Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-11-01

CARTER II. HARRISON.
last Of which was fatal walked quietly
down the street to the Desplaines Street
station, where he gave himself up. He
was soon after removed to the central
office in the city hall.
About 7:30, when the family had left
the dinner table, the door bell rang.
Mary Hanson, the parlor maid, an
swered the call. A young man asked to
see Mr.. Harrison.
''What name shall 1 give ?" asked the
maid.
a city official" was the reply.
Mayor Harrison left the table and ad-
vanced from the diningroom into the
hall. The murderer, who was fully
twenty feet distant, raised his weapon
and fired without sayings word. Three
shots were fired SO closely together as
to sound like one explosion. Members
Of the family in the house, the servants
and neighbors heard the reports and
within an incredibly short time the dy-
ing man was surrounded; not soon
enough to capture the assassin, how
ever, who had stood at the main en-
trance of the hall and did not pursue
his victim when he saw the result of his
deadly work.
William Preston Harrison, who was
in his room ON an upper floor, heard
the shots, turned IN call Oh q police
alarm box, and hurried down to learn
the cause of the disturbance. The
coachman. who had heard the triple
report, came promptly to the rescue,
and fired several shots at the retreating
form of the assassin, but without result.
Stunned by the shock, Mayor Harri-
son went back to the dining-rOom he
had just left and evidently attempted to
reach his chamber by rear stairway, as
he passed into the buffers pantry.
There his strength failed him and he
sank to the floor. It was there he was
found by ". J. Chalmers, who lives OPP
posite Mayor Harrison on Ashland
Boulevard
Mr.. Chalmers too had heard the sound
of the revolver, and saw the murderer
running away. fastening to the Harff-
son mansion he found the front door
open and entered. Proceeding INTO the
dining-room he saw through the open
door Mr.. Harrison lying on the floor Of
the pantry.
This is death, Chalmer," said Mr..
Harrison, 81 am shot through the
heart"
Making a hasty examination Mr.
Chalmers said: "You are mistaken Mr.
Harrison. You are shot in the stom-
ach."
''No, through the heart, tell you,"
said the dying man, with return Of his
customary vigor, and then relapsed into
a state of semi-consciOusnesS
Mr.. Harrison asked to see his sons
and daughters, said he knew he was
going to die, but made no further state
nents concerning the assault.
Within few minutes after the shots
were fred DR.. Foster, who had been
summoned, arrived, and almost stimuli
taneously came Drs. Lyman, Washburn
and Thomas. There was nothing to be
done. The assassin's bullet had accom-
plished its purpose. Death had already
glazed the eye of the victim, and medi-
cal science was useless.
Death came. quickly and apparently
without great pain to the victim. His
breath came in shorter and shorter
gasps, until at the end the registrations
were like those Of a little child-faint
and gentle, with neither CONFUSION
nor struggle. The end came as peace
fully as one might expect at the passing
away of a baby.
If Mayor Harrison had carried out
his original intentions it is likely that
he would not have been at home last
night. But for the election he would
have been on his way South, where, as
at first agreed, he would have been
married to Miss Annie Howard Novem-
ber7
This arrangement provided for an
early departure from Chicago, and in all
probability Mr.. Harrison would have
been in New Orleans now. But because
OF the election the marriage was post
poned until November Is, and Mr..
Harrison was to leave Chicago the 18th.
Miss Howard arrived at the Harrison
mansion soon after the mayors death.
Prendergast took car after leaving
the Carter mansion and proceeded
direct to the central station. He
walked up to the desk sergeant and
said, II did it." He carried the re-
volver in his hand. He was later trans
ferred TO tbs Desplaines Street station.
Prendergast, the murderer of Mayor
Harrison, was to-day held to the grand
Jury to answer to his crime. The COR
oner's jury, after q short deliberation
which SAYS that the Mayor came to his
death on the 28th day Of October from
shock and bullet wounds from a pistol
ia the hands o. E. p. Prendergast
Prendergast is a crank. His princi-
pal reason for killing Mayor Harrison is
that the Mayor promised to make him
corporation counsel and did not do it.
lie is crank Of the Guiteau order.