The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-13
ONE OF HARRIS VICTIMS.
A Girl Betrayed by Him Before he
Married Miss Potts.
THEIR CHILD WAS SHORT LIVED.
At tho Time Of the Trial She Was Ready
TO Appear. hut Her Testimony Was
misconceptions Of Her Trou-
bles.

NEW YORK, April 13-An interesting
chapter In the lite Of Carlyle w. Harris.
the convicted wife murderer. was recalled
yesterday when Matilda Bergstou ap-
peared In the Butler street police court,
Brooklyn, In quest Of a warrant for
man who had betrayed her.
a Matilda is pretty young woman with
light hair, blue eyes and regular feat
ures Although Harris was not the
author OF her present. trouble she saws
that he was the cause OF her first down
fall.
She tearfully told Clerk McGarry that
she lived In Jersey City as domestic
with respectable family about eight
months ago. One night she went alone
to a ball in that city, and there she made
the acquaintance uf young man, VIII o a.
a late hour accompanied her to the door
of her employers house. but owing TO
the uns sasonable hour she was unable to
get in. Her companion, who boarded In
that neighborhood, finally persuaded her
to accept the shelter OF his room.
From that time until u few weeks ago
their Friendship continued. Then he de-
serted her, but the police found a trace
of him and Matilda besought Clerk Nc
Garry to issue a warrant for his arrest.
Because OF the nature Of the offence
with " hich the young woman charged
the person for whom she asket the war
rant Mr.. McGarry questioned her as to
whether she had been
In Similar Trouble
before. After few moments hesitation
she revealed tie story OF former iuti-
macy with Carlyle w. Harris. she
born In Sweden about twenty four years
ago aud came to America wnel she WAS
Is years old. Since that time she has
earned her ltvinx IA servant. She was
employed by Mrs Harris. the mother oil
Carlyle w. Harris. about four years ago,
at No. BOZ DeIraw street, Brooklyn.
Though the girl had been in this coun-
tryso many years she iuld speak very
little English. She was. inclined To avoid
company aud stayed In the house q great
deal of the time.
Harris was very attentive and very
kind TO her, and she never suspected his
intentions TO 10 her wrong, she says.
But her con fidence in him was terribly
shaken when one night he ent red her
room by means OF a duplicate key, He
afterward
Promised to Marry Her,
Matilda said. aud subseq sently. when
longer concealment became impossible,
he promised he would see that she was
taken good care Of her il she would go
away.
He kept his promise in that particular.
for "A few days before Harris was mar.
ried to his pretty girl wife, Helen Neil
son Potts, Matilda Bergsto IS child was
born i'm the Sloan Maternity hospital,
Ninth avenue aud Fiity-ninth street,
| this city.
The child was given in charge of a
| woman in Fifiy-seventn street, who took
| care OF il until IL was live wears old, when
| IL died. Matildo Bergston then returned
| to Brooklyn, where she axain found EN-
| ployment a. a servant until she went TO
| live I'm Jersey City, where the second
| misfortune bsfell her.
When Harris was arrested, charged
| with poisoning his wife. Matilda Bergs.
| ton was taken into Gust DIV uDon the or
| der OF District Attorney Nicoll aud she
| was locked up for mon "a in the house
| of detention as witness; but rs the dis
| trict attorney subsequently, reached TIN
| conclusion that he had enough teftimon y
| to convict Harris, she was released from
| custody.
| az sent my assistant. Mr.. LAWS, over
TO see the oman," said Mr.. Nicoll, IA "a
| sue related her story TO him. She was
| not used rs witness, because what she
| could have testified To was not
| Material to the Prosecution
from a legal standpoint. Testimony
tending to show that Harris had been q
libertine was only introduced in case.
which had occurred after his marriase
to his deceased wife and TO Offset testi.