EXECUTED BY ELECTRICITY.

Bush Advocate, Volume IX, Issue 811, 29 July 1893, Page 6

EXECUTED BY ELECTRICITY.

A despatch dated the Bth nlfc., from NewYork to the "San Francisco Bulletin," is as Hows: — Carlyle Harris, the yonog medical student, whose trial and conviction in New York city for poisoning Helen Potts, to whom he had been secretly married, attraoted bo much attention, was electrocuted in prison here to-day. Not since tlie firat execration by this method, when the four men — Slocnm, Smiler Jugive and Wood — passed beneath the deadly electrodes, has such interest been displayed bete. gjThrongs of people gathered on the hillside overlooking the gray prison walls, though the only thing which they could hope to sea in connection with the execution of Harris was the DISPLAY OF THE BLACK FLAG above the tower after ho had beeu officially* pronounced dead. This morning the curiosity was partly acconnted for by th» faot that he was the first man of any intelligence to die in the eleotrio chair, partly to he widepublicitygiven to the case in thenews- . papers and partly to the question of the man's \ guilt, though, as to the last, the chief element 1 of doubt lay in Harris' steady assertion of innocence. Every possible effort had been made t» secure a reversal of the sentenoe, and, that : failing, to induce Governor Flower to mitigate the punishment, but without avail. Contrary to the usual custom, the Warden did not read the death warrant to the condemned at midnight, but Harris had been told when the execution would take place. He retired early last night showing more evidences of excitement than, usual, his heretofore iron nerves given evidence of the strain in the UNUSUAL QUANTITY OF OIQABEITES HK SMOKED. He slept little during the night and rose early this morning, and looked over.tha manugoript he had prepared to be given to the press after his death. He seemed cooler and ate a light breakfast at "8 o'clock. At 9 o'clock the medical witnesses began to errive and half an hour later the fires were started under the boilers which operate the engine whion rnns the dynamo furnishing the deadly agent of exeoutiou. His mother and brother had already taken final leave of him, bat occnpied a room in the neighboring hotel, from a window of which tb.9 black flag could be Been when hoisted as a signal that hia spirit had taken flight. The vigil was a sorrowful one, aa, with straining eyes they looked away toward, the staff on which the sombre emblem would float when THE CONDEMNED KAN PASSED FROM EARTH. At a quarter-post 12 witnesses were conducted to the execution ohamfaer and the death flag placed in position tohoißt. The death warrant was read at 8.30. The reading had no visible effect on the condemned man. Half an hour later the prison chaplain spent an hour with him. Then one of the medioul examiners visited him and found him showing some signs of nervonsnesfl, but nothing more. Harris did not ask for morphine or any stimulant, but WANTED A COUPLE OF OBANOES, which were given him. He was shaved and had his hair cut at 10.30 and put on a new suit of clothes. The test of the apparatus was made by the electrician, showing a voltage of 1700, and everything was reported satisfactory. Thewitnesses numbered 27, consisting of seven, physioians, 10 newspaper men, 10 State officials and friends of the Warden. Arrived at the execution chamber, the witnesses took their seats in a semi-circle around the death chair, and, everything" being in readiness, two keepers brought-— * Harris into the chamber, aocompahied by the; chaplain. Harris looked pale as hs entered tho room, and calmly surveyed the assembled witnesses. Onu of the keepersindioated a chair to him, and without even a glance of ouriositjr at the death-dealing machine he stepped forward and took bis seat. As he did so ha requested permission to speak. This was accorded him, when he said, speaking as if every word cost him a great effort : " I have no further reservations to make. I desire to> say that I AM ABSOLI7TELY IXNOCEHT." Then he settled back in the chair, tho electrodes were clickly attached, the signal given, the lever quicked sharply Bud the form of the condemned man stiffened cill the straps oreaked, while 1760 volts passed through his frame. At the end of two seconds the ourrent was reduced to 180 volts, whioh was continued fifty-seoonda longer, wheu HarrU was pronounced dead. As tha current was fully shut off the body dropped back limp. An examination showed no signs of life and it was evident death had been intantaneous.