The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-29

ex-congressman, ex-couuty commits
sioner, editor, capitalist and author,
was assassinated in his own residence
OF 23l South Ashland avenue this even
Ing at o'clock. Three bullets entered
his body and in less than one hour after
the first shot was fred death ensued.
The man who did the shooting was
arrested and locked up at the Des-
PLANES street station. There the man
gave his name as Eugene Patrick Prem
dergast. BE was at one time member
OF the Chicago police force. The in.
cidents that led up to the killing show
that 1t was premeditated and de-
liberately planned. AT o'clock this
evening man ran up the front step of
Mr.. Harrison's residence, and rang the
bell.
Mary Fansen, the servent, answered
the bell and the man outside asked for
Mr.. Harrison. She said he would have
to wait moment, as Mr.. Harrison was
asleep on the sofa in the parlor, at the
time going back through the hall to call
him, leaving the door open.
In moment Mr.. Harrison stepped
from the parlor into the hall. In an
instant the man had drawn revolver
and fired, the shot entering the abdomen
just above the navel. Two more shots
rang out an instant later, the first of
which entered the mayors body under
the left arm, penetrating the heart.
Mr.. Harrison, when the first shot
was fired, had started toward the door
and the second shot struck him when
within few feet of the assassin. Mr..
Harrison was so close to the muzzle of
the revolver when the third shot was
fired that the bullet shattered enc of
the knuckles of his left hand and the
powder burned the flesh
Mr.. Harrison's coachman, who was in
the rear of the house when the first shot
was fired, ran into the hall and nred
three shots at the man as he started out
of the front door. The murderer stopped
for an instant, turned about and fired a
parting shot at the coachman. He then
ran down the front steps and passed
rapidly north on Ashland avenue.
Mayor Harrison, after the last shot
was fred, stepped into the parlor and
started towards the dining room He
had taken but few steps when he fell
into the buffers pantry, which led to
the rear OF the house. His son, Pres
ton, who was upstairs at the time of
the shooting, ran down and was at his
fathers side in an instant.
Mr.. Harrison said, 81 am shot, Pres
ton, and cannot live. Where is Annie?"
MIR. Harrison hastily left his fathers
side, and rushed out upon the street in
pursuit of the assassin.
In the meantime Mr.. and Mrs. w. j.
Chalmers, who live across the street,
had started for the Harrison residence
as they had heard the shooting They
saw man running up Ashland avenue
and met the son, Preston, in pursuit.
Young Harrison stopped long enough
to inform his neighbors of the terrible
affair, and then started on in pursuit of
the murderer. Mr.. and Mrs Chalmers
hastily entered the house, Mr.. Chalmers
at once making pillow of his overcoat,
which he placed under Mr.. Harrison's
head.
II have been shot and cannot live,"
said the mayor, as he gasped for breath.
"You won't de-" said Mr.. Chalmers,
''you have only been shot in the abdo-
men,"
mo, have been shot in the heart
and know I cannot live," was the
reply
mayor. He Immediately became uncon-
scious and died at 1925. The murderer,
pursued by the coachman, ran along
at break-neck pace. Coming to Monroe
street he turned to the east and started
for the city,
The pursner, who b ad been reinforced
by an officer and several citizens, gained
rapidly on their man. On they sped
until Desplaines street was reached,
when the hunted man again turned to
the north, and in few moments had
reached the Desplaines street police
station. He walked in and approached
the sergeant at the desk. He was
about to speak when the foremost of
his pursuers rushed breathless into the
station.
"Lock that man up" said the coach
man; "He has killed Mayor Harrison"
In an instant the sergeant was out
from behind his desk, and, catching
hold OF the mans arm, pulled him with.
in the wire enclosure, as though to
preserve his life from crowd which
WAS gathering with astonishing ra pidity.
Without waiting to register the pris-
oner he was quickly taken back and
placed behind the bars. The station
was then cleared OF the excited people
and the sergeant went for talk with
the prisoner.
my name is Eugene Patrick Prender-
gast," he said in response to tho first
inquiry.
"Do you know that you have killed
Mayor Harrison?" asked the sergeant.
Eyes and l am glad of it," was the
answer. HE promised to give me the
corporation counselship and no has not
kept his word"
Where do you live?"
cat 600 Jane street with my mother"
said the man.
This ended the interview and the