The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-10
Continued from yesterday


did 1t not strike you as being n case
OF simple asphyxia? Such cases are com
mon with persons addicted to heavy
drinking"
1T was not that-I made sure OF that
whenever | learned that she was dead.
believe the woman had had little or 40
drink for nearly a month before her
death. except the prescribed quantity or
dered by me-
This answer did not tally with our own
information, but we did not correct the
statement. We simply had several con-
sultstions, and then got power to exhume
the body OF the deceased. Before this
was done, however, had visit from the
captain OF Harris's vessel. accompanied
by his sister. and both pleaded warmly
and eloquently that Harris WAS a little
upset by his troubles, and only blamed
himself for his wife's death because he
was a soft, good-hearted fellow, brimful
Of affection. IL appeared that in his trou-
BILE Harris had always found shelter and
sympathy with these friends, and 20 an
affection almost deeper than friendship
had been created between them. From
the flashing glance and indignant tones
OF the captains sister. Miss Philip when
speaking of the doings OF the deceased.
j could see that all her sympathies lay
with the unfortunate seaman. This was
manifestly weakened their testimony in
favor OF Harris; and. singularly enough.
while these two friends were busy ac-
cumulating evidence that Harris was in
manner temporarily insane and not to
be listened TO, the case was assuming
darker phase in another direction.
The body Of Mary Harris. on being ex-
nmined showed unmistaksble evidence
that she died from the effects OF a pow
erful irritant poison. The coat OF the
stomach, indeed, was almost burned
through by the corrosive mixture. and IL
was clear that death could have been
brought about by but one dose Of such
a poison. IL also seemed evident that the
deceased could not have committed sui
eide, as she had always expressed the
most lively horror Of death. and had not
been able 20 leave her bed, far less the
house, TO procure or swallow such a poi
son: the house. moreover. on being
searched, revealed no trace OF such poi
son; and the inference was naturally that
the polsoner had removed everything like
ly TO criminste after the deed was. done.
now thought that | understood more
clearly Harris's remorse and despair ;end
] anticipated no difficulty I'm drawing
from him the full confession OF hts guilt
Imagine my surprise, then, on hintlnX at
these facts. when he first opened his
eyes In lively horror and surprise, and
then declared, vita the utmost solemnity,
that he at least was free from ali knowl-
edge OF the crime, or completely In the
deed.
Questioned in every way. he adhered
to his statement: and while admitting
frankly that he had wished his wife dead
and presented her with the kes OF brandy
In hope of bringing about that. swore
that nc had never dreamed OF admins
tsrinR an irritant poison, or OF even put
ting such a poison within her reach. This
declaration by itself would have gone for
little IN the face OF the medical evidence:
but another curious fact came out I'm the
post-mortem examination, which seemed
20 underTnins the most important state
ment IN Harrls's confession. This was
that there were no indlca tions Of the de-
ceased having recently indulged inordi-
nstely in brandy; indeed. all the medical