Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-05-10
VOICE FROM A GRAVE
Carlyle haris Says He Is
Legally Murdered.
CALLS FLOWER A COWARD
Harris says That lie Mas Convicted
Om false Anssiavits. And Alive
He Wa Feared.
CALLS FLOWER A COWARD

W. Harrie. which vas gwen OUT TINS
afternoon from the state prison depart
ment:
May 2. 1x3 Notification has been
brought me that Governor Flower has
refused 10 interfere with the execution
Il the sentence of the lower courts in
my Case. Evidence has come 10 light
that my wife was, tor years before her
death. addicted Ia the Use Tor misiisej II
the drug. from All overdose of which she
died. | am sentenced 10 death upon
the superstition that l substituted n
capsule containing five grains of NOR
phine for one u the harmless capsules
prescribed for her ten days before her
death.
Now il is self-evident. 10 any one
having the knowledge of medicine, that
no one addicted 10 morphine could be
murdered with live grains II that drug.
because for such a person, five grains
would not be fatal dose. Upon this
fact was based my motion for re trial
for which Recorder Smyth denied, and
later my plea for executive Interference.
In recognition OF this last plea a com
mission was appointed to investigate
the credibility 81 the witnesses who
had volanteered the TESTIMONY as To my
wife's habit. their evidence remained
unshakcn and though the prosecution
attempted rebuttal they not dare 10
produce in open court the witnesses
whose affidaviis were the most import
ant - those on which Recorder Smyth
denied my motion for re-trial
Dare Not Plo<iucc Witnesses.
Il refer 10 Eunice Rockwell. Rachel
Cookson. DIR. Treverton and DIR. Hand.
who in their affidavits foreswore the
testimony given on my trial. as | have
shown. and to DIR. Dilworth Choate
Hence it was established before the gov
ernors commissioner by the testimony
of DIR. Kymouth. Dr. Woolman. Miss
Jackson, Miss Waddell and others. that
and that she foolishly used il 10 quiet
neuralgia pain. 1T ID not claimed. and
never has been, that my wife wilfully
and happy But the fatal mistakes of
matters of record all over tho world.
When charges OF murder were first
preferred against mo delivered myself
dt oIto SuBbhv. III
vestigation. Again on April 20 last. al.
though under sentence OF death. I re-
fused Ia take advantage IL free oppor-
tuniiy to escape. AS Ia this last matter.
keepers Murphy and Hulze and other
prison officials will bear me out.
so. how is it that in a case where 30
many facts aid and the entire behavior
~ the defendant all invite executive
clemency. together with the petition %
over 1900 citizens. among them many
who are prominent. such clemency
should be denied. Because the action
Of the court Was not justified by the
facts in the case and hence public out
cry must be- silcnced by seeming justi
iication Il the court outside of the
facts.
Feared Him Living.
Where there was no doubt of guilt
Governor Flower tas not hcsitated To
interfere az in the case of James Min
naugh. about a year ago: but IN that
case the facts justified the court and
there was IN Recorder Smith clamoring
io ho upheld. Carlyle Harris living
would be "a menace Ia the career of
Smyih. Wellman and others. Dead. he
will te scon forgotten and the affairs
may yu on as before.
There Ia an idea In the mindsof many
that az the time u my wife's death de
sired marriage with some other woman.
Such person has never been found. nor
does she exist. IL is my misfortune that
! have been prosecuted by lib,ls and in
nuendo through the columns 81 the
prcss. rather than by means Of witnesses
IN court.
II desire in this utterance to express
nay great thanks To those members ~
my Jury who have bravely declared that
had they known ~ tho newly found evi-
dencs at the time ~ my :Fial they would
have acquitted me. And | believe that
the witnesses who DID not bring forward
( their knowledge until too late will not
uyhaid themselves. ! have for them
+ ~ thought % blame. Individually they
did not realize the importance ~ what
they knew nor could they bc expected to.
Also to tho~e many friends Who have
labored so diligently io bring the truth
b. light. send my thanks. that they
are ia my thought At such time 80
this ia an earnest of my gratitude"
Convicted ON Lies.
IL has bcen reported in the ncws
papers that during my stay here IN sing
sing have scofcd at the dcvotIons 4
my fellow prisoners and iDdulged IN ir
revereut Jol<es This - cruelty false.
stiil cnioy the hopes - my Childhood
faith and h.lievc that shall not hc mis-
Judged through all eternity
Tho governor states that be has been
finally convinced 20 my guilt ~ the
sadaviis - Eunic. k-ckyell AMI Racine
Cook-sn Those sf'ilsyits are identical
IN phra-a aud were evidently 10th
dictated ~ th. sanlc Vefspn. u - my
konesf tehef that they we're signed un
real. Tor On the trial Miss Cook~,n gave
testimony that Dire etly conflicts with
her late AFFIDAVIT. and The district at
torney did not dare o. call either 4
,ho.e witnesses before tho commissioner
and submit their statements to crs'~-
examination
NJ one had 81 many rrs-ons al srn
timent or love assfie Tor desiring m,
rlfs - i've sa had Shs would hass
brought me usoney and pFofe--' RAJ sue
ce-a. shs sonid have 4 gsced my bone
sni hsd snusn q her sa1 hstit 4
sould have been my hapriues~ - ahieid
sud cure hes
rr.,ss-s- trrs-~use,
death . q small ns,snsnt to rae ! hav-
raii~,i patiently So long a there ps'
f tts frsg,oses, ehsnes 4 s'fa .rfne ius
tirr rs'usisg 81 fun aVay arrn Ru iei
penffnr~ q death