Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-05-10
Written by Carlyle Harris
While in Prison.
SAYS HE WAS PROSECUTED.
He Emphaticaliy Declares That He Is
Innocent Of the Crime.

last statement written by Carlyle w.
Harris, which was given out yesterday
from the state prison department.,
SNo sINo, Maya
Notification has been brought me that Gov.
srnor Flower has refused To interfere with the
execution Of the sentence Of the lower court
In my case. Evidence has come to light that
my wife was, for years before her death
addicted TO the use Tor misuse) of the drus
from an overdose of which she died.
am sentenced TO death upon the suppos1.
ton that / substituted q capsule ccntainino
hve grains OF morphine for one Of harmless
capsules prescribed for her ton days bsfors
her death.
Now II is self-evident TO anyone having the
knowledge of medicine that no one addicted
to morphine could be murdered with Ave
grains OF that drug, because for such poison
five grains
Would Not He . Fatal Dose.
Upon this fact was based my motion for ~.
trial, which Recorder Smyth denied and Later
my plea for executive interference. In recog-
milton Of this last plea, commissioners was
appointed to investigate the credibility Of
the witnesses who had volunteered testimony
rs TO my wifes habit. Their evidence ~
mained mistaken, and though the prosecu.
tion attempted rebuttal, they did not dare
toprosecute In open court the witnesses whose
affidavits were the most important Of those on
rctrial. refer to Eunice Rockwell, Rachel
Cookson, DIR. Trevorton and DR.. Hand, who In
their afhdavits foreswore the testimony given
on my trial, rs have shown, and to Dnworth
Choate.
Hence IL was established before the eov.
ernor's commissioner by the testimony Of Dr..
kinmouth, DR.. Woolman, Miss Jackson, Mis-
Waddeil and Others that my wife purchased
morphine of them, and that she foolishly used
II to quiet neuralgia pain. II 10 not claimed,
and never has been, that my wife wilfully de-
stroyed herself, for abe was beloved and
happy. But the fatal mistakes Of those who
self administer morphine are matters Of
record all over the world.
When charges of murder were first preferred
against me ! delivered myself at once into
custody, demanding an investigation. Again
on the 10Th of April last, although under sem
tence of death,
1 Refused to Take Advantage
OF \ free opening to escape. As 10 thu last
matter Keepers Murphy and Hulss and other
prison officials will bear me out. So how Il it
in a case where many facts and the entire
behavior of the defendent all invite executive
clemency, together with the petition Of over
5000 citizens, among whom many who are
prominent In the national esteem, such
clemency should be denisdf Because the
action Of the court was not justified By the
facts In the case, and hence the public outcry
must be silsnced by q seeming Justification ol
the court outside Of the facts. Where there
was no doubt Of guilt Governor Flower has NOT
hesitated TO interfere, - In the case Of James
Mfnnaugh about q year ago, but In that case
the facts justified the court and there was NO
Recorder Smith clamoring TO be upheld.
Carlyle Harris, living, would be . daily
menace to the career Of Smyth, wellman and
Others. Dead, he viii soon be forgotten and
the affairs may 60 on as before. There 10 an
idea in the minds Of many that at the time Of
my wife's death desired marrying with some
other woman Such person has never been
found, nor does she exist Il 10 my misfor.
tune that
Have Been Prosecuted by Libel
and innuendo through the columns Of the
press rather than by means Of witnesses In
court. desire In this utterancs to eXpressmy
great thanks TO those members Of my Jury
who have braveiy declared that had they
known OF the newly found evidence at the
time Of my trial they would have acquitted
me. And yet beg that the witnesses who did
not bring forward their knowledge until too
late will not upbraid themselves. have for
them no thought of blame Individually they
did not realize the pertinenos Of what they
knew, or could they be expected to. Also TO
those many friends who have laborsd % dill
gently TO bring the truth TO light, sond my
thanks; that they are In my thought at such
time a. this is an earnest of my gratitude.
IL has been reported In the newspapers that
during my stay here in Sing Sing have
scoffed at the devotions Of my fello w-prison-
ers, and INDUCED in irreverent Jokes. This IL
cruelty false. still enjoy the hopes Of
My Childhsod's Faith
and b elieve that shall not b misjudged
that he has been finally convinced Of my
guilt by the afhdavits Of Eunice Rockwell and
Rachel Cookson. These afidavits are identi-
cal as to phrase, and were evidently both die
tated by the same person.
II is my honest belief that they were signed
unread, for on the trial. Miss Cookson gave
testimony that directly conflicts with her
later affidavit, and the district attorney did
not dare TO bring any Of these witnesses BE-
fore the commissioner and submit their state
ments to cross-examination.
No one had 20 many reasons, all sentiment
or love aside, for desiring my wife to live -
had. She would have brought me money and
professional success; she would have grsced
my home. and, had known her sad habit, 10
would have been my happiness to shield her.
have now TO die; the manner Of my death
Is OF small moment to me. have waited
patiently so long as there was the remotsst
chance Of obtaining Justice, refusing TO run
away even when under sentence Of death.
May God In mercy bless and guard those
leave behind, and give them peace.
And now, face to face with the greatest
mystery known TO man. knowing that no
concealment or untruth can mitigate my end,
do solemnly declare that an innocent OF
The crime for which I an condemned TO die.
beg that those who think, or speak or write
Of me In years 10 come. will do 90 - kindly -
they can; not forgetting that, when much
proof OF my innocence was found, Il was In
humanely thrust aside.
This statement TO be copied for publication,
and the original given 70 my mother.
CARLYLE HARRIa
Harris Funeral
The remains of Harris arrived at Albany
yesterday afternoon and were at once
taken from the depot TO the Albany rural
cemetery, where they were inferred In the
Jresence Of his mother, his brother and