The morning times., 1896-02-14

John Harris hangs today. The drop win
be sprung at about 11:30 O'Clock.
Harris spent his last night in the world
Of men calmly He has manifested no sign
of faint-heartedness, and the jail officers
believe that he will meet death as a man
should.
Religion is the staff on which he leans
for support. He talks reasonably about his
impending fate ana promises to remain
calm till the end.
One OF the guards asked him last night
how he would feel o the day OF execution.
Just as l do now replied the con-
demned man.
Harris continued in normal spirits yester-
day" He slept soundly from O'Clock
Wednesday night till z O'Clock yesterday
morning. He arose. washed, and ate
hearty breakfast of meat, eggs aud coffee.
Father Matthew called at a. m. and
remained III Harris cell till nearly noon.
He talked to the prisoner OF the other life.
He told him of GODS mercy aud couHseled
him to be firm q faith and to die with u is
mind fixed on God. Harris listened atten-
lively aud found solace in the words OF the
kindly priest.
SANG FAMILIAR HYMNS.
During the early part OF the afternoon
he paced up and down the corridors. He
familiar hymns. A fellow prisoner in
quired of Harris what had shaped his fate
to snch disastrous end Harris answered.
"Red rum spell it backwards and you
see it reads murder
Later in the day, the jail h1rber. q
prisoner named Palmer, gave Harris h is
final shave ard hair cut. Harris takes
lively interest in the matter of his personal
appearance OH the day OF execution. He
joked with the barber, cautioning liIn not
to cut his throat, as il would be unfair TO
cheat the gallows. He said lie was willing
to give the rope chance. He said that
he was anxious To put up as good front
as possible on the scaffold. Now and then
he offered the barber a suggestion q to
how his Eair should be trimmed.
After this ceremony, his wife and little
ftTe-year-oid girl were admitted to the cage.
Husband and wife talked quietly for some
time ana the woman shed tears. Harris
was affected, but kept his emotions under
control. When the time OF parting was
at hand, the wife asked for a lock OF hair.
Scissors were not convenient and the guard
began TO saw off n tuft with his penknife.
The little child thought this was a hos
tile demonstration and broke out in wild
cries Of anger at the guard. The leave
taking was a painful scene
a priestcaled in the evening and remained
some time with Harris. He ate a hearty
supper and during the evening several
times sent in requests for food. Each re-
quest was hOnored.
There was no thought of executive Glenn
ency and preparations went forward for
the death. The scaffold was carefully in
Spected aud the trap ami rope tested. The
rope was then locked in the office OF the
warden and viii he put into position this
morning.
Harris last night placed his cot against
the barred door of his cell and talked with
the death watch for two hours. AT mid
night he lay down TO sleep.
VISITED BY a PRIEST.
He will be visited at O'Clock this morn
ing by Father Matthew. At about II
O'Clock Warden Leonard viii enter the cell
and read the death We rrant.
During this time the detail of police from
the Fifth precinct will be thrown across
the rolunda OF the ial from the entrance
the entrance OF the corridor at the end OF
which the white scaffold stands.
Guards will pinion the arms OF Harris.
The warden w.ll head the procession. fol-
lowed by the condemned man, who will
walk between two guards.
The priest, physicians, lawyers and re-
pOrter5 will constitute the balance Of the
procession. Invitations were limited to
thirty.
on the sCaTfoid, the priest will admins
ter the last rites OF the Catholic Church.
Guards will piniou the legs of the prisoner
at the ankles and knees. the moose Will be
adjusted, the black cap dra wn, the signal
will be given, the trap Will fall. and mans
spirit will take its everlasting leave.
The law will have been satisfied.