The record-union., 1893-05-09
HE PROTESTS HIS INNOCENCE TO
THE LAST.
The Execution the Most Successful
Since the New Mode Was Adopted
He Died Without Pain-Signs or
Slight Burning on the Inside OF the
Calf of the Leg, But None on the
Tamnla
Temple.
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oN.

trlal ana conviction in New York City
for poisoning Helen Potts, to whom he
had been secretly married, attracted so
much attention, was executed by cleo
trlclty in prison here to-day. Not since
the first execution by this method, when
the four men-Slocum, Smiler, Jugive
and Wood-passed beneath the deadly
electrodes, has such interest been dis
played here.
1hrongs of people gathered on the hill
side overlooking the gray prison walls,
though the only thing which they could
hope TO see in connection with the execu-
ton of Harris was the display of the black
nag above the tower after he had been
officially pronounced dead. This morn
ing the curiosity was partly accounted
for by the fact that he was the first man
of any intelligence to die in the electric
chair, partly to the wide publicity given
to the case in the newspapers and partly
to the question of the mans guilt,
though, as to the last, the chief element
of doubt lay in Harris steady assertion
of innocence.
Every possible effort has been made to
secure reversal of the sentence, and,
that failing, to induce Governor Flower
to mitigate the punishment, but with
out avail
Contrary to the usual custom, the
Warden did not read the death warrant to
the condemned at midnight, but Harris
had been told when the execution would
take place. He retired early last night
showing more evidence of excitement
than usual, his heretofore iron nerves
giving evidence of the strain in the un-
usual quantity of cigarettes he smoked.
He slept little during the night and rose
early this morning and looked over the
manuscript he had prepared to be given
to the press after his death. He seemed
cooler and ate a light breakfast at 8
o'clock. AT 8 o'clock the medical wit
nesses began to arrive. and half an hour
later the fires were started under the boil
ers which operate the engine which runs
the dynamo furnishing the deadly agent
of execution.
His mother and brother had already
taken final leave of him, but occupied
room In neighboring hotel, from the
window of which the flag could be seen
when hoisted as signal that his spirit
had taken its flight. The vigil was sor-
rowful one as, with straining eyes, they
looked away toward the staff on which
the somber emblem would float when the
condemned man passed from earth.
At 12:l5 witnesses were conducted to
the execution chamber and the death flag
placed in position to hoist.
The death warrant was read at S:3O.
The reading had no visible effect on the
condemned man. Half an hour later the
prison chaplain spent an hour with him.
Then one of the medical examiners
visited him and found him showing some
signs of nervousness, but nothing more.
Harris did not ask for morphine or any
stimulant, but wanted couple of oranges.
which were given him. He was shaved
and had his hair cut at 1920 and put on a
new suit of clothes.
The test OF the apparatus was made by
the electrician, showing a voltage of 700
and everything was reported satisfactory.
The witnesses numbered twenty-seven,
consisting of seven physicians, ten news
paper men, ten State officials and friends
of the Warden.
Arrived at the execution chamber. the
witnesses took their seats in a semi-circle
around the death chair, and, everything
being in readiness, two keepers brought
Harris into the chamber, ACCOMPANIED bv
the chaplain.
Harris looked pale as he entered the
room, paused an instant on the threshold
and calmly surveyed the assembled wit
nesses.
One of the keepers indicated chair to
him, and without even a glance of Curl
osity at the death-dealing machine he
stepped forward and took his seat. AS
he did so he requested permission TO
speak.
This was accorded him, when he said.
speaking as if every word cost him great
effort: II have no further reservation to
make. L desire to say that 1 am abso-
lutely innocent"
Then he settled back in the chair. the
electrodes were quickly attached, the
signal given, the lever clicked sharply
and the form of the condemned man
stiffened till the straps creaked, while
LOO volts passed through his frame.
At the end of two seconds the current
was reduced to $50 volts, which was con-
tinued fifty-four seconds longer, when
Harris was pronounced dead. As the
current was fully shut off the BODY
dropped back limp.
An examination showed no signs of
life, and it was evident death had been
instantaneous. The execution was most
successful.
DIR. c. NJ. Daniels of Buffalo, who had
charge of the arrangements in the death
chamber for the execution of CARLYLE
Harris, and of the autopsy, said the exc
cution was the most successful of the
seven which he had witnessed. Harris
died without pain" said the doctor, land
do not see how his execution could have
been bettered from a humane stand
point"
The autopsy on the body was COM
pleted at 2 o'clock. The result shows the
body was we'll nourished and healthy
There were signs of slight burning on the
inside of the calf of the right leg, but
none on the temple.
At o'clock Undertaken Kipp drove up
to the prison. He procured the prison
physicians certificate of the cause of Har-
ris' death and then drove into the prison
grounds. In his wagon was a highly
polished oak casket, which was carried
into the death chamber, where the body