The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-30
pRENDFRGAST FOUND GUILTY.
The Jury Fixes His Punishment
at Death.
when the Verdict was Announced the
Assassin OF Mayor Carter Harrison
Looked Indeed Miserable Wretch In
Human Form-He Created no Scene, as
was Expected

EAiCA1o' LIS, DEC. 29.-The jury,
before which Prendergast was tried for
the murder of Mayor Harrison, has re-.
turned verdict of guilty Of murder in
the first degree, and recommend that he
be hanged.
The verdict was reached after de.
liberation OF little over an hour.
Prendergast CROSSED" himself when 1t
was announced, but uttered no word.
While the judge was reading his care
fullJIpreparod instructions. the prisoners
face betrayed the keenest anxiety. His
open mouth twltched nervously, and he
turned his ill-shaped head at every
sound coming from the entrance to the
crowded courtroom after the Jury had
retired. He was fearful of a speedy
agreement as he realized that would be
significant of a verdict OF guilty. After
while he was taken back to his cell
in the jail, and the tension which kept
the men and women subdued WIS re-
Taxed.
The jury retired at las. At gas
o'clock, in the midst of general CONVEX
sation and laughter, came a bailiff's
shrlll voice calling, Take seats now"
The meaning of the order was we'll un-
derstood. 1t had the effect OF an cleo
trio shock. Every eye was turned
towards the door, and the buzz OF ex-
oltement and conversation died away.
Judge, jury and court OF officers took
their places, and the prisoner was
brought back Prendergast's bravaio
and vanity had fled. The mask had
been torn from his face by fear of an
adverse verdict, and he stood be.
fore the court and jury naturally
criniging coward, afraid to hear his
doom pronounced.
The countenance OF every juror was
sphinx-like No sign of hope for Prem
dorgast could be detected there. He
dropped into his seat against the wall
and guards stood over him. His pro-
truding lower jaw became limp, SO that
his lips hung wide apart IN imbecile
fashion. pallor spread over mis- face,
and he stared vacantly in front OF MIN.
He sat there friendless and excited.
The silence was oppressively intense.
1t was broken by the voice of Judge
Brentano saying: "Have you agreed
upon verdict, gentlemen?" 1--WE have,
your honor" replied Foreman Suffer,
handing the fatal document to the
Judge, who transmitted it to the clerk.
That officer quietly opened it in midst
OF GREATNESS suspense and read as fol-
lows:
1--WE, the jury, find the defendant,
Patrick Eugene Prendergast, guilty of
murder in the manner and form as
charged in the indictment and We fix his
punishment at death"
When the clerk uttered the word
death" Prendergast made the Catholic
sign cver his breast with his right hand.
His demeanor was pitifully AFFECT He
looked indeed a miserable wretch in
human form. Not a word escaped his
lips. The effect of the death verdict
kept the spe ctators silent. No ono rose
to go. Quickly the guards took nold OF
the trembling prisonei and hurried him
back to the Jail.
Prendergast created no scene when he
was returned to his cell. and the ver-
dict was kept from his fellow prisoners
as long as possible. They soon received
word through visitors, however, and
Tailor Morris removed the condemned
man to night to "murderers row." his
cell being next to that of Paynter, who
has been given respite by Governor
Altgeld until January IL Prendergast
sent word that he would not see any
visitors, newspaper men especially.