Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-07-19
gave way. His knees trembled and

gave way. His knees trembled and
seemed to sink under him. His breath
came in gas IS and he gave convulsive
gulls that showed his nervous system
was breaking. His pul:e was beating
at 120 minute, and he was on the
point OF physical collapse when the
drop fell.
He died painlessly, as his neck was
broken by the fall. To the very last
moment he expected to be saved from
the scaffold by some power. Five min
utes before he began his walk to the
gallows he said he expected to hear
soon from the Governor. He made no
speech on the gallows. He had
intended to do so, but was dis
suaded by his ritual adviser.
Rev. Father Barry, who pleaded with
him to submit to the Inc liable and not
to make scene. He accepted the
ministrations of the priests who were
with him to the last, and he received
the last rites Of the Catholic Church.
Ten minutes before he stepped on
the fatal trap he repeated the state
ment that he had so often made-that
he killed Mr.. Harrison because he had
to do so and that there was no malice
in the act. This was practically his
accomplished without accident. With
in three minutes after Prendergast left
his cell he was swinging at the ropes
END.
Story OF the Crime.
The crime for which Patrick Eugene
Prendergast was executed was one of
the most cold blooded and unprovoked
murders ever committed. On Satur-
day, Oct. IS, 1893, Carter 81. Harrison,
then Mayor OF Chicago, attended the
closing OF the great Worlds Columbian
Exposition, and in his capacity as
Mayor delivered one of the addresses OF
the day. The Mayor, tired and worn
out by the performance of his many
Official duties, returned to his home on
Ashland avenue at an early hour in
the evening. Prendergast first visited
formed that Mayor Harrison was en-
gagged. A hall hour later he returned
and was let into the hall by the serv-
ant girl. Mayor Harrison was sleep
in his armchair, but was awakened by
Prendergast voice and walked to-
ward the main Ia lway. AS he did so
Prendergast advanced, revolver in
hand, and fired three shots at Mr.. Har-
rison. Two Of the bullets took effect.
one piercing his right hand and the
other entering his stomach. TIE
wounded man sank to the II or and
twenty minutes later died in the arms
of his son, William Preston Harrison.
Immediately following the shooting,
Prendergast left the house and made
his way to DesplaineS rect station,
where he gave himself up. From Des-
PLANE, street station the murderer was
taken to the city hall, where he made a
statement concerning the shooting He
said he was very deeply interest d in
track elevation and was anx Gus to be
made Corporation Counsel in order
that be might carry out his ideas on
! the subject. He said Ma or Ha ~rison
hal promised TO app int him co pc a
tion Counsel, but ha IA led TO d so,
and for this reas he thought he was
justified in taking the Ma JOSS life.
Efforts ia Save III. Life.
In its legal pha es the Prendegast
case Is without precedent in the his
tory of criminal law. Never before
were such persistent and ingenious
efforts made to save a prisoner neck
from the moose. The defense set up
the plea of insanity, and on this line
the battle against justice was waged
to the end. The assassin was at all
times surrounded by legal talent wei
versed in the most intricate points of
practice, and having all the technical
tiles at their command. Yet with all
| OF these advantages the murderer of
Mayor Harrison was unable to elude
the scaffold which was twice erected
FIR its victim.