The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-11-03
AWFUL TRAGEDY.
Terrible Deed of a Disappointed
Cidce Seeker.
CARTER Il. HARRISON SHOT DEAD.
Patrick l.. Prendersast the Assassin-He
Seeks an Interview OF the Mayor
and Deliberately Murders
Him.

CHICAGO, Oct. 30.-Another Graz
!, crank has done his deadly work, an
. Carter ii. Harrison, five times mayor G
=, Chicago. and one of the best know
:, men in the west, lies dead in his home
23l South Ashland boulevard. Thre
bullets entered his body, two of ther
! making wounds sufficient to caus
death.
The murder was committed by Pat
, rick Eugene Prendergast paper car
rier. who declared that Mayor Harri
, son had promised to make him corpor
, alton counsel and had not kept hi
, word. This, he said, was his only rea
, son for committing the crime.
The only person in the house at tn,
time beside Mr.. Harrison was his son
William Preston Harrison, p years o
age, and the servants.
Shortly before o'clock the doorbel
rang, and when Mary Hansen. the do
mestic, opened the door she was con
fronted by man about feet inches
smooth shaved, his rather clean-cu,
features lit up by pair of dark eyes
rs Mr.. Harrison in?" asked the man
in quiet, pleasant voice
Yes, sir" responded the girl, as she
threw the door wider open to permit
his entrance
Il would like to see him, please, -
said the man as he walked toward the
back end of the hall
Mr.. Harrison was in the dining room
which opens into the rear end of the
hall Hearing the man ask for him he
rose and stepped into the hallway and
walked toward Prcndergast, who by
the time he caught sight of Mr.. IIarri-
son had advanced about ten feet from
the doorway.
Without SAYING word, Prendergast
drew his revolver and commenced to
fire. He pulled the trigger but THREE
times and every bullet hit the mark
1 One ball shattered Mr. Harrison's left
hand, another passed into the lower
right side of the abdomen, making a
wound that would have been mortal
/ within few days, and the third bullet
entered the chest. slightly above the
heart. This bullet was the immediate
cause of death.
As soon as Prendergast began to fire
MIR. Harrison turned and walked rapid
ly toward the dining room. He walked
through the door, across the dining
room and passed into buffers pantry
opening off the room, where, weakened
by loss of blood, he fell to the floor.
Prendergast did not follow up his
victim or make any attempt to ascer-
tain how deadly his aim had been. He
replaced his revolver in his pocket with
the same deliberation that had marked
all of his actions and started toward
the door. JCst rs he was passing |
through the doorway William Preston |
Harrison. the mayors soE, came tear |
ing down stairs from the upper portion |
of the house Just as Mr. Harrison's
coachman ran into the rear end of the
hall.
The cries of Mary Hansen directed
the son 20 where his father lay, but the
coachman was after other game. He
had 4 revolver of his own. and as quick
ly as he realized what had occurred he
leveled his weapon and sent a bullet
after the disappearing form of the muir
derer. \ second time his revolver
spoke. but both bullets went wild.
Running to the door the coachman was
to continue hostilities, but
several people were entering to learn
the cause OF the shooting, and by the
time the coachman had reached the
Prendergast had been swal-.
lowed up in the darkness.
Across Ashland boulevard. directly
opposite the residence of Mr.. Harrison. :
S the home of w. J. Chalmers, the
wealthy maker of mining machinery.
Mr. Chalmers was standing upon the J
ront steps of his residence when the
'hots were fired. He bounded down :
he steps and dashed ;.cross the street.
net Prendergast almost out of the {
rate.
What is it?' said Mr.. Chalmers.
The man walked rapidly north OF
Ashland avenue without replying ami a
'lr- Chalmers hastened into the house. I
lie reached Mr.. Harrison side almost at L
he same instant that William Preston 1
harrison had found where his father C
ny. a
Are you hurt?' asked Mr.. Chalmers. o
S he and the son of the dying man II
trove to raise MIN.
I've got my death, Chalmers" re- L
ponded the mayor
Noticing spot of blood on the may W
RS waistcOat, Mr.. Chalmers said: Il W
uess not" "
I'm shot in the heart and I'm a n
cad man, was the only reply. Il
eA moment later he said with voice m
-hich was rapidly losing strength: D.
Cnbutton my vest, Chalmers, there's
here the trouble is. 81
BY this time the stricken man had SC
cen borne Ito a couch in an djoining HI
'on, and as quickly as he spoke Mr.. &C
halmers gently opened his waistcoat al
ne front of his shirt was soaked in IN
ood, which welled rapidly from two &c
Dles, one just above the heart. the OF
her in his abdomen. Ii
It's through the heart" said the at
ayor again his voice now scarcely is
'ove whisper \ moment later he pa
nix into Inconsistencies, and in
renty minutes after receiving the TN
onnds Mr.. Harrison was dead. no
The murderer soon after surrendered co
mself. pr
a Fine Flow struck.