The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-03-21
GUSHING OVER A MURDERER.
Dramatic Scene in the Court of
General Sessions. New York.
THE POIsoNER SENTENCED.
Harris Plea Why Sentence OF Death
Should Not Be Pronounced.
Tears Stream from His Eyes, sobs Con
vulse His Frame as He Appeals for
Sympathy, Which the Court
Does Not Grant Him.

New YORK, March 20.-There was a
dramatic scene in the court of general
sessions this morning when Carlyle W.
Harris, the young medical student, was
called to the bar to receive sentence OF
death for poisoning his secretly welded
bride, Helen May Potts. Public sympa-
thy has been aroused to an unusual de-
gree in behalf Of the young man, and it
went to the extent OF holding mass
meeting in his behalf in Madison Square
garden, but all without avail, to stay the
of people was around the building in
which Recorder Smythe sits this morn
ing. Admission was forbidden to all ex
cept those bearing cards from the district
attorney, but in spite of this the court
room was crowded before the time for sem
tence to be passed. Harris was finally
brought In, looking worn and haggard,
and showing unmistakable signs of the
terrible ordeal through which he has
been lately passing. When court
opened the recorder called the prisoner
to the bar, and he responded, walking
unsteadily, with evidences of extreme
weakness. Asked if he had anything to
upon him, he leaned heavily for support
on the rail and began in voice inaudible
except to those Immediately at his elbows.
After ole or two unintentiOnel interrupt
lions by people coming in, the stiffness of
death settled over the court room, but the
words of the doomed man were still in
audible, except once in awhile when he
reached some point in the case which
moved him strongly, when he would ut
or txun xxvit efaV .%1
strength and distipctiveuess, and then
give way to evident weakness and talk in
an undertone.
At the close the recorder sentenced him
to be electrocuted during the week be-
ginning May 8.
There were wet eyes in the court room
during Harris speech, and nameless
sounds, showing the throng was deeply
moved. Among the most dramatic
points In his speech were where
he denounced Dilworth and Choate, news
paper men, as sneaks, perjurers, outcasts,
and the district attorneys tools. Then
he denounced Assistant District Attorney
Welman as liar, and then with tears
streaming from his eyes and sobs con-
vulsing his frame he turned to thank his
his counsel, Lawyer Howe, saying he was
a poor man, and could never repay his de-
votion, ending by handing him an envel-
OEJO N14iSl AS oetAO SOAOetlnC0 LIS QC1I COU
possession, Helen S last gift to him..
Harris spoke an hour and forty min
utes. He made no sign as the recorder
hurriedly pronounced the date for his ex-
ecution, and at the close of the scene he
was taken back to the Tombs. Theenvel-
ope which he handed his lawyer contained
pair of cuff buttons.
When Harris reached the Toombs on
his return there was big crowd waiting.
"phree cheers and tiger for Harris, -
some one cried. They were given, and
Harris walked inside with smile upon
his face. Once inside the prison he said;
"Well, it's all over now, but l am
now ready to die, although 1 declare
solemnly am an innocent man. / feel
like man who has done good days
work and is tired. 1 am surprised at the
way held out.''
Lawyer Howe said in accordance with a
special request of Harris no mass meeting
would be held in his behalf. The lawyers
are confident that an appeal to the COVER
nor will be successful in averting execu-
ton OF the death sentence.