People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1893 — HIS FATE SEALED. [ARTICLE]

HIS FATE SEALED.

Sentence of Death Pronounced Upon Carlyle W. Harris, a New York WifeMurderer— Sensational Scenes in the Courtroom—The Condemned Man Cheered on His Way to Jail. NEW YORK, March 21. —Carlyle W. Harris has been sentenced to be electrocuted during the week commencing May 8. Rarely, if ever, has there been so much excitement around the dark grim building of the court of general sessions as there was during the session. Carlyle W. Harris, after having exhausted every possible means to escape the penalty for the murder of his wife, was to be finally resentenced by Recorder Smyth. Interest in the case has been phenomenal. It was evidenced by the crowds which surrounded the court building. There was a rustle of expectancy among the spectators. Harris leaned forward and gazed intently at the magistrate who had declared against the young prisoner’s last chance in the courts for life. Amid silence, so deep that every sound outside could be distinctly heard, the recorder wheeled slowly about in his chair until he faced the prisoner and immediately called Harris to the bar. Among the spectators was Mr. Potts, the father of the girl whom Harris married and is convicted of having murdered. He sat back well and seemed to wish to avoid notice. Harris was evidently very weak. He swayed backward and forward as he spoke and at times seemed to save himself from failing by clutching convulsively at the rail. After the first ten minutes he grew stronger and his voice could be heard by those in his immediate vicinity. The spectators could only gather that Harris was speaking of the affidavits which were presented by the defense on the motion for a new trial. Harris continued to excoriate Choate until his voice fell. It was this way all through Harris’ most remarkable speech. For moments at a time his voice was so low that no one could hear. Then as suddenly as before his voice would rise and then sink to a husky whisper, his whole form seemed to collapse and he leaned heavily on the rail. Harris devoted considerable attention to Assistant Attorney Wellman, who was prosecutor on the first trial. While he was talking about Wellman’s saying that Harris was married in 1882 Harris suddenly hissed: “And I know and Wellman knows that Wellman lied.” A few minutes later Mr. Wellman, who had been sitting alongside Mr. Nicoll, arose and abruptly left the courtroom. “He had better have gone before,” remarked Harris. A most affecting scene occurred when Harris turned to Mr. Howe and in broken accents said: “Mr. Howe, I let you know what a poor man I am, that I have not and cannot repay your devotion. I want you to take this, my dearest possession, and keep it ever.”

As he spoke Harris drew an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Mr. Howe, with these words: “Take it, Mr. Howe; it was Helen’s last gift to me. Take it, with her love.” As he turned away to face the recorder again, Harris sobbed twice convulsively and the tears ran down his cheeks. After addressing a few impressive words to the recorder Harris finished the remarkable speech by turning again to Mr. Howe and handing him some letters. Harris had spoken for an hour and forty minutes. The recorder then began to speak, slowly and impressively. The recorder proceeded to review the facts of the case very briefly. He spoke particularly of the application for a new trial and said he had given the application his consideration with a very full sense of the responsibility that a human life depended upon his decision. Twice Harris interrupted the recorder to speak of points in the case that he had forgotten before. The recorder heard him patiently. “You are not here to have the sentence of death pronounced upon you,” said the recorder. “That has already been done. The previous sentence has merely to be reaffirmed and a date fixed. The order of the court is that the previous sentence be carried out during the week beginning May 8.” Harris made no sign as he heard the date of his death. His already pallid face could be no paler. The envelope which Harris handed to Mr. Howe, saying it contained Helen’s last gift to him, had in it a pair of gold link cuff buttons. A great throng ran after Harris as he walked from the court of general sessions to the Tombs. A remarkable feature was the applause that was given him. Again and again he was cheered. His face flushed as if with pleasure. When Harris reached the Tombs there was a big crowd waiting. “Three cheers and a tiger for Harris!” cried some one. They were given, and Harris, still handcuffed to Deputy Sheriffs Brown and Burke, walked inside with a smile on his face. His lawyers believe that the demonstration indicates a general public sentiment in favor of giving Harris another chance, and are confident that the appeal to the governor will be successful in averting the execution of the death sentence.