Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-11-03
Mayor Harrison Assassinated.


Carter H. Harrison, Mayor of Chicago
was shot and almost instantly killed Satur-
day evening in the front hallway of his res
idence by Eugene Patrick Prendergast.
The shooting took place at ten minutes
past s o'clock, and it was seventeen minutes
afterward that the mayor breathed his last
surrounded by the members of his family
1t was practically on the eve of the mayors
wedding, for he was to have been married
within the next two weeks. The ceremony
which would have united him to Miss Annie
Howard was to have taken place early this
month at the house of the bride in New
Orleans.
Various motives are ascrbed for the crime
One is that the mayor had promised to give
Prendergast an office for political services.
Another is that the mayor had neglected
some advice given by Prendergast regard
ing the elevation of the railroad tracks in
the city
The only person in the house at the time
beside Mr.. Harrison was his son, William
L
servants. Shortly before o'clock the door
bell rang, and when Mary Hansen, the do.
NESTLE opened the door she was confronted
by man about five feet five inches, smooth
shaver, his rather clean cut features lit up
by pair OF dark eyes.
as Mr. Harrison in ?" asked the man in a
pleasant voice
ayes, sir" responded the girl, as she threw
the door wider open to permit his entrance.
81 would like to see him, please" said the
man, as he walked toward the back end OF
the hall
Mayor Harrison had just finished his din
ner when the servant announced that a gen
tleman wished TO see him and he stepped
into the hall. Seeing who it was, the mayor
said, "Well, man, what is ity'
"You have not kept your promise to me, y
replied the man, "and don't like that way
of doing"
The mayor looked surprised AS he re,
piled: "My man, | have not broken my
promise to you. There is nothing for which
owe you satisfaction.
Prendergast, his face pale in the gaslight,
lifted revolver and, without word, sent
a bullet crashing into the body of his host
The mayor, with a low cry, started back,
realizing instantly that he had murderer,
and most terrible of all, irenzed murderer,
to deal with. He moved half backward,
seeking to retreat, AMI yet unable To turn
full around. The assassin, quick as light
ming, pulled twice again and drove two more
bullets into the form of the mayor.
At this the mayor reeled and fell heavily
to the floor, his head within the dining room
and his feet in the hall. Blood was pour.
ing from the wounds in the breast, abdomen
and hand, and his face was CHASTITY pale.
Hearing the shots, Preston Harrison, who
was up stairs, came running down, and the
butler also rushed into the hall. Prender.
CAST still had the weapon in his hand, and
as young Harrison advanced upon him fired
one shot. The bullet went wide of the
mark and imbedded itself in the wall in the
rear OF the hallway.
One shot was fired at the assassin, who re-
treated toward the open front door aud es
capped in the darkness
Physicians were at once summoned who
pronounced the case hopeless, and in short
time Mayor Harrison breathed his last
About twenty five minutes after the muir
der, Prendergast went to station house and
surrendered himself, stating what he had
done. lie was locked up to keep him from
the vengeance of the excited crowd which
soon collected in front of the station house
On Monday the murderer was promptly
indicted by the grand jury, and Il speedy
trial will follow.