The state herald., 1893-11-03
MAYOR HARRISON SHOT.
THE VICTIM OF a CRANK.


Carter II. Harrison, who II serving his nth
term - mayor Of Chicago was shot and killed
at his house at 8 o'clock Saturday evening
The murder was committed BY Eugene
Patrick Prendcrgast, paper carrier, who de-
clared that Mayor Harrison had promised TO
make him corporation counsel and had not
kept his word. This, no said, was his only
reason for committing tho crime. He Is a
man about five feet i've inches In height,
smooth shaven, his rather clean-cut features
itup by pair Of dark eyes
When be called at the house, Mr.. Harrison
was In tho dining.room which opens into tic
rear end OF the hall. Hearing the man ask
for him, he rose and stepped into the hall
way and walked toward Prendergast, who by
the time he caught sight Of Mr.. Harrison had
advanced about tan feet from the doorway.
Without saying word Prendergast drew his
revolver and commenced to fire. lie pulled
the trigger but three times, but every bullet
bit the mark. One ball shattered Mr.. Harri-
sons left hand, another passed into the lower
right side Of the abdomen, making = wound
that would have been mortal within = few
days, the third bullet entered tho chest slight
ly above the heart This bullet was the i'm
uculAto cause OI nlB ucutu.
Mr.. Harrison shouted "Murder!" and turn
Ing walked into n back room where he foil.
The murderer put the revolver In his pocket
and walked out Of the front door. Tho coach
man followed and shot st him as he disap-
pcared In the dark, but without effect Prem
dcrgast took a car and riding about mile
surrendered himself ut the Desplaincs street
station. In reply to questions he said that he
had been promised the position Of corpora
tlon counsel by the mayor, which position he
desired In order to carry out n scheme OF his
for clevating the railroad tracks, He repeated
ly said that he killed Harrison because he had
appointed another to tho pl ace, and that he had
done right 10 shooting the mayor. The an
swers that he gave showed that his mind was
unbalanced. He Is believed to be
n paper carrier. A great crowd soon collect
cd about tho jail but the police force was
sufficient to protect the murderer against
threatened attempts ut lynching. Meanwhile
nil was excitement at the Harrison mansion.
William Preston Harrison, the mayors son,
hurried down stairs on hearing the Shots and
several ncighbors ran In. Mr.. Harrison re-
allied that no was shot through the hi art,
and said so to a neighbor, Mr.. Chalmers. lie
was borne to n lounge and becoming uncon-
scous almost at once, died In twenty min
utes.
The police had been called and great num-
beers Of officers patrolled the streets looking
for the assassin who was then giving himself
up.
The news was great shock TO the people
Of Chicago and the whole country rs well, as
Mr.. Harrison was a very popular man with
the people. lie was really wonderful man,
anc had not only won great popularity, bu.
had made fortune. lie had been married
twice and was soon to have been married
again to Miss Annie Howard OF New Orleans,
who was at Mr.. Harrison's house Mt the time
o: tho shooting. Ia accordance with tho
wounded mans request she WAS at once sum-
moncd TO his side and was present when the
end came. When It became evident Mr..
Harrison could not survive his injuries and
could live but q few moments at most, Miss
Towards grief was pitiablc. She was COM
plctcly overcome and was led away by friends
who feared for the Affect upon her mind.
She was taken In a closed carriage to the
home Of Carter II. Harrison, Jr., where she
spent the night.
A banquet Of business men which WA In
progress wn adjourned, and the closing cx-
crc!ses At the Worlds Fair will be curtailcd.