The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-08
HARRIS is DEAD.
Full Details of the Elec-
trocution of the Young
Wife Poisoner.
SCENES AT SING SING
The Condemned Man Weak But
Courageous-Last Protests Of
Innocence.

SING SING. N. Y, May s, 1893, P. NJ
The flag announcing the execution OF
Harris was hoisted at 12:43 P. NJ.
The official time first contact was
12:4O1S; current on 55A secon DIS. Elec-
trocution was p perfect success.
SING SING, N. Y. May s, 893.-Bright
spring sunshine did not tighten the gloom
that hung over Sing Sing Prison this
morning. Guards moved about with quiet
tread, and voices were hushed as in the
presence of death. The air of suffocation
which one feels at funeral filled
the place in spite Of the clear atmosphere
OF perfect spring day.
At other electrocutions there has been
Indifference at the prison, but the dawn
of Carlyle Harris' last day was observed
by quiet, due to the appreciation that be
was no ordinary culDrit, but man
whose crime and whose death will o.
historic.
Throngs of people gathered on the hill
side overlooking the walls OF the prison,
and though they could not hope to catch
glimpse of Harris, or see the Implement
of death, they gazed with morbid
curiosity at the building from
which the doomed man will not
emerge until soul and body are
parted. Today the crowds began as
sembllng early, and they were larger and
of more Intelligent class of people than
is usually drawn to this sDot. The fact
that Harris is really the first man With
any pretensions to culture. retnem ent
and Intelligence who has taken his place
In the electric chair is appreciated
In, odl
the mans guilt.
There was an element of doubt in the
case, and though the tribunals OF Justice
have declared Harris guilty only he and
his Maker know whether his doom was
merited or not. Harris made no confes-
sion and declared that he had nothing TO
confess. His mother. who claims to know
all that was in her boys heart. undoubG-
edIy believes in his innocence. What
doubt has existed will probably remain
for all time, aud the Harris case will be
often quoted in arguments against the
execution of the death penalty in cases
where proof rests upon circumstant1al
evidence.
HARRIS DEMEANOR.
Contrary TO the usual custom here the
death warrant was not read by the War
den at midnight The doomed man had
been told, however, when the end would
come. tie retired early last night, and
| though he showed no signs of breaking
down. he was more nervous and ex-
cttable than usual. Principal KeeperCo u
naughton said this morning that Harr IS
rested WELL He did not sleep much, and
what thoughts raked his brain no one
will ever know. His self-control is mar.
veIous. His only sign of agitation was
the constant smoking of cigarettes. he
was up early this morning. He looked
over the manuscript which he had pre-
pared to be given out to the press by his
relatives after the final scene in his dram
attic life had ended and The curtain had
been rung down.
At eight O'clock Harris ate light
breakfast. He was cool aud collected
and appeared to be capable of going
through the ordeal which awaited him.
At twenty minutes past eight Warden
Durston and Mrs Durston arrived from
the hotel, where they had breakfasted.
Mrs Durston and her son went away
from the prison few minutes later. and
did not return until all was over.
The first witnesses to arrive were DIR.
Daniels of Buffalo, and Colonel f. A.
( Rockwell, who reached the prison to.
gether at 9:20 O'Clock. They were fol-
lowed shortly after ward by DIR. G. S.
Graut of Saratoga. DR.. D. Il. Kidd of
Newburgh, DR.. Pvne of Yonkers and DR..
d. p. Merrett Of Elmira.
AT half past niue o'clock a column of
ney at the northern end OF The prison en-
closure The engine which operates the
dynamo had been started preparatory
to the official test by State Electrician
Davis.
THE STRICKEN MOTHER.
Mrs. Harris having made her final fare
well to her SOP on Saturday, remained at
the Amber House, shut in from all
visitors. Her youngest son, Allan. was
with her. She was calm and less nervous
than usual, and awaited with fearful
silence the sign which would inform her
that her son Carlyle had passed out from
this world. The flag announcing the
successful conclusion OF the execution.
which was raised from the roof OF the
| Wardeu's house, could be seen from the
windows of the room which Mrs. Harris
| occupied in the Amber House. and there
she and her son. Allan. watched and
waited with straining eyes and subdued
| grief for the fatal signal.
Mrs. Harris arose at four O'Clock and
| her watch was a lengthy and sorrowfnl
one She seldom spoke to her son, but
confined her whole attention to gazing
southwark toward the prison hagpole,
and TO nerving herself for the sad news.
| that she knew was soon to come. she
was apparently stronger and better able
to bear her grief than she had been Tor
days. Her son Allen remained with her.
| console her.
AT ten o'clock there was long string
OF carriages in front of the prison ard
hundreds of people were scattered along
| the hillside.
IMPROVED KILLING.
| In the first eiectrocutlons the full
strength of the current was turned on
and kept op until the steam rose from the
electrodes, aud the odor OF burning flesh
permeated the room and sickened the
| spectators. Electrician Davis has devised
an apparatus which obviates this and
made the electrocution OF today an en-
| tirely different matter from the first
| bungling attempts to kill with cleo
! triclly. There Is no longer any
necessity for repeated shocks, with ST.. ms
/ OF life between each. aud the SUBJECT In
the char after tho first contact Is not
| made limp aud then rigid in turn as the
| powerful current is on and off. The
| device permits the full force Of the con-
| tact to be diminished by the
/ turn of small lever until
only slight current is passing, and
| there is 10 sfeaming- no burning, and no
relaxation of the muscles. The chair Is
| the same used -or the negro Hamilton,
and also for McGuire. 1t is of pine with
| high back holding strap which reaches
1 about the chin and holds the hean hrmly
1 in place, the arms OF the chair also have
| straps to pinion the arms OF the subject
and other straps holds the feet TO the
/ floor. Tne cnair holds the victim in an
! easy position. but so firmly that he cannot
| move nes,,, leg or arm.
L ,,,stxs rrrt "a