The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-11-04


east leaned back in a chair and Tor an
5our smoked and read. Then he
complained of being tired and lay
down on the narrow bench. lie mad
thrown his hat into chair and taker
off his we'll worn shoes. He had also
removed his necktie. He lay there
for an hour without moving, stead
fastlv looXing at the steel plate which
q rms the ceiling of his cell. Prem
dergast was asked to tell of the MUIR
der. He raised up on his elbow.
Give me a paper and pcncll ana
soon can tell it," he said.
Then he rapidly wrote on the paper
which was handed him:
II am innocent. l have been robbed
of nv birthright.' A little urging
and prendergast began to talk. He
used particularly good language and
smoke in the earnest, fixed way of one
who has studied what he is going to
say.
when the mind is at ease one does
not care for physical liberty" he said.
Then he waved his hand toward the
heavy iron door, which stood slightly
ajar.
II am here by reason Of perverted
partisauism." he continued. Il have
done nv duty and | could not live in
comfort and happiness had not done
so I have paid the debt owed to
humanity. Before the election Carter
Il. Harrison and were friends. When
went TO his office he wou d turn
around and call me son. /
managed his campaign to a certain
extent for him. l did not make
speeches, but | sent out cards. ] was
to be corporation counsel. Then Mr.
Harrison was elected by u large ma
ioritv. 1t was the greatest political
victory ever won in Chicago. WAITED
until the excitement of the hour was
over. Then / went to his Office in the
city hall and a policeman took in my
name. Word came back TO me that
the mayor was very busy" Here
Prcndergast laughed scornfully.
mind. he used to call me son before
the election. ! went again and again
10 the city hall. had often talked 10
him about the fearful slaughter on
the grade crossings, and he had told
me that he was heartily in accord
with nv ideas. That was before his
election. One day heard that kraus
was corporation counsel. decided to
see Harrison. waited in the hall I'M
til he came from his Office. He did
appear to know me, and when i bc1an
to talk to him he mbled something
about hurrying away to dinner. 1
left him. After studying stbe matter
over saw him again and asked il he
he intended 10 keep his word. Again
he put me off with an evasive answer.
Then realized that l had been de-
ceivcd. That did not deter me in my
purpose. l continued to study
the question of the elevation
of tracks. II is the greatest issue
before Chicago people to-day. The
great majority of reputable citizens
say the tracks must be elevated at
any cost. Human life is more valua-
BILE than greed. Christ taught us that,
and he is tn. greatest authority on
law, faith, justice and charity.
II did not believe for awhile that !
could live after Harri. on had deceived
me. did the work and kraus got
the money. ! watched the efforts of
the railroads to compromise with the
city. l saw kraus stealing the honor
for the things that ! was bringing
about, but still worked on. Then |
discovered that Mayor Harrison was
no more sincere in his avowal to ele-
vate the tracks than he had been in
making me corporation counsel. do
not know when l learned il was my
duty to mankind toremove the mayor.
1t just grew on me. The work would
have been further advanced if had
killed him two months ago. There
was no other way. He had made up
his mind to keep me from my rightful
o tfice-Iny birthright, because no one
has studied the question of track ele-
walton so thoroughly as have.
ANY one of the hundreds of lives
lost on the grade crossings is worth as
much as that of Harrison lie made
the people believe he was working for
the elevation Of the railroad tracks,
and on the other side he made friends
with the railroad officials. Saturday
at the Young Mems Christian associa-
ton on kinzie street thought the
matter all over. ! had started the
good work and Kraus got the money
and the honor. ] carried papers TO
earn money 70 live on while | studied.
kraus and Harrison lived on the fat Of
the land. went over on Milwaukee
avenue and bought a pistol. Never
mind who ! bought il of Then
went to the association rooms on Kim
orc S'iSNt ahd tilCu W ACdu.y IsNCTN
paper | took up had printed on il:
XIII Harrison and fulfill your duty
TO mankind and YOURSELF" Then l
made up my mind to finish
my work. walked up
TO his homo and watched the house
for an hour. | knew they were eating
dinner. Then went to the door and
rung the bell carefully. girl ,ct me
In. asked for Mayor Harrison, and
a moment later he came in sight.
don't know what room he was in. /
only knew it was my chance to serve
humanity and law. ! drew my pistol
and shot lie placed his hand on his
breast and staggered back. He cried
murder, but he looked at me with a
determined look which told me
would never be corporation counsel
while lived. / must have fired twice
aftcrwarj"
II thought ] only shot once. Then
as l was leaving the house | fred a
shot into the floor. That was to keen
them from pursuing me. did not
want to be chased to the car. Then |
went to the Desplaines street station