The record-union., 1893-12-30
Their Efforts.
snecial to the REcoRn-UxIox.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN-
CHICAGO, Dec. % Prendergast, the
murderer of Carter II. Harrison, will be
hanged for the crime. The verdict of the
jury said it, and the people of Chicago
approve of it. AS ably defended as the
assassin was, and as strong as the evil
dence adduced to save his neck has been,
the jury found him to be sufficiently re-
sponsible for his action, and demanded
that he pay the highest penalty for this
offense against the law. This, however,
IS a sorry recompense for the life of Carter
Il Harrison.
Nothing since the commission of his
crime has so irritated Prendergast as a
comparison between himself and Guiteau.
But in the courtroom this afternoon he
showed that one trait existed in common
between them. He proved himself an
unmanly, miserable coward, who would
save his own life at any price. When Clerk
Fitzgerald arose to read the finding OF
The Jury, the prisoner stood clutching the
back of his chair, his face flushed, and
his knees trembling violently. 1--WE, the
Jury, find the defendant. Patrick Eugene
John Prendergast, guilty of murder in
The manner and form as charged in the
Indictment, and fix the penalty at DEATH"
read Fitzgerald. Then Prendergast re-
vealed himself an utter coward. His
face turned pale, he opened his mouth to
speak, but only faint murmur came.
lie moved slightly, and would have
fallen but for the assistance OF the baIllff.
When the jury was polled he listened
with avidity to each and every answer to
Judge Brentano's question, and as each
Juror in turn reiterated the verdict the
Of oft
lie was half led, half carried back to his
cell, where, refusing to speak, he threw
himself upon his bunk III an attempt to
hide himself from his fellow prisoners.
The eX pressions Of satisfaction which fol-
lowed the verdict were more emphatic
than graceful and more sincere than po-
lite.
Attorney Trude, for the prosecution,
closed with an eloquent plea for the con-
viction of the prisoner, who he declared
had been proved sane by preponderance
Of evidence. The court then took a re-
cess till l o'clock, and promptly at that
hour Judge Brentano began his charge to
the jury. Prendergast buried his face in
a black handkerchief, and did not look
up till at the close of the Judges charge
me word death" was uttered, and the
prisoner looked up for an instant.
Upon the question OF insanity, which
was the point at issue, Judge Brentano
said If the jury believed the defendant
committed the crime as charged, know
ing it wrong. it was the duty of the jury
10 find the prisoner guilty, even though
they believed at the time the crime was
committed the prisoner was not perfectly
sane. But if the jury believed at the
time the act was committed the prisoner
was not of sound mind, but affected with
insanity, and such affection was an etfi-
cienJ cause of the act, then the prisoner
ought to be acquitted. II the jury had
any doubts as to the prisoners sanity the
law gives him the benefit of the doubt.
If the jury believed the defendant was
laboring under delusion which deprived
the accused of the power Of choosing be-
tween right and wrong, then the jury
must acquit him.
At l:30 the Jury retired to consider the
verdict. Nothing was heard from them
Tor exactly an hour. Then BailiH Busse
hurried through the room to notify the
jailer to bring the prisoner into court, and
few minutes later the jury filed in and
took their places.
AS Prendergasr took his seat the Judge
said: Have you agreed upon verdict?"
The twelve men bowed assent, and Fore
man Sutter handed a paper containing
the verdict to Clerk Fitzgerald. When
fitzgerald read in measured tones the
finding of the jury, the prisoner had
focused upon him the eyes of nearly
every person in the room, and with diff
Guilty he kept from breaking down.
Attorney Wade made the usual request
that the jury he polled, and then the pris-
oner was removed, and the Judge an
nounced the jury excused and the pro-
ceedings at an end.
Before the adjournment Of court Wade
made the usual application for new trial.
and the Judge announced that he would
fnta. lion, of. frrtf1 u
The mother of the prisoner did not
trast herseiftO remain in court to hear the
result of the trial, but fingered around
the corridors waiting tor the first news 10
come from the courtroom. When it came,
an instant after the verdict was rendered,
she tottered away, clinglng to the bannis-
Ter for support as she descended the
stairs John Prendergast, the prisoner S
brother, if he was III court, left without
attracting attention.
Trude and his associate, Todd, received
hearty congratulations, Preston Harrison
being one of the first TO thank Trude for
his efforts.
Before announcing the verdict the jury
men agreed not to make public the scenes
in the iury-room, and after their dismissal
they positively refused to talk. From a
court official, however, 1t was learned
that the jury was unanimously IN favor
OF the death sentence.
In an interview tonight Attorney
Trude said: THE conviction of this man
viii, in my opinion, operate as a deter
nentagalnstthe commission oflike crimes
by notoriety-lOving cranks. Since the
trial of Prendergast has been in progress
cranks have arisen all over the country,
threatening Mayors, chiefs of depart
mentS and men of means. This verdict
will operate as lie insurance policy on
their safety. a verdict OF acQuittal on
the ground of insanity would be the SOW
ing of dragons teeth, and threatened
Mayors and others would be in danger Of
losing their lives"
Members of the late MAYORS family
were apparently expecting such a verdict
as given, and seemed to derive little sat-
isfaction from the fact that the murderer
was TO die for his crime. Their feeling
was only that justice had been done
Carter ii. Harrison, Jr., one of the pro-
4lrietors of tie Times, in discussing the
verdict. said: 81 am not surprised at the
verdict, because to my mind there has
never been the least doubt as to the mans
legal responsibility when he committed
the act. | think the hanging verdict will
have a most beneficial effect upon the
vast army who seek notoriety by deeds
of violence or by threatening men occu-
pying high positions"
please ask the gentleman TO excuse
me. / would prefer not to see or talk
With ANYBODY tonight This was the
verbal response of Prendergast, as he sat
in his cell tonight to a written message
to the effect that the Associated Press
would be pleased to receive any state
luent Prendergast might be disposed 10
10 frha roDOrtar who sent in the mes