The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-10
CARLYLE W. HARRIS,
Aged % years, 7mnhths aud 10 days
MURDERED MAY 8, 1899,
I'VE would not II we had known,
Tile JURY"


Another instance OF carrying out
after the death the dramatic features
OF Harris last days was the enclosing
in the coffin OF the affidavit OF Juror
Crawford Mason. II will be remem-
bered that in his speech before the re-
corder, HarriE waving this affidavit in
his hand, said; "Do not file this here,
Mr.. Howe, file it in the coffin" This
document was dropped into the caskct
by Mrs. Harris at the funeral service
this morning.
After the burial, Harris last state
ment, sent by the warden to the prison
department OF the state, was given out.
Harris in this, his last writing, opens
with reference to the review OF his
case by the governor. Harris canvasses
this review, refers to his giving himself
up when he learned OF a warrant for
his arrest, recurs TO his refusal OF
profered means OF escape from Sing
Sing, and then says:
$50, how is itthat In q case where so
many facts and the entire behavior OF
the defendant all invite executive Glenn
ency, together with the petition OF over
$4,000 citizens, among them many who
are prominent in the national
esteem. such clemency should be
denied? Because the action Of the
court was not justified by the facts in
the case, and hence public outcry must
be silenced by seeming justification OF
the court outside OF the facts. Where
there was no doubt OF guilt, Governor
Flower has not hesltated to interfere,
as in tho case OF James Minnaugh, about
year ago; but in that case the facts
justified the court and there was no
Recorder Smyth clamoring to beupheld.
Carlyle Harris living would be u daily
menace to the career Of Smyth, Well
man and others. Dead, he will be soon
forgotten and the affairs may go on as
before.
"There is an idea in the minds OF
many that at the time OF my wife'a death
desired marriage with some other
woman. Such q person has never been
found, nor does she exist
ut has been reported in tho news.
papers that during my stay here In Sing
Sing, l have scofIed at the devotlons OF
my fellow prisoners and INDUCED in ir-
reverent Jokes. This is cruelty false. |
still enjoy the hopes OF my childhood's
faith and believe that l shall not be
misjudged through all eternity.
mo ono had SO many reasons, all
sentiment or love aside, for desiring my
wife to live as l had. She would have
brought me money and professional
success; she would have graced my
homo, and, had known OF her aad
habit, it would have been my happi-
moss to shield and cure her. have
now to die; the manner Of my death Is
OF small moment to me. have waited
patiently as long as there was tho re.
motest chance Of obtaining justice, re.
iusing to run away even when under
sentence Of death.
"Nlay God in mercy bless and guard
those / leave behind, and give them
peace.
"And now, face to face with tho great
est mystery known to man, knowing
that no concealment or untruth can
mitigate my end, l do solemnly declare
that / am innocent OF tho crime for
which am condemned die,
~ beg those who think, or speak, or
write OF mo in years to come to do SO as
kindly as they can, not forgetting that
when much proof OF my innocence was
found it was inhumanly thrust aside.
CARLYLE HARRIS.
"Smg Sing, May G, 1893,
This statement to be copied for pub.
lication and the original given to my
mother. CARLYLE HARRIS"