Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-01-04
TO BE HANGED.
Assassin Prendergast Condemned
to Death.
ATTORNEY TRUDE WELL SATISFIED.
The Jury Not Long In Reaching verdlct-
BailIns Seize the Prisoner and lie
docs to Ills Cell Of
Doom.


Der 2s, and the penalty fixed at death
by hanging The jury refused TO be-
lieve that the assassin was insane NJ
the time he committed the crime.
When the Jurors returned 10 the court
room, after being out one hour ana
three minutes, the prisoner was not in
the room, having been previously re-
moved 10 the Jail. II was fully fvo
minutes before he could be brought
back. When he had reached his seat
Judge Brentano, addressing Foreman
sutter, asked IL the jury had reached
verdict
1--WE have, your honor" replied Mr.
sutter.
what Is your verdict7" asked the
court
Foreman Sntter then proceeded TO
read in solemn voice the following vcr-
dict: 1--WE. the jury, find the defend
ant, Patrick Eugene John Premier
gast, guilty Of murder In manner ana
form as charged in the indictment ana
fix the penalty at death"
Prendergast, who was fear stricken
and trembling when brought back To
court, utterly collapsed when the an
nouncement was read. He sank back
In his chair, his chin dropped and he
seemed completely paralyzed. He
looked appealingly at the court
and at the jury, and tears gust
ened In the eyes from which
heretofore only angry glances had been
shot As soon rs the verdict was an
nounced the bailiffs seized the miscr-
able. trembling prisoner and started
TO rush him back 10 his cell In murder
srs' row. They had nearly reached the
door when Judge Brentano ordered
them to stop. "Let the prisoner re-
main while the jury is polled," he said.
Prendergast took his stand before the
chair in which he jerkod and
squirmed around while the polling was
in progress
When tho last Juror had made his an
swer Prendergast's knees shook, his chin
dropped down and he would have fall
len had not one of the attending bnililfs
lent supporting arm. He was half
led and half carried back 10 his cell
Before the adjournment Of court Mr.
Wade applied for new trial and the
Judge announced that he would hear n
motion to that effect at n future date.
The mother OF the prisoner did not
trust herself to remain TO hear the rc-
suit OF the trial, but fingered around
the corridors waiting for the hrst
news TO come from the court room.
When IL came. an instant after the ver-
dict was rendered, sho tottercd away,
cl nging to the banister for support NJ
she descended the stairs an struggled
through the excited crowd thronging
thn approach 10 the court room John
Prendergnst, the prisoners brother,
~A~wsri1-sErss1yyS room. ief with
out attracting attention
Mr.. Trude and his associate, Mr.
Todd, were heartily congratulated by
nll who could get near them.
Preston Harrison was one of the frs
70 reach the side Of Mr.. Trudc, think
ing him for his efforts
Prendergast was led away TO his cell
and Bailif Becker was detailed to stay
with him. The prisoner refuses to soc
anyone, and Ms soon rs he reached the
cell threw himself face downwnrds ON
his bunk and would not crafty the
curiosity Of the crowd that gathered
around the spot from which view Of
the interior Of his cell could be had, by
looking up.
In speaking OF the jury after the YER
dict had been found Judge Brcntanu
said;
ut was the most intelligent Jury |
ever saw. There was not what YOU
might term cheap man In the lot.
Every one Of them were good rcpresen.
tative citizens and much higher In the
positions they hold in the business and
social world than the average man who
can be secured for jury duty.
In an interview Attorney Trude said
THE conviction OF this man will, in
my opinion, operate as deterrent
against the commission OF like crimes
by notoriety loving cranlSs. TO illus
trate, when Oxford fired the shot at
Queen Victoria and was acquitted ON
the ground of insanity, an army of i'm
itators appeared and England revelcd
In saturnalia of blood, which contin-
ued until two OF these cranks were
hung, one In Exeter and the other In
London. This sent "a cold chill of hor.
ror down the spine Of these characters
and they were heard of no more.
"When Guiteau was hung cranlSs
disappeared from Washington and
notoriety hunters ceased to attain pub
lie notice with the pistol rs an adjunct
TO the accomplishment of that end. by
cranks ! mean men who are not per-
feet in their moral or mental makeup,
but who are able TO distinguish be-
tween right and wrong, with the pow
or of choosing to do or not TO do u
wrong act.
"Sinos the trial OF Prendergnst has
been In progress, cranls have arisen
all over the country, threatening
mayors OF cities, chiefs OF departments
and men OF means This verdict will
operate as life insurance policy on
their safety. A verdict OF acqlittal on
the ground OF insanity would have
been the sowing of the dragons teeth,
and those threatened mayors here and
In St Louis, and threatened officials in
New York and Washington would be
in danger of losing their lives unless
they resorted 10 the use of boiler iron
breastplates"
--------
A special dispatch from Athens says
that a dynamite cartridge deposited in
the mansion Of banker named Syn.
gret was exploded, doing considera BILE
damage. Nobody was injured by the
explosion.
READIN npnGSINn