The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1893-11-04
Mayor Carter Harrison Shot Down
in His Own House.
THE FIEND SURRENDERS
Claimed Harrison Had Promised Him a
Position and Failed TO Keep His
Word-Nation MOurns.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, Oct. 2s.-Another crazy
crank has done his deadly work and
Carter H. Harrison, five times mayor of
Chicago, and one of the best known men
in the west, lies dead at his home, 231
South Ashland boulevard. Three bullets
entered his body, two making wounds
sufficient to cause death.
The murder was committed by Eugene
Patrick Prendergast, a paper carrier,
who declared that Mayor Harrison had
promised to make him corporation coun
sci and had not kept his word. This, he
said, was his only reason for commit
ting the crime.
The only person in the house at the
time of the shooting beside Mr.. Harri-
son was his son, William Preston Harri-
son, aged 25, and the servants.
Shortly before o'clock the door bell
rang, and when Mary Hansen, dcmes-
tic, opened the door she was confronted
by man about five feet high, smooth
shaver, with clean cut features, lit up
by pair of dark eyes.
''Is Mr.. Harrison inl" asked the man
in quiet, pleasant voice.
"Yes sir" responded the girl, as she
threw open the door to admit his en-
trance.
81 would like to see him, please, z" said
the man, as he walked toward the back
end of the hall.
Harrison was in the dining room,
which opened into the rear of the hall
Hearing the man ask for him he stepped
into the hall and walked toward Prem
dergast. Without SAYING Word Prem
dergast drew a revolver and commenced
firing. He pulled the trigger but three
times, and every bullet hit its mark
One bullet shattered Harrison's left
hand. Another passed into the lower
right side of the abdomen, making a
wound that would have been mortal
within few days. The third bullet en-
r tered the chest slightly above the heart.
This wound was the immediate cause of
death.
ESCAPE OF THE ASSASSIN.
AS soon as Prendergast began to fire
Harrison turned and walked rapidly to-
ward the dining-room. He passed through
into the buffers pantry, where, weak
ened by loss of blood, he fell to the floor.
Prendergast did not follow up his vic
tim, but replaced the revolver in his
pocket with the same elaboration that
marked all of his actions and started
toward the door. Just as he was pas
sing out William Preston Harrison came
tearing down the stairs and the coach
man ran into the rear end of the hall.
The cries of Mary Hansen directed the
son to where his father lay, but the
coachman was after other game. He
had revolver of his own and as quickly
as he realized what had happened he
sent a bullet after the disappearing
form of the murderer. A second time
ne fred, but both bullets went wild.
Running to the door the coachman pre-
pared to continue hostilities, but sew
eral persons were entering because of
the shooting and by the time the coach
man reached the sidewalk the murderer
had disappeared.
LIVED But TWENTY MINUTES.
Across Ashland boulevard, directly
opposite the Harrison residence, is the
home of w. ]. Chalmers, wealthy max
er of miuing machinery. Chalmers wa:
standing on the front steps of his resi-
dence when the shots were fred. He
dashed across the street and met Prem
dergast at the gate.
"What is it," said Chalmers. The
man walked rapidly away without re
plying and Chalmers fastened into the
house and reached Harrison at almost
the same moment William Preston Har
rison found where his father lay.
"Are you hurtl" asked Chalmers, az
he and the son of the dying man strovC
to raise him.
Il have got my death, Chalmers" re
sponded the mayor. "rm shot in the
heart and am a dead man"
A moment later Harrison said, with Z
voice rapidly losing strength:
"Unbutton my vest, there's where the
trouble is"
By this time the stricken man hai
been borne to a couch in an adjoining
room, and as he spoke Chalmers gently