The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-07
HARRIS POSINGASAMARTYR
Helen POtts's Prisoner Bound to PLAY
His PartTill HeSits in the Death Chair.
Eeems Proud Of His Reputation az A "Nervv.
Nan. and Says lie Will Meet His Fate
Brayely-The Murderer and His Victim.

said CARLYLE Harris to one of his death
watch. yesterday. Ito make il public that
j have not broken down. and shat shall
90 70 the death chair with as much couraae
ss had on the day when | went and snr-
rendered myself to the district attorney
"BIt." said his boyish brother Allan.
who heard his words. 1T is not too late 70
hope. Carlyle"
"Oh. what's the user answered the con-
demued man impatiently. They will
hurry me OIL as fast as they can. even
though l could bring a witness no saw
poor Helen buy the fatal dose of morphine
and take it on that awful night. They are
bound to hurry me of anyhow. It's all
Dver."
Harris has acted the part of a martyr 40
long that he now seems to really believe
that he is q martyr. 1t makes no differ
ence TO him that be has had greater oppor-
tunity to prove the innocence he asserts
than any other accused murderer ever
brought TO trial In this State. He started
to play his part. and he has played IL so
long and so cleverly that the character he
assumed has become his nature. There is
brsvado in his manner. He is what might
be called q "nervy" man. He has shown
his nerve through the years ordeal while
his life has been in the balance scale of
justice. He he's read in the newspapers
the m on his nerve. and he has
grown TO be proud of IL, and now it IL all
that he has left to be proud of. When he
says that be viii go brsvely TO the chair
and 10 death. perhaps painless, but none
the less ignomlnlous and awful, those who
know him best believe that he will keep
his word. Harriss mother is here now
with his boy brother. She was telegraphed
for st Harris's request Immediately after
the word was received that there was no
longer bone, and she at once left North
field, Mass. the farm home on which she
was born, 70 come 10 Sing Sing via New
York.
There is talk of the possibility OF Harris
committing suicide. Those who know him
believe that be- would not do so If ne could
get the chance But it IL little chance OF
suicide that he can get. Since Roehl and
Paliister escaped from the death corridor
Sing Sing keepers are keeping their eyes
wide open. His visitors can pass nothing
TO him because of the close wire screen and
the iron bars. which make it impossible for
even their finger tips to touch. ShOuld he
bite the arteries of his wrist the watchers
would Immediately summon DR.. Irvine. of
the prison. who Is In constant attendance.
1t has been suggested by wiseacres that
somebody might write him q letter on q
sheet of paper that had been previously
soaked in Drussic acid. arsenic solution. or
0oAlO w 0oa oAA kAOA AAOhO0
out so ae TO smooth the paper. and that
Harris might chew the paper. DR.. Irvine
examines all the letters after Chaplain
Wells has opened them. and doubts that
the scheme could be worked.
NAY DIE TOMORROW.
The arrangements for the execution of
Harris are sbout completed. Warden Ours
ton has sent out the invitations to the wit
nesses who are to attend the legal killing
OF the young medical student. To reporter
Warden Durston said that electrician
Davis would be present at Harris's execu-
ton, but just when the execution will take
place the warden would not say. Ii
seems likely, however, that the execution
Will take place Monday morning before IL
o'clock. and that In consequence OF elec.
trIcIan Daviss presence here tie Auburn
execution set for the week or May s Will be
postponed for q day or two. The prison
officials and attaches seem confident thai
the execution will take place Mon
day, n this belief was strengthened
when It was learned this morning
that Warden Durston had given orders that
every one be excluded from thedeathhoust
excepting himself. principal keeper Con
naughton and the death watch "fOr to-day
tomorrow and Monday morning." except by
an order TO the contrary by the warden
OF course exception Will be made In thC
cases of Harris's mother. brother and hi
father.
Harris passed q very restless night. He
arose early this morning. and after eatinG
quite a hearty breakfast he smoked sew
eTal cigarettes. while he chatted pleasant
" with the death watch. TO them be re
pested what he had told his folks
that he would meet death calmly
OF at the time of his execution
Allan Harris. Carlyle's brother. visited tht
prison this morning. but did not 20 In &c
see the condemned man. de called on the
warden at his office and had q long private
consultation with him. Then he went e
the boarding house where he and nil
mother expect to stay until aftel
the execution. Edward MOrrell, a cousin
OF Carlyle Harris. arrived to-day, and after
a long interview with Mrs. Harris. went Il
the prison. He was shown into WardeI
Durston's Office. where be met his cousin
Allan. The two young men had quite M
earnest and animated conversation. Mrs
Harris went 10 the prison this afternoon
and was shown TO the condemned mani
cell She remained with Carlyle until tn
prison closed Mrs. Harris seems de
termined TO bear up bravely.
Charles l.. Harris. father of Carlyle, ar
rived at Sing Sing on the $40 train thil
evening. He went immediately TO thu
boarding house where his wife Is. He re
NAMED there about half an hour and ther
went TO the American House. tie i
worn out. he says. as ne has not slept since
the Governors decision reached him. Stat'
Electrician Davis was at the prison to-day
and with the and of yardmsster Helbre
tested the electrical apparatus and fount
1t 10 be in first-class working order.
HARRIS AND HIS CRIME
HsrTisi is q slim. erect. fne-featured younI
man of twenty-four years. He was born il
Glens Falls. n. Y. in September. 1863. bu
even his parents seem to be unable TO tel
the day of the month. He came of fin
family. his grandfather on his mother
side being DIR. Benjamin w. McCresdy
quite recently deceased. who was one o
the most eminent physicians in the coun
try. His early lie was a peculiar one. Hi
father and mother were not congenial I
each other and separated. The boy, Car
lyle. went TO live with his mother, il
Brooklyn. ana ON his trial II W as develope,
that his mother denied him the com panion
shIp of the boys of his age in the neigh
borhood. and that his play mates wer
mostly girls.
The family was poor. and Carlyle begal
TO earn some money as a book agent. Thel
he took q cleTkship. aud finally Joined
second-class theatrical road company an,
spent two years playing minor parts. l
was then. when he was only nineteen year
old. that be began TO study medicine. prot
ably through some offer made to him b
DIR. McCTeady. for he went To the ColIge q
Physicians and Surgeons. with which ID
NcCready was closely identified. and live