The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-30
And Threw Himself on the Floor and
Refused to Speak When Escort
ed Back to His Cell.
OPINIONS ON THE VERDICT
Views of Attorney Trude, Chaun-
cey Depew and Others.
Thought to Be a Valuable Lesson TO
Cranks and VindicatiOn of the
Supremacy of the Law.

CHICAGO, Dec. 29.-Prendergast, the
murderer of Carter H Harrison, will be
hanged for his crime. The verdict of the
jury has said 1t, and the people of Chicago
approve it Ably defended as the assassin
has been, strong as has been the evidence
adduced to save his neck from the halter
the jury has found him sane, responsible
for his act, and demanded that he pay the
highest price for his offense against the
law. This price, however, is a sorry one
at the best. The value TO the world of one
life, such that of Carter II. Harrison
would weigh down the scale against the
existence of an hundred such as Prender-
gast
Nothing since the commission Of his crime
has irritated Prendergast as the com
parison between himself and Charles J.
Guiteau. He has resented it with energy
and scorn, as though the assassin of Gar
field was foul and creeping thing COM
pared with himself But in the court room
this afternoon he showed that one trait ex-
listed in common between Guiteau and him.
SELF He proved himself an unmanly, mis-
cradle coward, a creature who would have
life at any price, under any conditions, any
where, anyhow, only let il be life. When
Clerk Fitzgerald arose to read the finding
Of the jury the prisoner stood clutching
the back of chair, eyeing him with the
most intense eagerness. His long, bony
fingers clasped and unclasped the back Of
the chair, his knees trembled violently, his
face flushed and his spiteful-looking
mouth opened and closed as though he
would say something, but lacked the power
to speak.
I'VE, the jury, find the defendant, Patrick
Eugene John Prendergast, guilty of muir
der In manner and form as charged In the
Indictment and fix the penalty at DEATH
Fitzgerald's voice, clear and calm, read
out the finding, and died away with a
slight emphasis on the final word. Then
Prendergast revealed himself the utter cow
ard. His face turned pale. he opened his
mouth to speak, but only a faint murmur
came from between his hot and quivering
lips. He moved slightly, and would have
fallen to the floor but for the assistance OF
a bailifr. When the jury was polled he
listened with avidity to each and every
answer to Judge Brentano's question:
WAS this, and is this now your verdictT'
at is" said foreman Jacob Sutter, and
lit is repeated every other Juror; and then
hope and the last veStige OF courage faded
utterly in Prendergasts breast He was
half led, half carried back 10 his cell,
where, refusing to speak, he threw himself
on his bunk in the attempt TO hide from his
fellow prisoners, whose expressions of sat-
isfaction over the verdict were more en-
phatic than graceful and more sincere than
polite.
TRUDE'S CLOSING ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Trude resumed his argument at the
opening of court and spoke until within a
few minutes of II o'clock He paid par
ticular attention to the religious disposl-
ton shown by the prisoner and showed
the contrast between his protestatons OF
Christianity and his cruelty TO boys smaller
than himself. The court room was crowd
ed with spectators Prendergasts face as
sumed sickIy pallor he was brought
to court TO witness the last scenes in the
proceedings which meant death to him.
Mr.. Trude, during the course Of his ad-
dress, referred to Henry George. the apos-
tie of single tax, in manner not alto
gether complimentary II was dellrous
with joy," said Mr. Trude, when 1 heard
that Mr.. Wade intended to put Henry
George on the witness stand. / wish they
had brought him here; he is the most mi
gratory and pestilential paranoiac OF ALL"
Mr. Trude closed with an eloquent plea for
the conviction Of the prisoner, who had. he
declared. been proved sane by the prepon-
derance of evidence.
When Mr.. Trude finished the court en-
nounced a recess until 1 O'clock Court
was in session a few minutes before that
time, and Judge Brentano began his charge
to the jury precisely at o'clock. AS the
court commenced To read the instructions
offered by the State Prendergast buried
his face in a black handkerchief, which
he held in his left hand. and never once
did he look up move until just at the
close Of the Judges charge when the
court instructed the Jurors as TO the form
OF their verdict. At the mention OF the
word death the prisoner dropped his
hands for instant When the court
said "or you may sentence him to the penl-
tentiary for the term OF his natural life''
Prendergast again twitched nervously.
JUDGE BRENTANO'S CHARGE.
Upon the question OF insanity, the only
question at issue, Judge Brentano said:
IF from all the evidence in the case you
believe. beyond a reasonable doubt, that
the defendant committed the crime or
which ne IS accused, In manner and form
as charged in the indictment, and 1T the