New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-07
PRENDERGA SITS TRIAL BEGUN.
He CREATES 4 SCENE IN COURT.
THE PROSECUTION sEcrEES AZ UNEXPECTED
WITNESS OF TIE Assassination or
MAYOR HARRISON.

MAYOR HARRISON.
Chicago Dec G-Judge Theodore Brentano's court
room and us approaches were guarded this morh'''s
by strong force OF city police officers, deputy
sherifs and b9ilins who allowed only persons nav
ing business to pass. This precautioI preNch'eu
any demonstration. and the courtroom was ohiS
half filed when tho trial Of Prendergast Desah
The only change in his appearance" was in a iigh'
growth Of hair his receding upper lip ana III
creased nervousness. He was placed In Il seat
a few feet from the jury box, facing his A"vers
and the press tables.
r. A. Wade Robert Essex John p. McGoorty
and John Heron appeared counsel for the muir
derer States Attorney Jacob T. Kern ana As
sistant States Attorney Todd appeared ior the
prosecution
Mr. Kern. beginning the examination OF taiesneh'
announced that he desired the record TO show that
BY his request Alfred s. Trude appeared as coufsei
to assist the State In the case. Mr.. Tride hoidS
foremost rank among Chicago's succes5iui crli'H-
nal lawyers. lie WAS an intimate friend OF the
murdered mayor. IS president OF the city Boaru
Of Education. and few days ago declined 'he
Democratic nomination for mayor TO succeeu
Irendergasts victim The line OF inquiry on behaii
of the State showed that the intention was 10 get
n Jury which could believe PrenderSast to have
been a crank 81 the time he fired the fatal bullets
into MAYOR IIarrison'a body. and yet be responsible
for his deed. knowing the difference between right
and wrong. The line of examination on the part
Of Attorney Wade for the defence was mostly con-
fined to Inquiries to whether the talesinen had
any prejudice against evidence tending to show
Prendergast was insane. and also as to whether
the men summoned considered the killing OF Garter
Harrison 4 graver crime than the murder oil any
other citizen The prosecution used the first pre-,
emptory challenge on a young man who had formed
two opinions. but had dropped both Of them before
coming into the box.
Al The afternoon session Prendergast created
little scene. breaking the mOnotOny OF the jury
getting examination. All day there had been pro
''Can you start by presuming this defendant
to have been sane at the time he killed carter
OF the legal questions touching upon the plea OF
insanity set mp by the defence. Prendergast acted
in a nervous manner. moving his lips AZ II mutter-
ing TO himself. clutchinS his coat sleeves WIN
his hands and keeping his fingers in almost con-
While A. Rosenthal an acceptable .venlreman.
was being examined upon this point. the prisoner
The deputy sheriff next TO Prendergast restrained
him by placing firm hand on MS sh9udsr ana Ur
tegan talking TO the guard when states attorney
Kern Ing in ns sG g object cyfr 20 bens
tried by any jury except those who consider me
The States attorney told the deputy sheriff to
allow Prendergast freedom OF movement between
his seat and those Of MS lawyers ST down i mere
Prendergast his seat prendergast muttcred IEw
counsel cut him short by saying in loud voice.
We VIII have no grand stand play mere; non
few minutes passed and he broke out again
venireman asked If b. had any objection 10
serving after being told that the state would ASK
for the infection OF the death penalty ana SAID ne
had not. PrendcrGast jumped up a. soon "a the
answer was given ana exclaimed: Il object to
that Your Honor. 1t Is presumption that !
am guilty already-the fact that he holds mat
opinion" Everybody turned and looked at the
speaker. but neither Judge nor lawyers took any
notice OF the interruption.
The examination OF another venireman. who was
excused for cause led To the discovery that no
would make material witness for the prosecution.
He Is Chris" wiz. mikman. who lives near the
home OF the late Mayor. and was at the seen" of
TEMPTED to get his fun story while In the jury BOX.
but the defence vigorously objected to making "A
witness out Of him al that stagr OF IN" ffial
When court suspended the state had used three
peremptory challenges and the defence two. ana