Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-14
PRENDERGAST GONE.
he IS HANGED FOR THE MURDER OF
CARTER HARRISON.
Ho Dies Game, Though He IL a Little
Unsteady mt the Last-His
Crime.

State was eXpiated on the gallows OF the
Cook county jail this morning. Nearly
nine months have elapsed since the bull
let Of an assassin deprived Chicago OF
her Mayor. the State OF one OF her most
illustrious citizens, and the country at
large OF a statesman and a patriot. To-
day the crime was avenged, and Patrick
Eugene Prendergast suffered an ignoml-
NOUS death at the hands OF the hangman.
the assassin went to his death like an OK
going TO the shambles. Up to the last
moment the hope of interpositiOn from
some source or other did not desert him,
although he was fully cognizant of the
fact that all effort In both State and Fede-
raj courts and in the Executive chamber
had been exhausted. When 1t came 10 the
end he nerved himself for supreme
effort, and paid the penalty Of his crime
without whimper aud without a word
Prendergast laid down to rest for the
last time at midnight, and in five minutes
was asleep. He slept soundly until 60
when he awOke with a start. and in q
surly mood. In few minutes he was
dressed, and asked for his breakfast He
was asked what he would like to have.
His order was for ham and eggs, fried
potatoes and coffee but when it was put
bs fore him it did not suit him, and he
called for a porterhouse steak, French
fried potatoes. sliced tomatoes, cucum-
bers, hot biscuit. and a big pot Of choco-
late. And then he cleaned.up the dishes.
During the morning he drank two quarts
Of chocolate. in addition to what he
had at breakfast.
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL"
The waiting time was spent in company
with Father Barry. When the death
warrant WAS read to him. at 10 o'clock.
I'rcnderglst remarked to the priest,
''Ne'll yet hear from the Governor"
Those who witnessed the execution
were the examining physicians, the grand
jury now In session. and about 2O ticket
holders. among whom were included the
newspaper meE.
At IL O'Clock the procession to the scaf-
fold moved. Prendergast walked slightly
ahead and gave no sign Of weakening.
Just as the white shruud was being tied
around his neck, he took a long breath,
and every one imagined that he was
about TO make 4 speech In a second,
however, he had set his teeth together,
while his face grew red and white by
turns. The two deputies led him to the
centre Of the trap. quickly adjusted the
moose, and drew the white cap over his
head. His limbs seemed to tremble for
second. and there WAS movement
from under the white robe as though he
were bracins himself. The signal was
given 10 the unseen executioner. The
body swung round and round, there was
one brief cUnvulsive struggle and the
murder Of Carter Harrison had been
avenged. The body wao surrounded by
the physicians. and as soon as life had
been pronounced extinct Il was cut down.
The jail officials said after the execu-
ton that the condemned man had re-
quested an Indulgence Of twenty minutes
after reaching the scaffold for the pur-
nose OF making a speech He was dis
suaded from this intention, however by
Father Barry.
PRENDERGASTS CRIME.
The crime which Patrick Eugene Prem
dergast eXpiated with his life was one
Of the most diabolical in the history Of
the city. partly on account Of the high
official and private standing Of the vic
tim. whose friends and acquaintances
were to be- found in nearly every country
on the face Of the globe. and partly be-
cause the tragedy marred the clOsin,
days Of the triumph Of the Worlds CO.
mmbian Exposition. The tragedy at
trlcted interest and excited sympathy
throughout the civilized world.
The late Mayor met his death on the
night of Saturday October %. 1888. Du-
ring the afternoon he hal taken part
IN the celebration Of "American- Cities
Day at the Worlds Fair. and in response
o. a general demand from an i'm
mense audience, had delivered a speech.
which those who heard It said was the
best effort Of a life in which his powers
Of 0rat0ry had played no inconspicuous
part. Despite his 90 years. he seemed
possessed Of all the vim and energy and
activity Of youth. and in the course Of
his address. referring 10 the growth and
development Of Chicago, he said he ex-
pectc1 10 be alive 10 behold her great
ness a score Of years hence.
After leaving the fair he drove dl-
rectly t. his residence. Oh Ashland boule-
ward. and at 6 o'clock sat down to
dinner with William Preston Harrison
his son, and his daughter, Sophie. While
the family were at the table the door
bell rang, and a maid-servant, who an
ff 4 al.
low-brOwed. and pOOrly-clad fellow stand
ins in the archway. He asked to see
the Mayor, and was told that he
was at dinner. With the remark that
he would call again. he turned and
shambled down the walk between the
lawns and out through the gate into
the street.
THE ASSASSINATION.
About 7:D O'Clock he returned. BY that
time the family had arisen from dinner.
Miss Harrison ana her brothsr We're in
their apartments on the second floor,
while the Mayor was doing on divan
in the dining room. when the maid again
answered the bell the man told her he
was city official, and desired to see
the Mayor Mr.. HarrisOns sharp ear
caught the words city official" and,
rising from the couch he came out to-
ward the hallway between the hall and
diningrOOm. The man in the mean time
had pushed past the mald-servant, and
the latter. little dreaming what was 10
happen, closed the door and returned
t. the Kitchen. What actually transpired
in the next few second. no one knows.
a few words passed between the caller
and the Mayor but the purpOrt Of the
conversation could not be distinguished by
the people up stairs Suddenly the sharp
crack OF a revolver rang through the
house. then another and third. Simulta-
neOusly Mr.. Harrison shouted. Il am
shot" Preston Harrison bounded down
the stairway, and the assassin dashed
through the hail. and out at the front
door. The family butler pursued him, but
the assassin was fleet OF foot. and attSr
turning once 10 discharge another bail
at the pursuer. he rounded the corner,
and disappeared in the darkness.
When Preston Harrison reached his
fathers side he saw at once that he was
mortally wounded. Two bullets had pene-
trated the stomach and abdomen, and
one was in the palm of the right hand.
The surroundings indicated that the as
sassin had pointed the revolver close 20
his victims breast and fired. While shout
ing for help the Mayor had staggered