The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-09
HARRIS ELECTROCUTED.
al An ABSOLUTELY INNOCENT"
WERE MS LAST HORDs.
DIR. Daniels Said the Execution Was the
Most Successful of Any-1hc Autopsy
CompIeicd-Tho Result.

retired early last night and though he
showed no signs Of breaking down, he
was more nervous and excited than usual
He did not sleep much. but his self
control was marvellous. He was up early
this morning. and looked over the manu-
script which he had prepared to be given
out TO the press by his relatives after the
final scene In his dramatic life had ended.
At O'Clock Harris ate a light break
fast. Mrs. Harris, having made her final
visit 10 her son Saturday, remained at
the Amber House. Her youngest son,
Allan, was with her. The flag announc-
ing the successful conclusion Of the exc
cution could be seen from the windows
OF the room occupied by Mrs. Harris,
and there she watched and waited with
straining eyes and subdued grief for the
fatal signal The death warrant was for
mally read to Harris al $50. He dis
played indifference, and its reading uld
not noticeabiy affect him. He showed no
signs Of breaking down. and appeared
cheerful after the reading OF the death
warrant
At II o'clock the witnesses assembled
! in the waiden's office There were twen-
ty-feven physicians and twenty newspa-
per men. State officials and friends OF
Warden Durstin. At l216 1t was an
nounced that everything was ready anu
the witnesses were invited down stairs.
1t was 1890 when the witnesses entered
the execution chamber.
Harris was brought in looking pale. He
paused an instant on the threshold, and
looked over the assembled witnesses. lie
walked entirely alone, and wheh the
guard pointed TO the chair. without even
"a look of curiosity at the thing which was
TO end his career, he dropped into the
seat As he did so he said he had
word to say. il the warden would per
nit.
The warden asked what he wished TO
say.
Harris, in weak voice, as though each
word cost him powerful effort, said:
II have no reservation to make. l
desire 10 say that l am absolutely inno-
cent"
These were his last words. After utter.
irg them, he seemed relieved. anf SET
tied back In the chair. 10 which his legs
had already beer strapped by two guards.
state Detective Jackson attached the
elcctrode 10 Harris right leg. which was
barred 10 the knee. q slit In the trousers
having been made in advance.
The helmet containing the other elec-
trode was placed on his head and wires
were attached 10 the two electrodes.
There was an instant's pause, while every
man in the room held his breath.
sharp click from the lever, and the form
in the chair Strengthened up till the straps
creaPed IL was just 1240 IL and cur
rent Of 1760 volts passed through the body
of Carlyle W. Harris.
In two second1 the current was re-
duced to 80 volts, and in ffty-nve and
three-quarter seconds II was shut or
entirely. All of the physicians present
expressed themselves satisfied that death
had been instantaneous. The witnesses
who had seen other electrocutions agreed
that this was the most successful one
yet There was no sign Of steaming
at the points Of contact. and aside from
a purplish tinge appearing on the SKIN,
there was no change in the appearance
OF the body.
As the witness passed out of the
building one OF the newspaper men faint
ed and was carried out by frien Is. lie
recovered In few minutes.
Or. Daniels said the electrocution was
tho 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 STANDPOINT
The witnesses were escorted TO the
warden's Office when all was over and
each one signed the official statement,
required by law.
Doctors Irvine and Daniels conducted
the autopsy. which was begun ten min
utes after the electrocution was over
The autopsy was completed at o'clock.
The result shows that the body was we'll
nourished and healthy. There were signs
OF slight burning on the inside calf of
the right leg, but none on the temple.
At 3 o'clock an undertaken drove 10
the prison with a highly-polished oak
IL - nod vraz rllQ
The undertaken refused TO disclose the
place of the disposition Of the body. The
silver nlate upon the cover of the caskct
contained this inscriptions
"Carlylc w. Harris.
Murdered May S, 1898; aged twenty
three years, seven months and hfteen
days. ,-
jury
Mrs Harris Statement
There was a very impressive scene at
the Amber House in the afternoon, wnen
Nfre Harris saw the reporters. 1t was
q few minutes after o'clock. This re-
markable woman had endured not only the
grief OF a mother losing her first born
but had suffered the agony or having her
son. whom she believed innocent. branded
as a murderer. and killed by the state,
and vet she stood there calm and passive
waiting Tor the score OF ieNSpdpNi INV"
to enter. Their facing them with dry eyes
and firm voice, she said:
at has been said that Carlyle Harris
was guilty because he shed no tears when
Helen Potts died / shed no tears now,
and God knows ! loved Carl"
My boy was innocent. You men who
saw him die know that he went TO the
chair an innocent man. With his last
words he declared his innocence. and yet
he has been killed. lie has been jndicially
murdered. His last statement was to
have been given to me as soon as he was
dead, and I have not received II yet. !
don't think / shall ever see II. AT least
not as my boy wrote Il. II was my boys
last wish that IL be given out to-day. but
/ am powerless to carry IL out.
Mrs. Harris then gave out the follow
ing statement for publication:
Il feel that the many friends who have
tried to get justice done 10 my dear boy
ought TO know of his last hours-of Gods
great mercy to me, and how he sustained
US both.
'I did not see my dear boy after he
was taken to Sing Sing till last Friday.
him there. Conscious Of his innocence.
addicted 10 the use Of morphine. Carl
hoped / need never see him in the death
chamber. But God allows II otherwise,
and though an innocent boy has been
iudicially murdered. l can praise him
for even this last ordeal. AS soon as
saw my boy / felt that he had grown
spiritually. He made no professions of
conversion; all his talk was of what l