The evening world., 1894-07-13

PATRICK EUGENE PRENDERGAsT. SLAYER
OF CARTER HARRISON.
Mr.. Harrison, who had been sleeping
In the dining room on the frs. floor of
his residence, was awakened by the con-
Versation and walked out into the hall
way.
He asked Prendergast what he wanted
and the servant retired to the kitchen.
Prendergast muttered somsth Ing about
wanting to be appointed Corporation
Counsel. ard drawing a 32-calibre re-
,olver, shot Mr. Harrison four times.
He then fed, and on the way fired at
who went to the Mayors assistance, and
who pursued but failed to overtake the
Mr.. Harrison died within twenty min
Prendergast, after the murder; i'm
mediately proceeded to the Desplaines
street station and surrendered.
the latter had broken faith With him in
failing to appoint him Corporation Coun-
Prendergast was indicted. tried and
the first degree. insanity was the sole
defense.
He was sentenced by Judge Brentano
s9 fe hsnsfa law on p MsTdh bs s eo
may empanel jury to hold a hearing to
determine the sanity or Insanity OF a
defendant at any time before execution
sci obtained from Judge Cheflain, on the
eve of the day for the execution. stay
of proceedings for two weeks. or until
This decision brought upon Judge
Chetlain the general censure Of the
press and public. Various legal steps
were taken to save Prendersast from
death on the gallows, but he was finally
declared sane by a jury of experts. and
as Gov: Altgeld refused to interfere. his
doom was sealed
The assassination Of Carter II. Harri-
OF the century.
Prendergast had not the vestige OF a
grievance upon which to base his at.
crime aroused such intense Indignation
In Chicago. and. In fact, throughout the
country hat there was at nrst talk OF
lay WINS in 6rngins him 10 the the scsttold was
condemned a. home and abroad as an
outrage upon the name Of the law.
n SaTer mea m the "fg n.s sas ss
had been for years picturesque hgure
His assassination cast a shadow over
Fair, towards whose success, as Mayor
and as business man and citizen. Mr.,
Harrison had largely contributed, No
man in Chicago was more popular with
He was selected as a Cook County
Commissioner in 1871 and served in that
capacity until 1874. He represented Iii
nois In the Forty-fourth and Forty
fifth Congresses He was first selected
Mayor OF Chicago in 1879 and served
Ave consecutive times, running on the
Democratic ticket.
In 1880 he ran again for the Mayoralty
but as an Independent. and was de
feated. In 1892 he was once more a
candidate and was elected. He wa5
frequently mentioned as possible Demo
cratic candidate for President
Prendergast was born in Ireland. but
came to this country when hve years
old, and was reared in Chicago. The sin
gle tax theory was one OF his hobbies,
and he was close student of Henry
Georges writings. He also imagine
that he WAS q municipal reformer, and
thought II made Corporation Counsel
lie could abolish grade crossings in Chi
cago and solve the problem OF elevatiny
all tire railroad tracks within the city
| limits
tious scholar He made his living by dis
tributing newspapers and circulars
Disappointed political ambition was,
no doubt. the cause OF his crime. For
some time before its commission he had
haunted the Municipal Building in Chi
cago, and vented his spite by writing
threatening postal cards TO various city
After the murder he manifested but
little concern as to the result OF his
trial, and seemed TO have no apprec!a-
ton OF the enormity Of his crime,