The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-29

rosite the HARRISON residence il the hpnae
OF W J. Chalmers. a wealthy maker Of
mining machinery. Chalmers was stand.
/ Ing upon the front steps OF his residence
when the sAots were fired. He dashed
across the street and met Frendergrast at
the gate. What is itf" asked Chalmers.
Tie man walked away RAPIDLY without
replying. and Chalmers fastened into the
hosss and reached Harrison At almost the
same time thai William Preston Harrison
iound where his father lay.
Are You hnrt7~ asked Chalmers, as hs
and the son OF the dying man struve to
raise him.
have got my death. Chalmers" re-
spoaded the mayor; I'm shot in the
heart and . dead man,
A moment later Harrison said. with
voice rapidly losing strength "Unbasson
my vest; there il where the trouble is"
by this time the stricken man had been
borne TO coach in an adjoining room.
and as be spoke Chalmers gently opened
hss ~alsscoak The front OF the shirt was
soaked in blood, which wslled rapidly
from the wound.
1T is through the heart, !" said the mayor
again, his voice scarcely above a whisper.
A moment later he sank into unconscious
the wound Harrison was dead.
When young Harrison came down stairs
and learned the cause of the shooting he
turned in burglar alarm. and even before
he reached his fathers side patrol wagon
filed with officers from the Lake strees
station Was dashing toward the mayors
house. BY the time the officers arrived
all trace of the murderer was lost, and be-
fore the mayor breathed his last officers
from every station in the city were on the
lookout for the murderer. Every possible
effort was made 20 secure medical aftend-
ance for Harrison. but when DIR. Lyman,
the first physician 70 arrive, reached the
mayors side he was dead man.
About twenty-five minutes after thu
shooting Sergt. Frank Mcdonald was
standing in the Office Of the Despiainea
street police station. Every available Of
ncer had already hurried out 10 work on
the case. and Mcdonald was preparing To
follow. The door was pushed gently open,
and In walked small. smooth-shayen.
poorly iy-dressed man, carrying a revolver in
his hand He shook like man with
palsy. His face was white and drawn.
Great drops OF pcrspiration chased
each other down bis face. and his totter-
ing limbs seemed scarcely able to hold
him up.
Looking Mcdonald ssraigA. In the eyes
he said:
"I did It."
"You did its" asked Mcdonald.
"Yss, did"
did whatT" said the officer, a. he iaid
one hand on the fellows shoulder and
with the other took the revolver.
II shot Mayor HARRISON, and that 10
what shot him with, was the reply.
What made you do it7" asked Nc
Donald.
''He said he would make me corporation
counsel. and he did not That 10 what I
shot him for"
Prendsrgrast was trembling 90 that he
could scarcely stand, and the officer led
him TO chair and asked few moro uuex-
tions. to which Prendergrast would only
make the reply he had first given a to
the cause OF the shooting. He said that
after leaving Harrison's house he had
taken . street car and started toward tho
Desplainss street station with the object
OF giving himself up. "The car did not
so very fast" he said. Tor would have
been here sooner -
The cell door had barely closed behind
the murderer when an excited crowd be-
gan gathering about the police station.
Patrol wagons ratified up TO the place. cabs
and carriages came by the score, and The
occupants crowded and pushed their way
into the Office. Personal friends OF the
dead mayor. city officials and the curious
crowded against each other in a wild en-
deavor 20 learn IL tho story which had
spread like wildfre through the city were
true. An immense throng gathered. and
fak. ~fsum. -
way home added their voices to the sub
dued threats OF vengeance. for Mr.. Harri-
SON was popular with the masses.
The streets were soon filed for blocks.
and the officers. ~ they looked out Of the
station windows upon the surging sea Of
angry faces. became alarmed for the safety
OF their prisoner. A hsssy conference Was
held. and IL was decided TO remove Prem
dergrast to the central station in the city
hall. The trembling. pale-faced man vas
taken between two stalxart officers
through the rear door and hurried away
IN the darkness.
Meantime tidings OF the murder swepk
like an electric shock through the city.
Everybody seemed TO gather about the
central station. Bulletins we're posted ia
prominent downtown places. and about
them eager throngs surged and struggled.
The newspaper offices were besieged By
eager quessioners and downtown business
was for time at q standstili. Before the
prisoner reached the city hail news Of his
coming had been communicated 70 the
crowd. The murderer vas rushed through
the throng and taken by Q private entrance
into Chief OF Detective sheas Office and
the doors barred. Officers hurried from
djacent stations 10 guard the place.
The prisoner as soon he reached the
Office sank exhausted into . chair. His
head felt back. and his iiTid face ana star
ing eyes presented q CHASTITY picture. He
was slender man, perhaps 2s years old.
With beardless and cadaverous face. and
a stupid. almost idiotic expression. For .
time the man refused to answer any qnes-
tions, and then. in . scarcely audible
voice. said: I'm sick; I'm sick
Chief shea told him be vas doctor, aud
asked him: why did you kill the
mayor2"
"wsll. " the man responded feebly, ''hs
told me he would make mo corporation
counsel. and did not do IL, 50 shot him.
That ls ali; | shot him"
What is your name7" asked the deseo-
tive.
'Prendsrgraat; Patrick Eugene or Ra-
gene Patrick. makes no differences Shieh."
Where do yoa hve?'
II don't knoE. Around here somewhere,
guess. | don't live on the railroad
tracks. Ill tell you that, = be sasd EN-
rhatscaIly