The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-21
HARRIS MEETS DEATH CALMLY.


The hanging OF Cicero Harris at Bristol
yesterday morning is tho cause Of the
dangerous illness of Mrs. Theresa L.
Duane one of the most eslimaile ladies
Of Pulaski, VINO for years has been q
friend and neighbor Of Governor Tyler.
Tho case is absolutely Without parallel.
Harris was once the devoted servant in
the home OF Mrs. Duane. When he was
convicted of murder and sentenced to be
hanged, Mrs. Duane believed with all
; her heart that he had been Lnjustly.
treated and did not merit DEATH. From
the day that sentence was passed on tho
man Mrs. Duane has been beseechinS
Governor Tyler to pardon him or COM
mute his punishment to life ilnprison-
ment. For two weeks or more she has
been writing to His E:Eccllcncy almost
daily and telegraplling him, begging sl1lm
in the most urgent terms to commute
the sentence The Governor looked into
the merits of the case with all possible
care. Every person Of prominence ac-
quainted with the case was intel1ogated.
Every one said that Harris 5merited his
punishment.
I Mrs. duane 50 exercised herself that
night Before last she broke DOWN COM
pletel!-. She hordcred on extreme ner-
ivous, nrostration. Alb out / O'Clock yester-
Gay morning a telegram came 10 the city
for the Governor from a linsman of Mrs.
aEuane. saving that she was critically ill
and asking that he take some action.
The telegram was not delivered into the
bands of the Governor until about 8
O'Clock yesterday morning. Butssti his
.Excellency could do nothing. Hei had
CONVINCED himself that he was in duty
bound to let the law take its course.
: He felt that he could not turn aside from
it at. any cost. He was greatly distTe essed
all day yesterday about the matter. He
felt for the old family servant whose life
he could not save and most deeply for
his suffering friend Mrs. Duane.
TWO DOCTORS WITH HER.
/; Last night the following telegram came
to The Times from Pulaski:
/; The condition Of Mrs James Duane,
lSr., is Very serious at this time. S:15.
P. M, two doctors having been i'll attend.
ance ON her for several hours.
Is ..Ccero Harris the negro hung at Bris-
tol to-day ha0 worked for Mrs. Duane
for a number of years, and ever since
his conviction she had been working, try
ing to get him l,ardoned. 1t is impossible
now to say what the result will be to
Mrs Duane.
When the Governor was shown the tele-s
= q
deeply srieved at the turn this sad affair
had taken. He said: No one can ever
know how mich have thought and Woc
ried about this matter"
A few days ago the Governor
wrote Mrs. Duane Il letter telling her
how sorely he felt over not being able
to save her old servanc's life. The Gov
crnor had been thinking Of .Ae case all
night He could not sleep. About $
=, RI
wrote this letter to Mrs. Duane.l-He
received the following telegram from the
lady upon her receipt of the letter:
pulaski, Va, Dec. %, 1901. !
"Hon. J. Hogc Tyler, Executive Mansion,
Richmond, Va:
lie did not set justice, but your con-
science decide. It almost Kills me. Per
haps, though, tits best. Thank you for
al your kindness ana courtesy.
MRS THERESA DUANE -
& The Governor was glad to receive. this
telegram, thinking that at last his friend
had decided to be reconciled
Ina CINE his grief and perpleXty when
Yesterday morning he received another.
telegram saying that Mrs Duane had
suffered a collapse, and was in really
critical condition.
THE GOvERNCR's LETTER.
The Governors letter to Mrs. Duane
is in part as follows:
lear Mrs. Duane,--Your letters have
all been received and I have thought
over the case of Cicero Harris and ro:1-
dered over and prayed over it until l am
sick have not only been concerned
over. the case on your account. but. as
is always the case, OH account OF the
prisoner. This poor, condemned party
has had my deepest and most serious con-
sideration. i t is a strain OF asollYa to
have the question of life and death 10
decide, and onS q. Governor, in whose
hands is reposed absolute power to par
don OF. to decline, knows what it is All
the desires OF his, soul are stirred on the
side of mercy, and none can know how,
sweet it is to exercise this power and 10
set a. prisoner free except those VINO
have exercised the privilege. But the
desire to give pleasure and the JOY e1
granting pardon must not be allowed =, 70
overioalance the demands OF Justlce.t Inc
Governor must not forget thaI ne oM CO
duties to society and that these5 dutles
are stern and exacting, else Jaws Would
be worthless and their execution q. 1arce. lt
You have appealed in falthtul eltlS ana ply
ing tones for poor Old cicero @ atio l5 YOU YOU
have been sincere and honest IN your
convictiqns thai a, d no Jia tiJustlce
has been done him.
The Judge, the Commo attor-ss
ney. 3 tha s srepresentativ in the 5Legisla-
t,,ra rom the city and all Others save
ioIIes 81, sor1Ss two that II have seen tor heard
fran, assure me that public sentiment
,.o,,iSs be outraged by. my interference
i,,.itil the execution of the law. /! have
.fal,ssd with men OF intelligence who heard
tie case and who We're linaapa rtial wit-i
nesses. and they say thar ithe penalty
was a proper solse.
Here tho Governor gives the circnm.
stances of the crime Of lHarris and an
outline of the testimony IS
HAS BEEN SICks.AT HEART
Then he continues: SSE'. gave a thirty