The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-15


land avenue, at ten minutes before o'clock,
o. NJ, AMI one hour and twelve minutes later
he died. The man who did the shooting was
arrested and locked up at the Desplaines
street police station. where he savethe name
OF Eugene Patrick Prendergast.
The circumstances in connection with the
shooting made it evident that the assasslna-
tion OF the Mayor was premeditated. Mr..
Harrison was asleep on coucn IN the south
par,o- OF his house when the doorbell
was runc. about Z 80. There was no
one in the house with him save his son,
Preston, and the servants. One OF the
Iattpr-Mary Hansen-went to the front
door in response TO the ring. When she
opened the door a man standing on the top
step ASKED If Mr.. Harrison was at home. She
replied that he was, but that he was asleep
an ould not be seen.
':Ny business with Mr.. Harrison is very
important, said the man, land must see
hirn at once"
The women then asked him to wait, while
she made inquiry, and leaving the door open
she walked down the hall, and entered the
parlor in which the Mayor was sleeping.
Having awakened him and deliveredthe mes
sage she passed out OF rear door, and re-
turned to the servants rooms.
The Mayor Immediately got up and started
ont OF the parlor into the hall when Prender-
gast drew revolver and fired three shots in
rapid succession. All three bullets lodged in
the MAYORS body. One entered the stomach
about eight inches below the heart and
little to theright Of that organ. Another en-
tered the left side under the arm and curvinS
upward penetrated the heart. The third
struck his left hand near the knuckle OF the
second finger.
Tne man opened FIRE so quickly that it is
no: believed that any conversation took place
between them. The Mayor may bave greeted
his caller as he stepped into the hallway, but
roc1i2S more. Mr.. Harrison did not fall to
taa foor at once, but staggered back into
th., pirIor and was able to reach side door
THIS leads into the buffers pantry. Hero he
tuvrpl around and staggered toward the
hall door again. But in . moment he fell
BACKWARD to the floor, where he lay upon
his back with his head toward the west.
Immediately after firing the fatal shots
Prendergast turned and started to leave the
premises Mayor Harrison's private coach
man followed him, and shots were ex-
changed between the two n.en, none OF
which, however, took effecr.
Preston Harrison, the Mayors son, was
upstairs when the assassination tooi place.
he hurried downstairs upon hearing the
shots, and was soon kneeling by his fathers
side. TIE Mayor was still conscious and
his left hand was clutched over the region OF
his heart, as though he were suffering great
pain.
whats the matter. father? asked Pres
ton.
MIR. Harrison opened his eyes. and, in
voice that was very weak, replied:
"Tye been shot, and am going 20 die. 1
cannot live. Preston. Where Is Armies"
But Preston did not wait to look for Miss
Howard. who was soon to become his faith
er's wife. He had noticed that the front
door WAS open. and in a moment he was
upon the street in search Of the assassin.
But search was unnecessary. Within short
time Prendersast appeared at the Desplaines
street station and gave himself up.
In the meantime. Mr.. and Mrs. ". 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 Mr.. Harri-
son stopped long enough TO inform h1snelgn-
bors OF the terrible affair and then started
in pursuit of the murderer. MIR. and Mrs.
Chalmers hastily entered the house. Mr.
Chalmers ut once making pillow OF his
oye-coa:, which he placed under Mr.. Harrl-
Son head.
..I have beer shot and cannot live" said
the Mayor. as he gasped for breath.
'You won't die" said Mr.. Chalmers. "You
h.v. been shot in the abdomen.
NO. have been shot il the heart, and 1
know cannot live" was the reply.
The murderer. pursued by the coachman,
ran along Ashland avenue toward monroe
street, at a breakneck pace, and in a few mo-
ments had reached the Desplai2es Street
Police Station. He walked in and ap-
preached the sergeant at the desk. He was
about to speak. when the foremost OF his
pu.suers rushed breathlessly into the sta
tion. Lock that man up!' said the coach
nan. 'He has killed Mayor Harrison
Ju an instant the sergeant vas out from
behind his desk, and catching hold OF the
mans :rn. pulled him within the wire incio-
sure, rs though to preserve his lie from a
crowd which was gathering with astonishing
rapiGiiy. Without waiting to register the
prisoner, he was quickly taken back and
placed behind the bars. The station was
then cleared OF tie excited people. AMI the
scr.eant went for a talk with the prisoner.
IVY name is Eugene Patrick Prender-
gas:, lie said in responset to the first inquiry.
"Do you KNOW that you nave killed Mayor
Harrisonw said the sergeant
':Yes, and am glad OF it, was the answer.
'sHe promised to give me the Corporation
Counselship and has not kept his word
where do you liye?"
cat No. 6O9 Jane street, with my mother"
said the prisoner.
IQlS e1OeQ tue lutelNlSn. 1uc oOl Scaut
at once telephoned the Central station and in
a few moments several officers from that dis
trict were at the Desplaines street station. A
patrol was called after few moments and
the prisoner was taken to the Central station
downtown.
Shortly after II o'clock the patrol was
again brought into requisition for the pur-
pose Of conveying the prisoner to the County
Jail. The officers were barely seated before
in Il
mutternCs Of the crowd the assassin was
hurried of to the North Side, where he was
lodged in the County Jail for safe keeping,
When the news OF Mayor Harrisons s
assassination reached the downtown streets
imclense crowds gathered around the news
paper buildings, reading the bulletins postea
IRON time TO time with eagar interest. Ins
building occupied by the Times, OF Wnich
Mr.. Harrison was proprietor. was the
gathering place OF the most excited throng,
and murmurs against the life OF the assassin
We're heard on every hand.
4 Republican mass meeting. held N the
interests OF the judicial candidates, WIS in
session at the Turner Hall at O'Clock. the
house being uncomfortable crowded. Ex-
Governor Richard J, Oylesby was speaking
wner the announcement ofthe Mayors death
was made:
The Ex-Governor, Harrison's neishbor, In
his native Kentucky, his friend in their
adopted State Of Illinois, tried to tell the
audience, but his condition oyercame him.
Tears burst from him, and he muttered once
family,
.'Chicago's shame"
1t was then J. v. Farxell, the grelt mer-
chant of Chicago, arose, and walking with
an effort to the front of the platform, said In
tones that had strange ring in them that
those who knew him had never heard before !:
CAN awful deed has been committed. An