The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-10-30

his fnvarlable custom to greet everybody
who called to see him, went out into he
hall and was at once shot down, tho mur-
derer firing three bullets into his body
The mayor was at once carried to his room
by his son and Mr.. w. ]. Chalmers, a
ncighbor, but he died before physicians
Arrived.
Meantime the murderer had rapidly dis
appeared, but he had made his way at
6nce to the Desplaines street station,
where he acknowledged his crime and
surrendered. The news OF the tragedy
had spread rapidly, and fearing lynch
Ing, the murderer was quickly conveyed
through a rear door to the central station
In the City hall
The Murderer Questioned.
The murderer hurried through "A private
entrance into Chief of Detectives Shea's
office. The doors We're barred, officers
we're hurried from adjacent stations to
guard the windows, doors and corridors
4 Few detectives and police officers were
Called into the chiefs office and the ex-
animation of Prendergast began. The
prisoner, as soon as he had reached the
office, sank exhausted into chair, his
head fell back, and his llvid face and
staring eyes presented a ghastly picture.
BE Is n slender man, perhaps q years of
age, with beerdless face, and stupid,
almost idiotic expression. His attire was
that of a laborer, and was not over cleanly.
For time the man refused to answer any
questions that were addressed to him. In
b scarcely audible voice he said: 81 am
Eick; I'm sick
Why did you kill the mayori" asked
the chief.
well, the man responded feebly, "he
fold me he would make me corporation
counsel, and he did not do IL, so IIshot
him. | went to his door and rang, and |
went in and shot him. l just shot him;
that's all. shot him"
s'What is your nameS" asked the de-
tective.
"Prendergast, Patrick Eugene, or Eu-
gene Patrick. Makes no difference which.
The last name is Patrick"
where do you lives"
az don't know. Don't know where.
Around here somewhere, | guess But"
and ths man raised his head to make his
answer more emphatic, 81 I@au't live at the
railroad tracks, I'll tell you that and no
amount of inquiry could induce him to
give his place of residence. Chief Shea
asked him If he had ever been lawyer,
and Prendergast responded that he did
not know. He did not believe he had
"Then why did you expect to be made
corporation counsel' asked the officer.
.'The mayor promised me, that's all ~
was the answer
In attempting to learn the mans means
OF livelihood the officers experienced great
difficulty. His replies were incoherent
and rambling, but at last the examiners
became convinced that he had been a
newspaper carrier.
During the course of his talk the pris-
oner stated that he had originated plan
for eleyating the railroad tracks within
the city limits, and that he had desired to
be corporation counsel so that he could
carry out this plan.
"Since the election he said, 'I have
asked for the office, and have been put off
repeatedly, The office was given to an
osher. The mayor had betrayed me and
resolved to have revenge. have it"
"You didn't have any particular plan
Tor elevating the tracks, did youi" asked
the chief
'Hes, had a plan that would have cost
us railroad little and the city nothing.
But | have forgotten 1t now" he con
hnued, wearily. and a moment later be-
gan TO talk again inchorently about Mr..
Harrison's failure to give him a position.
The Coroner's Inquest.
Yesterday Prendergsst was quietly
taken to the Harrison residence, where
Coroner Mitchell held an inquest on the
body of the dead magistrate. Prender-
Asest's departure from the station and his
presence In the house was not generally
Known. Although no indications of vio-
ls9ee were manifested during the day, the
police and coroner agreed that it was best
that the location of the prisoner should be
kept as secret Us possible. Prenderaast
was admitted to the back door, closely
followed By his guard, and wrs taken to
the jury room. When the jury announced
its readiness to go into secret session the
prisoner was taksp from the room and
given place on the hall seat al the foot
of the stairs, facing the visitors who were