Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-12-30
Will BE- HANGED.
Fate Of The Assassin Of
Mayor Carter Harrison.
TREMBLED With FEAR
And Almost Fell When Deci-
sion Was Reached.
Took the Jury Exactly an Hour 10 Agree Upon
Verdict Which Was Unanimous.

murderer of Carter ii. Harrison, will be
hanged for his crime. The verdict Of the
Jury has said il. and the people of Chi
cago approve 1t. Ably defended as the
assassin has been, strong as has been
evidence adduced to save his neck from
the halter, the jury has found him sane,
responsible for his act. and demanded
that he pay the highest price for his
offence against the law.
Nothing since the commission Of his
crime has so irritated Prendergast as the
comparison between himself and Charles
Guiteau. He has resented Ii with energy
and scorn, as though the assassin Of Gar
field was foul and creeping thing COM
pared with himself. But In the court
room yesterday afternoon he showed that
one trait existed in common between
Guiteau and himself. He proved himself
an unmanly, miserable coward, a creature
who would have life at any price, under
any conditions, anywhere, anyhow, only
let It be life.
The Assassin Weakened.
When Clerk Fitzgerald arose to read
the finding Of the jury, the prisoner stood
clutching the back Of chair, eyeing him
with the most intense eagerness. His
long, bony fingers nervously clasped and
unclasped the back of the chair, his
knees trembled violently, his face was
flushed, and the spiteful looking mouth
opened and closed as though he would
say something, but lacked the power to
speak.
1--WE, the jury, And the defendant,
Patrick Eugene John Prendergast, guilty
of murder in manner and form as charged
In the Indictment. and fix the penalty at
DEATH"
Fitzgerald's voice, clear and calm, read
out the finding, and died away with a
slight emphasis on the final word.
Then Prendergast revealed himself the
utter coward. His face turned pale, he
opened his mouth to speak, but only q
and quivering lips.
His Fate Sealed.
He moved slightly and would have
fallen to the floor but for the assistance Of
bailiff. When the Jury was polled he
listened with avidity 10 each and every
answer to Judge Brentano's question,
"Was thds and Is this now your verdictw
"It Is" said Foreman Jacob Sutter, and
'It is" repeated every other Juror, and
hope and the last vestige Of courage faded
utterly In Prendergast's breast He was
half led, half carried back to his cell,
where, refusing to speak, he threw him
self upon his bunk IN the attempt to hide
from his fellow-prisoners, whose express
sions Of satisfaction over the verdict were
more emphatic than graceful, and more
sincere than polite.
Before the Verdict.
Mr.. Trude resumed his argument at the
opening Of court and spoke until within
few minutes of 10 o'clock. He closed
with an eloquent plea for the conviction
Of the prisoner, as he had been proved
sane by the preponderance of the evidence.
When he finished the court announced .
recess until o'clock.
Court was In session few minutes be-
fore that time and Judge Brentano began
his charge to the jury precisely at
o'clock.
Az the court commenced to read tho
instructions offered by the state Prender.
Rast buried his face in black handker-
never once did he look up or move until
tust at the close Of the judges charge,
when the court instructed the jury as to
the form Of the verdict. At the mention
Of the word death" the prisoner dropped
his hands for an instant. When the court
said. "Or you may sentence him to the
psniteptiary for the term Of his patural
iife," Prendergast again twitched nerv-
ously. At 180 the Jury retired TO con-
slider the verdict.
Twenty minutes were consumed In de-
livering the charge, and then the Judge
said, "Gentlemen, you may retire to con-
slider your verdict" Leaving the court
room at 1:27, there was nothing heard
from the jury until exactly an hour had
elapsed. At 2:27 Bailiff Bush escorted the
fury into court and the verdict was an
uoupced.
Back to His Cell.
Prendergast was led away to his cell in
che fail and Bailf Becker was detailed
to stay with him. The prisoner refused
70 SEQ any one, and as soon as he reached
the cell threw himself face downwards on
his bunk and would not crafty the
curiosity Of the crowd that gathered
around the spot from which view of the
interior of his cell could be had by look.
ingup. apo,..,n, ., III. ,nrv .,,., ~. va,
dict had been found, Judge Brentano said:
"It was the most intelligent jury that
ever saw. There was not what you might
term o cheap man !n the lot. Every one
sen. and much higher In the positions
that they hold In the business and social
word than the average man who can bs
secured for Jury duty.
Decision was Unanimous.
The turymen all expressed themselves
q heartily satisfied that the long weeks
Of tedious confinement were over. The
fury vas unanimously In favor Of death
ssatuca Two ballots were taken.
HigginsBrothers.
Old Pepper Whiskies.