Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-05-12
CARLYLE HARRIS.


cases in this country was finally closed
in New York last Monday when Car
lyle Harris was put to death in Sing
Sing PRISONS electric chair for the
murder OF his wife.
Harris was a Young man OF excel
lent family and fine education whose
character seems to have been pecu-
liarly vicious. He made practice of
running young girls, and by the time
he was twenty-one years OF age he
was able to boast, as he frequently
did, of at least half dozen victims oil
his evil inclinations. Three years
ago he met Helen Potts, school girl
whose family occupied a high social
position, and she became n victim
also. the two being secretly married
bv a magistrate. a criminal opera
ton upon the girl by Harris was his
next crime.
Mrs Potts, the girls mother, discov-
cred the situation, and urged Harris
to have the marriage publicly per
formed. He did not wish TO do this,
but under great pressure hnaliy
agreed. Before the ceremony could
take place. however, Harris, who was
n medical student, substituted NOR
phine for quinine in some capsules ne
had prescribed for Helen, and FEB
ruarv 1, 1891, she died from the poison
he had given her. Harris was IN
dicted for the murder a couple OF
months later In January, 1892, lie
was tried for the crime. The trial
was remarkable for the ability OF the
prosecution and the great Interest
taken in the case by the public. The
evidence was entirely circumstantial,
but so tightly was the web woven
around him that the jury could find
but one verdict-that of guilty.
An appeal was taken to the higher
courts, but the verdict stood. Then
the counsel aud friends Of the con
demned man made tremendous et-
forts TO obtain clemency from the
governor of the State, who appoint
| ed a commissioner to hear all the ad-
ditional evidence that could be sub
mitted Each new procedure, how
ever, but emphasized the certainty
of the guilt OF the man, and the gov
ernor refused to interfere.
Last Monday Harris was put to
death by electricity. He was bold
and unrepentant to the last, and
with his last breath protested his in
nocence. He also left behind him Il
written statement in which he de
MED the crime.
There was q great deal Of sympathy
for Harris in the public mind, and
many people believed him innocent
until the mastery opinion Of the SUI
preme court was made public. So
comprehensive, logical and convin
cling was that document, no unbiased
person could entertain a reasonable
doubt as to the guilt of Harris, and il
became the settled opinion Of the
public that he was guilty and should
pay the penalty of his crime.
The execution of Harris cannot but
have salutary effect upon society a
large. 1t has emphasized the belize
that murder will out; it has shown
that the courts and the law are su
preme to sentiment and social stand
ing; and it is a warning to evil-doer:
of every sort that punishment vii
follow crime.
The wife of Col. WIN. Il. Denny, o.
! Winchester, died In Nashville, Ten
nessee, on Saturday last. Mrs. Den
ny was the mother of Rev. Collins
Denny, and a sister of the late Rev
Jno. A. Collins. Her remains were
inferred in Mt Hebron Cemetery, a
Winchester, on Monday.