The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-30
Undoubtedly Insane.

tn0OuDte0Iy insane.
CHICAGO, Oct. Acknowledgements late to-
night go far toward indicating that Prem
dergast has had murder in his heart for
several days. On Thursday afternoon of
the present week he entered Billy Bert's
chop house, in Calhoun place, and took a
seat at a table occupied by w. \. S. Ora
ham, the murdered Mayors secretary, and
another gentleman well known in local
financial circles. Graham, who was &C
quainted with PrendergaSt introduced him
to his friend. and both gentlemen noticed
that the newcomer was laboring under
intense excitement. Presently. without any
remarks having been exchanged to lay any
foundation for what was coming, Prender-
CAST broke into bitter denunciation of the
Mayor for what he declared was the lat
ter's opposition to the elevation of the sur
face tracks. This is subject that has long
been agitated In local political circles, and
one In which public sentiment has fire.
quently been expressed with emphasis
IF he don't elevate the tracks / will kill
him. i will shoot him dead" calculated
table with a force that made the dishes
rattle The gentlemen addressed simply
smiled at him, attributing the strong Ian
guage to the excitement under which he
was laboring Observing this he exc
Claimed with still greater vehemence yes
l Will Kill him. Mark what ] say. Unless
ne does it he is a dead man."
Not imagining for a moment that Prem
d.ergast cherished any thought of murder
IN ms heart Secretary Graham adroitly
gradually subsidized, and when he left the
place he had apparently forgotten what he
had SAID in the heat of passion few mo-
mentS before. Neither of the gentlemen
thought any more of the subject, and Sec
rotary Graham regarded it as so trivial
that, SO far as is known. he did not men
tlon the subject to his chief.
In the early mail that was delivered in
the first or 7-o'clock delivery, at the CITY
Hall. this morning there was letter from
Prendergast addressed to Mayor Harrison.
In which he urged upon the executive the
necessity of immediate action upon the ele-
walton OF the tracks. Secretary Graham.
upon whom the duty of opening and classi-
flying the mail has always devolved, laid
the communication to one side, regarding
IL as lacking sufficient Importance to bring
to the personal attention of the Mayor,
but rather as emanating from one of the
small whims of cranks that day in and
concentrations, and propositions, and sugges-
tons of all kinds and things innumerable
After the mail had been sorted Secretary
Graham, who had an appointment at the
worlds fair with the gentleman in whose
company he had been when Prendergast
forced his company upon Them left for
He had just returned and reached the house
of friend on the North Side when the
news of the shooting reached him, and he
realized that Prendergasts talk of a couple
of days before was something more than
the. vaporings of an excited and harmless
individual.
1.-The man Prendergrast is crazy" said
Corporation Counsel Kraus, who was per-
haps the closest friend Mr.. Harrison had.
eral times. He called at my office twice
and told me that he was going to be APP
pointed as my successor, and that should
resign. l laughed and told him that / was
ready to quit at any time, and if he would
let me know when he received the appoint.
Inent from Mayor Harrison l would gladly
let him have the place. The man was so
palpably out of his mind that / did not
consider worth while to talk seriously with
time. and he said that he had received
threatening letters from the fellow and
that he had paid no attention to them, as
the was insane and there was no use
in bothering with him. / never thought of
the matter again until received two pos
tai cards from the fellow few days ago
They were both written in red ink and
gave me the information that he was ready
to have me resign and step into my posi-
ton. always thought that Prendergrast
was insane, but I never thought he would
do such an awful thing this" Mr.
Kraus was we'll nigh inconsolable over the
NAY Mayors d .Sn ,, when the news reached
his carriage going to ball. He at once
ordered his coachman to drive back to his
and then hurried over to Mr. Harrison's
| residence arriving there a short time after
| the Mayors death.
Late tonight officers called at the home
| of Prendergasts mother, at COG James
street The young man had not lived with
his mother sI, for over t two years, and she
| that the young man was all right mentally,
| except" she added. The often talks of
| Henry George and the single tax" The
officers gave the mother no information,
! and she does not yet know of the night s
| tragedy.
| Patrick King. an uncle of Prendergast
was next called upon and asked about his
| nephew. He. too. knew nothing of the muir
der, and replied to the questions concerning
| the young man: tHe is good boy; never
| drank and never smoked
| He has no peculiarities?' was asked.
He has only one of which l know" re-
! piled King, land that is his single-tax idea
| This is his pet hobby. and he knows a great
i