Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-10-30

1TtuucEShSl. the IluTuOEST OF Mayor
Harrison, is now locked in a cell in the
county Jail. He was carried around the
city all day by the police, and the bars did
not close behind him until 8 o'clock Sun
day afternoon. Throughout the day he
maintained the same stolid demeanor
which has characterized him all through
except on the occasion of his surrender to
Sergeant Mcdonald at Desplaines street
station. He 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 entire
right to act as he did. He is undoubtedly
sincere in both his story and his opinion
regarding his crime
al Did My Duty" Says Prendergast.
When taken to the Jail, Prendergast
seemed absolutely indifferent to his sur
roundings and situation. y very complete
search was made of his clothing at the jail
but nothing was found excepting 81 in
money. While the formality of delivering
the prisoner to the Jail authorities was in
progress Prendergast occupied himself in
lacing up his shoes, which had been re
moved fog the purpose of searching him.
He was then conducted to cell IL. 1t was
occupied at the time by Jung Jack Lin
the Chinaman who is under life sentence
for the murder of his cousin, and another
Chinaman named Tom Long awaiting
transferred, and Pendergast was locked up.
Cell No. II is an historic cell, being the
one which contained I.ingg, the anarchist,
when he committed suicide. DR. SCudder
was also an occupant of the same cell when
he caused his own death by taking NOR
phine.
While the cell was being examined Prem
dergast sat down on a bench in the cage
He frightened up and entered into a con
xx-ith T1arG
however, seem inclined to talk about his
crime, but asked to see the papers Parts
OF the Sunday papers We're handed him,
but none of them contained the local news
sheets. Prendergast quickly noticed this
and asked for the account of the murder
This was handed him, and he read down
the columns in an apparently mechanical
manner. Then he dropped the papers and
said, II did my duty" repeating this sen
tence several times.
Il am very tired he said, having been
bothered so much by so many people to
day. l feel greatly relieved, as a great
strain is off my mind. | have done my
duty, and think the majority of people,
when they know of this, will be on my
side. l shall get out clear. do not mind
the physical confinement at all, and my
my mind is now clear
what was your reason for killing the
Prendergast replied emphatically: y was
to have had the position of corporation
counsel, but he played false to me, and
only did right in killing him. ! did not
know that had fired three shots at him
until | read it in the papers. l was of the
impression that l fired two shots at the
mayor. fired another shot as l went away
to prevent any one from following me, as
expected a large crowd to follow me-
The Inquest at the House.
History of the shooting retold and state
ments of physicians occupied the attention
of the coroner's jury at the Harrison resi-
dence for an hour on Sunday. Excepting
a technical description of the wounds, lit
tie was added to the information already
at the disposal of officers of the law The
verdict recommended that Prendergast be
held for the murder until discharged by
due process of law.
Mary Hanson, the domestic, and Coach
man Risberg, those who came in closest
contact with the assassin, held to the
stories previously told and identified Prem
dergast as the mayors assailant. When
the prisoner encountered them at the in
quest, he made no attempt to deny the
Identification and in the instance of Mary
Hanson assented to it verbally. He main
tanned stolid Indifference during the hear
ing and sat sullenly outside the door while
the jurymen were spending few moments
in drawing the formal verdict. Preston
Harrison was examined early in the ses-
sion and retired from the room to join the
other members of the family. He gave
what few facts be knew about the shooting
in quiet way and was not questioned q
great deal by the deputy or the jurors.
Coroner McHale and Deputy John j.
Kelly conducted the inquest. The an
nouncement was made that Prendergast
would not be present, but he was driven in
a close carriage to the back door and
slipped in without his presence being
known outside the house. He came in
charge of Lieutenant Haas and was driven
away by the same officer. He made no
demonstration Of violence. and crowds In