Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-09

placed In 1rOnL OF tne OtnoA SoiiS, 81
that the man who will soon meet Har-
ris' fate did not see him as he went out
with a guard on each side and the faith
ful Chaplain following him.
He looked slight and pale as he
stepped into the room.
He paused an instant on the thresh-
hold and looked calmly over the assem-
bed witnesses.
Kind hearted Wsrded Durston had
stepped over 10 the reporters and asked
them to conceal their pads saying
Harris might not like II"
The pads were put out OF slght ana
Harris merely looked over the people
scanning their faces as his eyes swept
around the room.
He walked entirely alone just beeind
Connaughton and wavered for a mo-
ment; more from not knowing whlcn
way he was expected TO 20 than from
weakness.
Connaughton pointed to the chair, ana
without even look of curiosity at the
thing which was to end his career ne
dropped into the seat. AS ne did so, he
began to talk in low voice. he SAID;
81 have word to say If the warden
will permit"
He paused and repeated: 81 would
like to say something If / have the
Warden's consent"
warden Durston stepped to the chair
and said:
What did you wish TO say?"
Harris then in weak voice as
though each word cost him powerful
effort, said:
II have no further reservation TO
make. / desire to say that | am aoso-
lu tely innocent"
Those were his last words.
After uttering them he seemed re-
lieyed and settled back in the chair TO
which he had already been strapped.
State Detective Jackson attached the
electrode to Harris's right leg, which
was barred to the knee. slit in the
trousers having been made in advance.
Eaton placed the helmet containing the
other eIectrode on the head. Elec-
trician Davis attached the wires to the
two electrodes. All OF this work was
done quicker than the telling OF 1t, ana
then the guards stepped back.
Davis, who had gone to the switch
board, said:
"All ready"
There was an instant Of pause while
every man in the room held his
breath.
Then Ralston raised his hand.
A sharp click from the lever and the
form in the chair Slaughtered up Till the
straps creaked.
1t was just 12:4O1I by the stop watch
held by DR.. Merritt.
A current of 1,760 volts passed
through the body OF Carlyle Harris.
In two seconds Davis threw the switch
back so that $50 volts were on.
DIR. Daniels still held his hand aloft,
and one finger pointed above as though
to Indicate that the soul OF the man In
the chair had passed upward. Then
his arm fell, and in just SO q seconds
the current was shut of.
Doctors Irvine and hebershaw i'm
mediately stepped forward and ex-
amined the body which had settled
back limp in the chair.
DR.. Irwin opened the coat and vest
and tore away the shirt over the heart.
He applied the stethoscope, and after
listening for heart beats turned and
shook his head.
This was two minutes after the first
contract and DR.. Daniels then invited
the other physicians to step forward
and examine the body.
Life was extinct and it was plain to
all who were present that death bad
come at the first touch Of the current.
The only sign of animation after the
current was turned on was a slow
movement of the little finger OF the
right hand and that was evidently
due to the muscular contraction caused
by the current and not by the volltion
of the subject in the chair.
All the physicians present express
ed themselves satisfied that death had
been instantaneous. There was no sign
of steaming at the points OF contact, and
aside from a purpleish tinge appearing
on the skin there was no change In the
appearance OF the body.
As the witnesses passed out OF the
building one OF the newspaper men
tainted and was carried out by friends.
He recovered in a few minutes.
Mrs. Harris viewed the raising OF the
black flag from the window of her room
in a boarding house. When the omin-
ous signal hoated on the soft breeze, she
turned quietly away. resigned and calm,
as she has been for the past few days.
She said she would see the newspaper
men this afternoon and give them her
statement.
AT 1854 Allen Harris arrived at the
prIsou and Keeper Connaughton escort
ed him to the room in which the body
of his brother lay. He notified Warden
Durston that an undertaken would call
at the prison in the afternoon TO remove
the body OF his brother.
The witnesses were escorted TO the
warden's office when all was over and
each one signed the official statement
required by law.
At / o'clock the autopsy was COM
menced, Harris body being laid on a
table which had been brought into the
death chamber after his electrocutIon.
DIR. Daniels had charge, Drs. Sheehan
and Pyne working at the head and DR..
Merritt at the chest, DR.. Irvine, the
prison physician, assisting.
The report was a. follows:
The body was fairly well nourished;
weight, 1872 pounds; slight mark Of
burning on inside calf OF right leg;
slight adhesion Of right lung. due 10
pIeurisy; left lung collapsed. The ex-
animation Of the heart showed slight
amount Of pericardial fluid, but It was
normal. The blood was fluid. The liver
was normal; cell bladder full; bladder
two-thirds full; nervous retention Of
urine was evident; the right kidney was
5ut one-thIrd the normal capacity,
strongly adhered: left kidney
normal. The examination OF the