The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-21
Carlyle W. Harris, Who Poisoned
Pretty Helen May Potts, Sem
fenced TO Death.
A Celebrated Case In the Criminal
History OF Now York
City.
In the Court Room He Created q Scene by
Denouncing Newspaper Men
and Attorneys.

New YoRK, March 2O.-Thers was a
dramatic scene in the court of general ses-
sions this morning when Carlyle w. Harris,
the yoang medical student. was called to
the bar to receive sentence OF death for poi
soning his secretly welded bride. Helen
May Potts. PUBLIC sympathy has been
aroused to an unusual degree in behalf OF
the young man, and 1t went to tho extent
OF holding mass meeting in his behalf in
Madison Square garden, bus all without
avail to stay the action of the law. There
was an immense thronR of people around
the building in which Recorder S,nythe
sits this morning. Admission was forbid
den to all except those bearing cards from
the district attorney. but in spite OF this
the court room was crowded before time
for sentence to be passed. Harris was fin
ally brought in, looking worn, hagRard.
and showing unmistakabls signs OF the
terrible ordeal through which he
has been lately passing. When court
opened the recorder called the prisoner to
the bar and he responded walking un-
steadily, with evidences of extreme weak
ness. 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 peo-
pie coming in the stiffness of death settled
over the court room, but 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 q sentence or two with
startling strength and distinctness, then
an undertone.
At the close the recorder sentenced him
to be electrocuted during the week begin
ming Mays.
There were wet eyes in the court room at
times during Harris speech, and namelesa
sounds Of thronRs deeply moved. Among
the most dramatic points in the speech
were those where he denounced Dilworth
Choate. q newspaper man, as sneak, per-
jurer. outcast, the district attorneys tool;
| whore he denounced Assistant District At
torney Wellman AS liar; where, With
tears streaming from his eyes and sobs
oonvulsing his frame, he turned to thank
his counsel. Lawyer Howe. saying he was u
poor man and could never repay his devo-
son. sGn he shcn snda s 1y hanang h an
est possession. Helen's last gift to him.
Harris spoke al hour and forty minutes.
He made no sign as the recorder hurriedly
pronounced the date for execution. At the
close of the soene he was taken back to the
tombs. The envelope which he handed his
counsel contained a pair of cuff buttons.
When Harris reached the tombs on his
return there was a big crowd waiting.
"Three cheers and tiger for Harris %
cried aome one. They were given. and
Harris walked inside with smile on his
face. Once inside the prison, he said:
"Well. it's all over row. but am ready to
die. although declare that am an inno-
cent man. l feel like a man who had done
a good days work and is tired. l am sur
prised at the way l held out.' Lawyer
Howe said that in accordance with the
special request OF Harris no mass meeting
would be held In his behalf. The lawyer il
confident his appeal to the governor will be
successful in averting the execution of
the death sentence.