Passaic City record., 1893-05-13
EXECUTED BY ELECTRICITY.
Carlyle w. Harris, the Wife Poisoner,
Dies in Sing Sing Prison.

Carlyle w. Harris, convicted in New Yorb
City OF poisoning his girl wife, Mary Helen
Potts, has been executed in Sing Sing Prison,
At IL ;4O1s o'clock p. m, 1850 volts of elec-
tricity were sent into his body. He died with
declaration of innocence upon his lips.
AT IL :l5 o'clock Warden Durston took his
witnesses down into the prison, and, after a
delay OF fifteen minutes, they went to the
execution room.
The witnesses took seats around the
death chair. Head Keeper Connaughton
went to HaIris's cell to tell him that his exc
cutlon was about to take place. Connaugh-
ton returned to the execution room for a few
minutes while Electrician Davis tested the
apparatus to see that it was all right
Connaughton went out again, and at 12 :38
returned with Harris. The condemned man
was dressed in plain black, with no collar or
necktie. The right leg of his trousers had
been cut off at the knee, so that the electrode
could be applied there, and the hair had been
cut from the crown of the head for the same
purpose.
Harris walked alone. He stood erect.
Chaplain Wells was just behind him, read
Ing quietly the prayer of commendation from
the Episcopal Prayer Book. The doomed
man looked strange without his beard, which
was shaved Off when he was taken to the
prison. His face was set and resolute. His
eyes had the quizzical expression that was
peculiar to them
He looked calmly at the witnesses and then
at the chair. Without a tremor he walked to
the chair and just as he was sitting down
said in voice that was strong and unshaken :
Il wish to say word, and think have
the Warden's permission to say it,"
He motioned to the Warden gracefully as
he spoke and bowed his head.
What is it you wish to say?" asked
Warden Durston
IT have no further motive for any conceal
ment whatever" answered the man whom
life was to leave within a few seconds. Then
he raised his head and ran his eyes along the
line OF witnesses faces as he continued, 'I
desire to state that die absolutely innocent
of the crime OF which I have been con-
victed"
That was all. He settled back in the chair
and himself adjusted his limbs for the straps
and electrodes. Everything ready, the hand
kerchief was dropped, and the current
turned on. The body became rigid. In an
instant the lips parted and the air in the
lungs was discharged by the muscular con-
traction.
The current was kept on for four seconds
at 1760 volts. Then it was reduced atonce to
$50 volts and continued that way for 513I
seconds. 1t was then turned off entirely.
The doctors went to the chair examined the
body with instruments, and at 12 :43 o'clock
pronounced the man dead. He really died
the instant the current was turned on.
An autopsy was held on the body soon after.
The skin was not marked where the electrodes
had been applied. Allthe organs were found
to be in about a normal condition except the
left lung, which was almost gone, and one
kidney, which was small and indicated dis
ease
1t was only four and one-half minutes from
the time that Harris was brought from his
cell to the time that the current was turned
on, and good part of this was consumed by
Harris himself with his declatation. There
was not hitch anywhere The witnesses
suffered much in anticipation of the scene,
especially those who had not seen an execu-
tion by electricity, but with the exception of
one man who tainted, they all withstood the
ordeal without breaking down.
When the little black flag was run up on
the pole of the Warden's house announcing
that the execution had taken place, Mrs.
Harris and her son Allan could see it from
the window of Ambler's boarding house,
where they were stopping