testimony as to
my wife's habit. Their evidence remained
unshakeu. and though the prosecution at
tempted rebuttal, they did not ddre TO
produce in open court the witnesses whose
siiilavits, the most important of those on
which Recorder Smyth denied motion for n
re-trial. refer to Eunice Rockwell,
Rachel Cookson, DR.. Treverton and DIR,
Hand, who in their afiidavits foreswore
testimony given on my trial, and Dilworth
Choat.
1t was established before the Governors
commissioner, by testimony of DIR. Kin
mouth, DIR. Woolman, Miss jackson, Miss
Waddell and others that my wife purchased
morphine frequently and foolishly used it
to quiet neuralgia pain. 1t is not claimed,
and never has been, that my wife wilfully
destroyed herself.
When charges Of murder were first pre-
ferred against me, delivered myself at
once into custody, demanding an investiga-
ton. On the 10th Of April last. although
under sentence of death, refused to take
advantage of u free opportunity to escape.
So how is it, in case where SO many
facts and the entire behavior of the defen-
dant invite Executive clemency, together
with IA petition of over 10000 citizens,
among them many prominent in national
esteem, that such clemency be denied?
Because the action of the court was not
justified by the facts in the case, and hence
public outcry must be silenced by the seem
ing justification of the court, outside of
the facts.
Where there is no doubt of guilt Cover
nor Flower has not hesitated 10 interfere,
as in the case of James Mlnnaugh. In that
case the facts justified the court, and there
was no Recorder Smyth clamoring to be
unheld.
Carlyle Harris, living, would be daily
menace to the career of Smyth, Wellman
and others. Dead, he will be soon forgot
ten, and affairs may go on as before.
There is an idea in the minds of many
that at the time of my wife's death de-
sired a marriage with some other woman.
Such person never has been found. nor
does she exist. II is my misfortune that
have been prosecuted by libel and innuendo
through the columns of the press, rather
than by mean witnesses in court.
desire to express my great thanks 10
those of my jury who bravely declared that
had they known of the newly found evil
dence at the time of my trial they would
have acquitted me. beg the witnesses who
not bring forward their knowledge until
100 lht' HDt |" HVUTull ti'"SeINtt. nave
for them no thought of blame.
To tboie many frieLds who labored 40
diligently to bring to light the truth, I send
my thanks.
1t was reported in the newspapers that
during my stay in Sing Sing scoffed at
the devotions of my fellow prisoners AMI
indulged in irreverent jokes. This is
cruelty false.
The Governor states that he was finally
convinced of my guilt by the atiidayits of
Eunice Rockwell and Rachel Cookson.
These aiiidavits. identical as to phrase,
were evidently both dictated by the same
person. II is my honest believed that they
were signed unread, for on the trial, Miss
CoOkson gave testimony which directly con
ficts with the later affidavit, and the district
attorney did not dare call either of those
illnesses before the commissioner and sub
nit their statements to cross-examination.
No one had so many reasons, all senti-
ment or love aside, for desiring my wife to
live as /. She would have brought me
monty and professional success; would
have gra ;ed my home. Had / known of
her sad habit it would have been my happi
ness to shield and cure her.
Now, face to face with the greatest mys-
ter" known TO man, knowing that no con
C. ,.lment or untrnth can mitigate my end
sol mnly declare than AN innocent of
the crime for which am condemned to
die
beg those who think. or speak, or write
of me in the years to come, will do so as
kindly as they can; not forgetting that,
when much proof Of my innocence was
found, it was inhumanly thrust aside.