Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-20
he EICORIAfES HIS ACCUSERS
A Remarkable Speech Before Re-
corder Smyth.
OLD SENTENCE REAFFIRNfED.


Rarely, II ever, has there been so much ex-
citement around the court of general sessions
building as there was this morning. CARLYLE
W. Harris, after having exhausted every possi-
Bile means to escape the penalty for the murder
OF bis wife. was TO be finally resentenced by
Recorder Smyth
Interest in the case has been phenomenal Ii
was evidenced this morning by the crowds
which surrounded the court building Extra
ordinary measures had been taken by the au-
thorities to prevent the court room being
crowded. The ordinary entrances to the build-
ing were barred hard and fast. Big notices
reading "Closed" were put on the doors.
The only way to get into the building wss by
the basement entrance Chambers street.
Two policemen and a clerk from the district
attorneys Office were stationed there, and no
one was allowed to pass except newspaper men
who were authenticated and persons bearing
tickets of admission by the district attorney. /.
After the visitor got inside the building he
had to run the gauntlet of more officers to get
into part third, where Recorder Smyth sits
Notwithstanding this the court room was
crowded before 10 clock. dense crowd sur
rounded the building all sides
At $50 Harris left the Tombs shackled to
Deputy Sheriff Brown. Deputy Sheriff Burke
followed closely. Brown and Burke are the
bigges. men on the deputy force. They left by
tine Leonard street entrance TO the Tombs.
Crowds lined Center street. and to escape them
the sheriffs took Harris through the depart
n,ent Of pubic works building and rushed him
across Chambers street 20 the court.
HARRIS ARRIVES AT THE COURT.
Arriving at the court Harris sat down in
remote corner closely guarded by the deputy
sheriffs.
Harris looked very pale and sank back in his
chair il utterly exhausted At sharp 10
O'Clock Recorder Smyth took the bench. There
was a rustic of expectancy among the specta-
tors. Harris leaned toward and gazed intently
at the recorder.
Amid silence deep that every sound out
side could be distinctly heard the recorder said
slowly: Carlyle W. Harris TO the barr
Harris arose with start and walked unstead-
I ilv through the rows OF spectators up to the
rail
District Attornev Nicoll in a low voice made
the usual motion that the sentence be passed.
There was silence for a moment when the
district attorney sat down. Then the recorder,
somewhat huskiiy, said: "Cariyle W. Harris,
have you anything 10 say WHY the sentence Of
the court should not be passed upon you?''
HAhR1s SPEAKS INAUDIBLY.
Harris lesled both hands on the rail bent
forward and began to speak in tones SO in
audible that the deputy who stood close beside
him % each side could not hear what he said
and leaned their heads TO catch the words
4 here was a slight buzz of whispering among
the spectators Recorder Smyth's voice, this
time harsh and commanding. interrupted Har-
ris.
LET every whisper cease" he Numbered.
The man or woman who speaks whispers
viii be elected. This Is too solemn a matter
for cnattering."
The court room was again as quiet as possi-
bic. Harris began again. just then the Of
ficers opened The door to let in two women.
The door creaked and the women's skirts
rustled.
Let nos one. man. woman or child. whoever
he or she may be. enter or leave this court
room, thuadered the recorder.
The door was closed carefully; three officers
stood against il. The women shrunk behind a
group Of men clustered around the door,
Harris began again. The scene was dramatic
in the extreme. Harris leaned his left hand on
the rail and slightly swsyed as he spoke With
effective gestures he waved his right arm but
although the spectators kept absolutely silent
and craned their necks to hear, not one could
catch a syllable Of what the prisoner was saying
for just five minutes that he talked
Judge MARITIME sat on the bench alongside Of
Recorder Smyth. Although he leaned back in
his chair neghgently he never once took his
eyes off Harris.
The recorders attitude was marked by every |
one. He sat bolt upright. at times even leaned |
forward, and. with his left hand behind his ear |
seemed to be striving painfully to hear what |
Harris said. He looked straight into Harris |
eyes.
SOME OF TIE SPECTATORS. |
District Attorney Nicon was surrounded by |
his entire staff of assistants Nearly all his |
clerks were also in the court room. Supt |
Byrnes was a marked figure. He stood within |
the rail: and like everybody else listened with |
strained attention.
Mrs. Harris, Caryle's mother, was not to be /
seen. 1t was said that she had been persuaded /
to stay away by Harris himself, who feared that /
the scene would be too much for her.
Among the spectators was Mr.. Potts, the /
fat pf fha ylrl uho
murdered. He sat well back and seemed to try /
to avoid appearing conspicuous
Harris was evidently very weak. He svayed /
backward and forward as he spoke and at times
seemed to save himself from falling by clutch
ing convulsiveiy at the rail. After the first ten
minutes be grew stronger and his voice could
be heard by those in his immediate vicinity.
The spectators could only gather that Harris
was speaking OF the afidavits which were pre-
sented BY the defense on the motion for . new
trial
The first time that Harris accents rang out
strong and clear was when he spoke of Dilwortn
Choate. With q suddenness that startled every
one came the words; There il one man for
wnom nave been looking around this court
room and / do hot see him. He is Dilworth
Choate, Dilworth Choate."
He repeated the name with such intense
scorn and bitterness that . shudder ran around
the court room.
"Dlworth Choate," continued Hsrris; "DI-
Il
outcast-the district attorneys tooli''
Harris continued to excoriate Choate, but
his voice fell 1t was thus way all through |
Harris most remarkable speech For moments |
at times his voice was 20 low that no one could
hea-. Then he would burst forth with some
dramatic exclamation that penetrated 10 the
furthest recesses Of the court room
Then for Q few minutes all could hear dis
tnctly all he said During these periods Hsr-
ris seemed strong and vigorous. He stood un-
supported and talked easily and distinctly.
Then - suddenly - before his voice would sink
to . husky whisper, his whole form seemed 70
collapse and he leaned heavily ON the rail II
These changes continued all through The ,
speech.
TIE LATEST AFFIDAVIT. |,
big bundle Of notss lay on ths tabls
10 Harris right in front OF Lawyer
Howe. Harris occasionally turned and re-
ferrsd to them There was Q dramatic mo-
ment AFTER Harris had spoken Of ths an (,
davit Of Juror Mason Inst he (the juror)
would have given . different verdict II t6s evi-
dance presented by the recent s6idavits h.d
bean before him. Harris turned to Mr.. Howe, |
md bending sliGhey toward him saSd in low
but distinct tones: Don't Als Tat aHadavit
With the cooty cassk, NJ. Hove; nv u on nv