The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-15
JAMES P. SILO, Auctio.
PREADARG IsI,s IRI4L.
The state Closes, aud the Prisoner. Mothe,
TeIIn the SIorN OF Hts LIr.

The state Closes, aud the PriSOrer's Mother
Tells the story of His LIE.
CHICAGO. Dec. 1I.-In the Prendergast trial
Desk Sergeant Barber OF the Desplaines street
station told the story OF Irendergasts giving
himself ny and said that at that time the rrs-
oner gave as reason for his act that the
Mayor had deceived him, that he had prom
ised TO give him the position Of Corporation
Counsel. and that he had not L. pt his word.
Miss Sophia Harrison was tho next witness.
Her testimony was given with great effort.
She told OF the killing OF her father as far rs
che could relate the cumstances from per-
sonal knowledge.
Police Sergeant Mcdonald and Operator
Walsh OF the Despnines street station told
the story OF the prisoners arrival there and
his confession that he had killed the Mayor.
William J. Chalmers testified 20 hesrin: tho
shots, and rushing into the Harrison resi-.
dence. II found tho Mayor. deceased. ly-
ing at full length on his back. Chalmers, this
is death. the dying man said. I'm shot over
the heart"
When I declared that he was not fatally
wounded. no replied with his old time vGor,
IA II annoyed because disputed his word:
tell you ana dying asked him to toll who
he sGid Don't make mo talk. I'm dying"
=, MI. Irude drew from the witness the fact
informed one Of the servants tia, he was the
man she let in. also adding: Il did it."
"lrendeerEGasty said the same thing ycster-
Yes Won sec the intent Of the question. 1t
shows memory, The ability to distinguish
Mrs; rren:ereast. mother Of the prisoner
wai the first witness for the defence. She is a
lie Her testim"my was that her SON son. r3trick Eu
gene was born In Ireland in 1858, and that
when he WAS two Years OLD he came 20 This
schools attached to Catholic churches His
school life began when ho was and ended
About that time. when he was merging from
hoyhood into manhood she saw with some
in his disposition Ion and thai he Became S"n re
rlYs" l"YrtinE him self TO looks and avoiding
all forms OF outdoor diversion common to
He obtained book entitled " Easy Lessons
on Law and this hook he studied carefully
Geor.n on the single tax theory and he to-
came deeply Interested IN that subject.
un the subject Of law and upon the theories
talk. and for want OF some other listener he
insisted upun discussing these question, with
Once when he was quite young man. soon
after hc left school, he got the idea that he was
lie was at that tune working for the Western
MON deIeEta'l 9mN,an ga "a messefnGer; lie
untilhis money gave out. Another time he left
home, and whrn he came hack few
W2nths later he said he Ind been ., in
which was n failure, and then secured em-
lloyment as newspaper Clrculator. Some
times hn lived at home. hut was irregular in
From July. last summer, until about two
weeks bciOre the murder OF the Mayer he came
home and slept upon an old sofa In tho base
ment although lie was welcome TO sleep In the
room that he had formerly occupied up
stairs. During this period the witness did not
often see her son. Once she talked with him.
AND ana. he told her that it wAT his influence
the Mayor was GoinE to make, him
that no "would have the ONCE Of corporation
I ounsel or nothing" and also that she said to
him; - lOu are not qualified to hold that
l'laGe, and he replieii
has il or. the. Mayor himself" She rcmon-
strqted with him and he said: "a won't talk
with you ON the subject"
Later ns proof Of what h. considered
when he last called upon Mr.. Kraus,
the attorneys had introduce him to all tho at
tachts otthe office, giving the impression that
he was To be tho new chiei.
only once die III" little woman como near
breaking down. This was when she told that
h er SON had written 10 tho Archbishop OF tine
church and had told his reverence that ho |
was no, ding right on n certain question,
During ia" eros examination OF Mrs. pren-
d"rgast the state unwltliuElN brought out the !
tact that when "a baby the prisoner had been /
seriously injured 10y falling "A distance OF four |
feet and striking IN his head.
IL was durin. Mr. trudes Inquiries on this |
point HAT the PRISONER created n sensation in |
couit Ly cxclaitninG: "Trutr. you arc a |
scoundrel to talk TO my mother that way
the icisncc waS Itr1ther BALDWIN Of the st. Pat |
rick Academy. who testified that he had re- |
fused 10 ITendeTgast admittance to the |
academy because he thought no was crazy. |
The court then adjourned until tomorrow |