The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-11-03
PRENDEHGAST Ira JAIL.
The Assassin Has Very Little to Say
Thinks HIS NefarIous Work Highly


Thinks HIS Nefarious Work HighI,
| Popular.
CHICAGO, Oct. 0.-Throughout yes
terdayA Prendergast maintained the
same stolid demeanor which has char
acterized him all through except or
the occasion of his surrender to Sergt.
Mcdonald, at Desplaines street station.
lie still sticks to the story that he
killed the mayor for no other reason
than that he was not made corporation
counsel and insists that he had an en-
tire right to act as he did. He is un-
doubtedly sincere in both his story and
his opinion regarding his crime.
When taken to the Jail Prendergast
seemed absolutely Indifferent to his
surroundings and situation. A COM
plete search was made of his clothing
at the Jail. but nothing was found eX-
cepting one dollar in money
While the fOrmality of delivering
the prisoner to the Jail authorities
was in progress, Prendergast occu-
pied himself in lacing up his shoes,
which had been removed for the pur-
pose of searching him .IIe was then
conducted to cell II. 1t was occupied
| at the time by Jung Jack Lee. the
| Chinaman who is under life sentence for
the murder of his cousin, and another
Chinaman named Tom Long, awaiting
trial for larceny. The Cinnamon were
transferred and Prendergast locked up
Cell No. ii is an historic cell, being the
one which contained Lingg, the an
archist. when he committed suicide.
u IL.
the cell when he caused his own death
by taking morphine.
While the cell was being examined
Prendergast sat down on bench in
the cage. He frightened up and en-
tered into a conversation with Clerk
Price. He did not, however, seem in
clined to talk about his crime, but
asked to see the papers. Parts of the
Sunday papers Were handed to him.
but none of them contained the local
news sheets. Prendergast quickly no
ticed this and asked for the account |
of the murder This was handed |
to him and he read down the column |
in an apparently mechanical manner. |
Then he dropped the paper and then
said: II did my duty" repeating the
sentence several times. Then he re-
lapsed into silence and would say moth
ing more. After entering the cell be
threw himself on the bed, clasping his
hands behind his head
Clerk Price then sent to the iail
kitchen and ordered dinner for Prem
dergast, as he had expressed himself to
be hungry. The regular jail dinner
was brought to him, consisting of soup,
roast beef and vegetables Prender-
CAST ate everything that was given
him and then lit Il cigar and was in
clined to talk.
Il am very tired. he said, having
been bothered SO much by so many
people to-day. feel greatly relieved. '
Is great strain IS off my mind |
nave done my duty, and think the ..
majority of people, when they know !
his, will be on my side | shall get
'ut clear. / do not mind the physical L
confinement at all, and my mind is now c
clear"
What was your reason for killing i,
he mayor was asked. Prendergast o
eplied emphatically: Il was to have b
he position of corporation counsel. but
lie played false to me, and ! only did
ight in killing him. did not know
hat had fired three shots at him un- T,
il read it in the papers. was of the
that | had fired two shots
t the mayor. | fired another shot as (,
went away to prevent anyone follow /!
1g me, as expected a large crowd to "
blow me-" o
Did Mr. Harrison say anything to al
on when you met him in the house?'' ot
Prendergdst replied: No; / drew it
~ revolver and fired. After the first W
not Mr. Harrison shouted Murder 81
Mt | did not hear him say anything I'll
se. ! ran away pretty quickly AMI al
iught Il street car. cS
Here Prcndergast claimed he was
red and declined to talk any more. 80