The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-30
PRENDERGAST CONVICTED.
hrs PUNIsHHENT FIXED AT DEATH
RI THE VERDICT


The Jury Believed that ne We. Rs,pons,-
BILE for hts Action In KIiiipg Mayor Hsr-
ri-on-His Nerve Failed Hin at the Last.
CHICAGO. Dec. 29.-The jury in the case OF
Patrick Eugene Joseph Prendergast. the MUIR
derer OF Carter Henry Harrison. this after
noon adiudged him esponsible for his act and
recommended that he be hanged. Tonight
the death watch sits outside his cell In the
county jail The verdict OF the jury was agreed
upon after q elaboration OF little over an
hour Prondergast crossed" himself when II
was announced. but uttered no word.
The morning Of the last day Of the trial was
allotted to Alfred 8 Trude. who argued to con-
vince the iurymen that PrenderRsst knew he
was committing q crime when no took the life
OF the Mayor. Judge Brentsno followed with
instructions to the jury. lengthy. but explicit,
providing for every contingency or doubt
which might arise In the minds OF those who
were PrenderRast's judges.
The Jury retired Mt :25 o'clock. Prender-
CAST sat sullen and silent His open mouth
twitched nervously. and he turned his head
at every sound coming from the entrance to
the crowded court room. He was fearful OF a
speedy agreement, as he realized that that
would be significant Of a verdict OF guilty"
After while he was taken back to his cell In
the jail. and the tension which had kept the
men and women subdued was relaxed.
The silence gave place to liRht-hearted talk
in every part OF the court room. The lawyers
began to discuss other famous murder trials.
Bursts Of laughter came from the group at
intervals. and even the attorneys who have
worked hard against great odds to save q cir
client Joined in the diversion. The Harrison
family was represented by Preston Harrison.
son Of the murdered man. Neither Prender-
CASTS mother nor brother was in tho court
room. Nobody was expecting the return OF
the jury for q few hours Suddenly. at 2:28
o'clock, In the midst OF general conversation
and laughter came bailiiis voice calling.
Take seats now. gentlemen"
-, Every eye was turned toward the door and
tho buzz OF conversation died away. Judge
brSSn,ano led The way, followed by the iuT, and
Win R' n S Rfns sI
ynnced slowly to HIS. seat: Jail Clerk Ben
Price, who accompanied tho assassin. urged
Pre1derGast ob eye The latter njuncton
only. His bravado had fed and he came be.
fore the s9Ts and the bGry eogps and p
wall and guards, stood over him. His lips
hung apart. pallor spread over his face and
lence was broken by the voice Of Judge Bren-
tan9 9 ssyin ns, .rood rnon v.r,,,. o.,,.
We have, your Honor" replied Foreman
suffer handing the document to the Judge,
who gave II to the Clerk. That officer opened
It In the midst OF GREATNESS suspense and read:
We, the Jury md the defsnd.nt Patrick Eugene
as charged IN the Indictment, ana We nx hi. punish
ment at death.
When the Clerk uttered the word death"
Prendergast made the Catholic sign over his
breast with his right hand. Not word es-
capped his lips. The verdict kept the spectators
took hold OF the trembling prisoner and were
hurry ing him back to the Jail whom the voice
Of Judge Brentano was heard again.
Bring the prisoner backW he commanded
and PrenderRast was led back to his seat The
Formally OF polling the jury had not been
complied with. II was soon over, each Juror
this low your verdict p
PrenderCast did not sit down tho second
time He stood pale and trembling close to his
chair resting one hand against the wall for
support. while a guard held the other. After
the jury had been polled and Prendergast had
been removed. Attorney Wade entered the
argued next week. Then the crowd quietly
dispersed.
Preston Harrison went to Mr. Trude and
thanked him earnestly for his able services
and personal interest In meeting out Justice
to the nj rderer OF his father. His remarks
were free from exultant feeling. He believed
that Justice only had been done
Prendergast created no scene when he was
returned to his eel and the verdict was kept
from his fellow prisoners as long as possible.
They soon received word through yisOtors,
however. and Jailer Morris removed the con-
demned man tonight to "Murderers' Row."
his cell being next to that Of Painter, who was
deTgast sent word that he would not see any