River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-11-02

out of the gateway leading TO Ashland
boulevard, north on that thoroughfare
TO Adams street, and east on Adams
street out of sight.
Gavo Himself Up.
Forty-ive minutes later Patrick Eu-
gene Prendergast, excited, out OF
breath, and painting from his long run,
bounded up the steps of the Desplaines
street station, and handing a revolver
across the desk to Sergeant Barber,
admitted the crime and was locked up
for it.
Undoubtedly Insane.
The story of the murder seems to in
dictate that it was committed by an
insane or partially demented man.
The act was cold blooded and delibcr-
ate. The man had come to the Harri-
son mansion bent on murder. and
whether actuated by motives the birth
of an unbalanced mind or not, he did
his tiendish work well
Slain in the House.
Mayor Harrison had been at the fair
nearly all day Saturday. He returned
70 his home about o'clock dead
tired" as he said Dinner was at 8
o'clock, and after it Mr. Har-
rison went INTO the back room
and lay down upon a couch. say
ing he would take some rest. Shortly
otter s O'Clock a ring came at the
front door bell. Mary Hansen, the
maid who answered il, found waiting
there small-sized man with wizened,
smooth-shaven face. In answer to his
question he was told the mayor was at
home. He then gave his name as
Prendergast and said he had particular
business with MIR. Harrison.
Assassin Admitted to the House.
Fancying that she recognized the
man the maid admitted the visitor to
the hall and went to wake Mr.. Harri-
son. Apparently the stranger was
familiar with the house, for, in
stead of waiting in the hall
here the maid had left him. he walked
back to the door of the room in which
the mayor was. He had barely reached
it when the door was opened and he
was confronted by Carter Harrison.
The Murder.
Drawing a revolver the murderer
placed the weapon so close TO his vic
Tins body that the clothes were burned
and fired three shots, The first bullet
struck the mayor in the abdomen. As
he reelcd backward a second bullet
struck him just above the heart, and a
third shot, fired as Mr.. Harrison fell
PROSTATE, wounded the now dying man
in the left hand.
Shot at His Pursuer.
The assassin then left the house and
on reaching the street broke into a
run Mayor HaIrison's coachman. on
hearing the shots, realized what was
transpiring, and securing a revolver
started in pursuit. Prendergast, see
ing that he was being followed. paused
long enough 10 fire a she. at his pur-
suer who returned the fire. Neither
shot took effect, and jumping on a
street car At near corner. the muir
derer rode down town and surrendered
himself at the Desplaincs street station.
Death OF the Mayor.
ln the meantime a sad scene was
being witnessed at the home of Mr..
Harrison. Attracted by the shots
Preston Harrison FASTENED from his
rum Oh hiiN upper hDQA Va iiiN
to ascertain their cause. He found his
father lying ca the floor his life
blood pouring from the gaping wounds.
Almost at the same instant neigh
bors arrived and an attempt
was made to raise the PROSTATE man.
He was still conscious and moaning in
his agony. He asked his son not to
move him, saying that he knew he was
dying. His friends tried TO reassure
him, but he was firm in the belief that
the end was near. In few minutes he
lapsed into a state of semi-unconscious-
ness, not, however, before requesting
that Miss Annie Howard be sent
for. This REQUEST was repeated tv ice
in fact, his dying words were a de-
sire to see her. Miss Howard was
Mayor Harrison's a6ianced, and they
were TO have been married at Biloxi,
Miss, November t6. She came to the
house on being informed of the
tragedy, but before reaching the side
of her betrothed he had passed away.
Her grief on realizing her loss
was deep and the scene when she was