St. Paul daily globe., 1893-12-30
SPEEDY JUSTICE
Has Been Done by the Court and
Jury

Jury.
CHICAGO. Dec. 29.-The Times Will
say: Exact and speedy justice has been
done by the court and the jury which
yesterday sentenced the murderer of
Carter 81. Harrison to death. The ra.
pidity with which this case has been
carried to conclusion. without the slight
ing of any prescribed legal form,
without denying to the accused
all opportunity to demonstrate
his insanity, is encouraging to
friends of society. Defended by
able counsel, with sufficient means to
secure wide range of expert" testi-
mony in his behalf. Prendergast has
had every chance for his life. His con-
viction deals fatal blow to the plea of
criminal lawyers, backed up by opln-
donated physicians. that eccentrieity is
a complete defense to Il charge of mur-
der. 1t is to be hoped now that the
sentence of the court may be speedily
executed. Demonstration has been
made that Wanton murder shall not go
unpunished III Chicago. Let there he
added to this, for the intimidation Of
homicidal craDkS of the future, evidence
nive at prolonging the worthless life of
red-handed murderer by entertaining
dilatory motions or by being hampcred
by the puerilitieS Of 4 certain sort of
criminal law"
The Inter Ocean says: mo one who
has followed the case could have eX-
pected any other result, and the public
generally will approve the verdict. The
only question was as 10 the lnurderer'S
sanity, and the defense utterly failed
to make him out 4 lunatic. That he is
a crank, III the ordinary acceptation OF
that term, his mind constitutionally de-
fective, is, no doubt, true. But the true
object of punishment is to protect So
ciety. and there is today no greater
menace to human life than the so-called
cranks."
r PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 29.-The In
Guirer Will say:"lhe verdict Of death in
the case OF Prendergast, the murderer
of Carter Ii. Harrison, is perfectly just.
There was not Scintilla OF real evil
dence 10 show that lie was anything but
q cold-biooded murderer. W hen Prem
dergast is hanged perhaps aSsasslna-
tlons will be at discount"
The Press will say: 1.-The jury who
have been listening to the evidence
against Prendergast seems To have
easily reached the conclusion that he Is
sufficiently responsible for the murder,
and should be hanged. AT this distance
a verdict of not guilty by reason of in
sanity would probably have fallen more
in line with the general expectation
than the verdict rendered. Ii hanging
the GuiteauS. and Prendergasts tends
to suppress these fellows. their eXecu-
ton is warranted on the ground or
grave public policy"
The North American will say: "There
is no room for two opinions as to the
justice of the verdict and the sentence
in the case of PrendergaSt. He deserves
hanging, if ever man dld. and it is Il
great satisfaction that the jury which
tried him has had the clear sense and
simple courage to do right. Now it is
to be hoped that no undue delay Will
be permitted to intervene between the
sentence and its execution"
NEW YORK, Dec. 29.-The World in
its editorial columns tomorrow VIII Say:
"Prendergast. the assassin of Mayor
Carter Harrison, has been convicted of
murder and sentenced to be hanged.
This is eminentlY right ''crank"
who threatens and carefully executes
murder, If crazy at all, is just crazy
enough TO be hanged. There is no non-
sense about murder trials in Chicago"
The Stats Zeitung Will say: There
may be people who doubt the justice of
this decree, because PrendergaSt WAS
probably not in his right mind. but the
great majority OF ali right thinking peo-
pie will be recOnciied with this teriDina-
ton of the caSe.'f