The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-21
WIFE-MURDBRER OINTENCED.
Harris VIII Be Electroouted In May
Dramatic Scene in Court.

UromotlO scene In court
NEW YoRK, March 20.-There was dra-
matte scene in the court of general ses-
sions this morning when Carlisle w. Har-
ris, the young medical student, was called
to the bar to receive the sentence Of death
for poisoning his secretly welded bride,
Helen May Potts. Public sympathy has
been aroused. to An unusual degree in be-
half of the young man. and it went to tho
extent of holding . mass meeting
in his behalf in Madison Square Garden,
but all without avail to stay the action Of
the law. An immense throng Of people
gathered around the building in which
Recorder Smythe sits this morning. Ad-
mission was forbidden to ell except those
bearing cards from the district attorney,
but in spite Of this the courtroom was
crowded before the time set for the sen.
tence to bs passed. Harris was finally
brought in. looking worn and haggard,
and showing unmistakable signs Of the
terrible ordeal through which he has lately
been passing.
When court opened the recorder called
the prisoner to the bar. and he responded.
walking unsteadily. with evidences Of ex-
treme weakness. When asked if he had
anything to say why sentence should not
be passed upon him, he leaned heavily for
support on the rail and began in . voice
inaudible except to those immediately At
his elbow. After one or two unintentional
interruptions by people coming in . still
ness a. of death settled over the courtroom,
Dut the words of the doomed man were still
inaudible. except once In . while when he
reached some point in the case which
moved him strongly, when he would utter
. sentence or two with startling strength
and distinctness, and then give way to
evident weakness and talk in an under
tone. At the close the recorder sentenced
him to be electrocuted sometime during
the week beginning Mays.
There were wet eyes in the courtroom
during Harris speech, and the whole
throng was deeply moved. Among the
most dramatic points in his speech were
where he denounced Dilworth Choate. q
newspaper man. as q sneak, perjurer. out.
cast and the district attorneys tool;
where he denounced Assistant District
Attorney Wellman as liar; where. with
tears streaming from his eyes and sobs
convulsing his frame. he turned to
thank his counsel. Lawyer Howe, saying
he was poor man and could never repay
his devotion, and ending by handing him
an envelope. which he said contained his
dearest possession, Heien's last gift to
him. Harris spoke an hour and forty
minutes. He made no sigh as the recorder
hurriediy pronounced the date. for the
execution, and at the close Of the scene he
was taken back to the Tombs. The envel-
ope which he handed his counsel con.
tanned pair of cuff buttons.
When Harris reached the Tombs on his
return there was q big crowd waiting.
Three cheers and tiger for Harris"
cried some one. They were gwen, and
then Harris walked inside with smile on
his face. Once inside the prison, ne said:
Well, 1t is all over now and am ready to die,
although declare soiemnly that am an inno-
cent man. feel like . man who had done a
good days work and 10 tired am surprised as
the way held out
Lawyer Howe said that in accordance
with the special request of Harris, no mass
meeting would be held in his behalf The
lawyers are confident that an appeal to
the governor will be successful in avoiding
the execution Of the death sentence.