Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-05-08
DEATH BY A FLASH.
Carlyle Harris EleClrocutsd al sing
sing Today.
KILLED INsTASTANE0UsLY.
lie Protests Ills Innocence Bciore ihh'
Ing His Seat In the pea'h'
Dealing Chair.

SING SING, N. r., may
Harris, tho young medical s'uuen'
whose trial and conviction In ne"
York city for the poisoning Of Helen
Pot,s, TO whom hc had pecn
secretly married, attracted 70 much
intcrest, was olec,rocutod Ia tho prison
here today. Not since the fret execu'
ton by this method, when four men,
slocum, Smiier, Jugivc and Wood
pnssed beneath the deadly clectrodes,
mas 30 much interest been displayed
here. Throngs OF people gathered ON
the hillside overlooking the gray prison
walls, though tho only thing when
they could hope to zee 10 connection
with the execution was tho display OF
the black fiag above tho tower after no
had been officially pronounced deau'
Tnis morbid curiosity 10 partly ac-
counted for by the fact that he ~ the
fret man OF Intelligence 10 die In the
electric chair, and partly TO the Wide
publicity given TO the case In the news
papers, aud partly to the question OF
the mnn's guilt, though as 10 the last,
the chief clement Of doubt lay In
Harms steady assertion OF his Juno.
cence. Every Possible effort wns made
to secure reversal OF the sentence,
and, that falling, to induce Governor
Flower TO mitigate the punishment,
but without avail.
Contrary 10 the usual custom, the
warden did not read
THE DEATH WARRANT
10 the condemned at midnight, but
Harris had been told when the execu.
tlon would take place. He retired
early last night, showing more evil
aences Of excitement than usual, his
heretofore Iron nerves giving evidence
Of strain In the unusual quantity OF
cigarettes he smoked. Ho slept little
during the night, rose early this morn
ing aud lookei over the manuscript he
had prepared to be given TO tho press
alter his death. He seemed cooler
this morning, and ate light breakfast
at s O'Clock. AT o O'Clock tho medical
witnesses began 10 arrive, and halt an
hour later the fires were started under
the boilers which operate the engine
which runs tho dynamo furnishing the
deadly agent OF execution. His
mother anu brother had already taken
THE FINAL LEAVE
OF him, but occupied room In
neighboripg hotel from the window Of
which tho black flag could be seen
when hoistcd AZ Pignal that his spirit
had taken flight Tne vigil was "a sor-
rowful one as, with strained eyes, they
looked away toward the staff on which
the somber emblem would float when
the condemned man had passed from
earth.
The death warrant was read at $3.50.
The reading had no visible effect On
the condemned man. Halt an
hour later the prison chaplain
spent an hour with him, aud then
one Of the medical examiners visited
him and found him showing some
signs Of nervousness. but nothing more,
Harris did not ask Tor morphine or my
etimulant, but wanted a couple VI
oranges, which were given him. He
WAS shaved and had his hair cut ut
1880 am. aud put on new suit OF
clothes.
Al u quarter past twelve the wit
nesses were conducted 10 the execu-
ton chamber aud inc death ilag was
placed la position TO hoist.
The witnesses numbered twenty
seven, consisting Of seven physicians,
ten newspaper men, ten state officials,
nnd friends Of the warden. Arrived
In the execution chamber, the wit.
nesses took their seats la u semi.circle
around
THE DEATH CHAMBER,
and, everything being In readiness,
two keepers brought Harris into th .
chamber, accompanied by the chap.
lain. He looked pale as he en-
tered the room, and paused an
instant on the threshold, calmly
surveying the assembled Witnesses.
One Of tho keepers indicated the chair
to him anu without even q glance OF
curiosity at the death.dealing machine,
ho stepped forward anu took his seat,
As no uid 10 he requested permission
10 speak. This was accorded him,
He said, speaking al II every word
cost him great effort: ~ have no
further reservation 10 make. 1 desire
TO say 1 am absolutely innocent.O
Then he settled back in the chair anu
the electrodes were quickly attached.
The signal was gwen, the lever clicked
sharply and the form Of tho con.
demned man stiilened till the straps
creaked, while 1860 volts passed
through the frame. At the end OF two
seconds the current was reduced " 1850
volts which were continued "a seconds
longer, when Harris was pronounced
dead. As tho current was iuliy shut
oil, the body dropped back iimb.
An examination showed no signs of
NE, and 1t was evident that death was
instantaneous. The execution was
most successful. The relatives will take
the boay away THIS afternoon.
Death OF nm Attorney.
SAN FRANCISCO, May s.--Joseph
Donohue, attorney Tor the helrs In tue
Seieofated Blythe case, died suddenly
from England several years AGO ex.
pressly to appear In this case.
The Place Of Poet Laureate.
LONDON, May 3. = Gladstone has
offered the place OF Poet Laureate 10
the distinguished art critic ana writer,
John Ruskin. "'