The Penn's Grove record., 1893-11-03
MURDERED BY A CRANK,
CARTER H. HARRISON, MAYOR OF
CHICAGO.
TAKEN UNAwAREs BY THE ASSASSIN AT
HIS HOME.
IN H HALLWAY AND SHOT THREE
TIMES,

CHICAGO, Oct.--At $50 o'clock this
evening a man ran upthe front steps of
Mr.. Harrison's residence, at 231 South
Ashland avenue, and rang the bell.
Mary Fansen, the servant, answered
the bell, and the man outside asked for
Mr.. Harrison. She said he would
have to wait a moment, as Mr.. Har-
rison was asleep on a sofa in the par
lor, at the same time going back
through the hall to call him, leaving
the door open.
In a moment Mr.. Harrison stepped
from the parlor into the hall. In an
instant the man had drawn a vevolver
and fired, the shot entering the abdo-
men Just above the navel. Two more shots
rang out an instant later, the first of
which entered the Mayors body under
the left ARM, penetrating the heart.
Mr.. Harrison, when the first shot was
fired, had started toward the door, and
the second shot struck him when
within a few feet of the assassin.
Mr.. Harrison was so close to the
muzzle of the revolver when the third
shot was fired that the bullet shattered
one of the knuckles of his left hand,
and the powder burned the flesh.
THE MURDER PREMEDITATED.
Developments made a few days ago, go
far towards indicating that P~rendergast
has had murder in his heart for several
days. He entered Billy Boyle's chop
house on Calhoun place and took a
seat at a table occupied by w. A. S,
Graham, the murdered Mayors Sacre-
tary, and another gentleman wall
known in local financial circles.
Graham, who was acquainted with
Prendergast, introduced him to his
friend, and both gentlemen noticed
that the man was laboring underintense
excitement. Presently, without any
remarks having been exchanged to lay
a foundation for what was coming,
P~rendergast burst into a bitter denun-
citation of the Mayor for what he de-
clared was the latter's opposition to the
elevation of the surface railroad tracks.
"If he don't elevate the tracks / will
kill him. i will shoot him dead"
calculated Prendergast, bringing his
fist down on the table with a force that
made the dishes rattle and attracted
the attention Of the other patrons of
the place. The gentlemen addressed
simply smiled at him, attributing the
strong language to the excitement
under which he was laboring. Observ-
ing this, he again calculated, this
time with still greater vehemence,
eyes, / will kill him, mind what
l say. Unless he does it he is a dead
man." Not imagining for a moment
that Prendergast cherished any thought
of murder in his heart. Secretary
Graham adroitly changed the subject,
the mans excitement gradually SUBJ
sided, and when he left the place he
had apparently forgotten what he had
said in the heat of passion a few mo-
ments before. Neither of the gentle
men thought any more of the subject,
and Secretary Graham regarded it so
trivial that, so far is known, he did not
mention the subject to his chief. In the
early mail that was delivered in the first
or 7 A delivery at the City Hall
on Saturday there was a letter from
Prendergast addressed to Mayor Har-
rison, in which he urged on the Execu-
tive the necessity of immediate action
upon the elevation of the tracks. Sec
rotary Graham, upon whom the dutyo f
opening and classifying the Mayors
mail has always devolved laid the COM
munication one side, regarding it as
lacking sufficient importance to bring
to the personal attention of the Mayor.