The herald., 1894-07-14
PRENDERGAST'S NECK BROKEN,
Carter Harrison's Slayer Pays
the Penalty.
He Dies on the Gsllows Despite the
Laws Delay.
Tho Assassin Meets His Death Bravely
as Ono Who Would Set q Shin
ing Example for His
Country.
By the Associated Press,

BY the ABeOC1eteQ frcss.
Chicago, July 13.-Within the gloomy
walls OF the Cook county Jail today all
was bustle and suppressed excitement,
as the time drew near when Patrick
Eugene Prendergast, the condemned
murderer of Mayor Carter Harrison,
would expiate the crime with his life.
Jailer Morris and his assistants made q
final test OF the rope, trap and trigger at
10: :35.
Prendergast rested we'll last nj ght and
seemed calm and collected. He refused
until late last evening to receive spirit
ual consolation; but when nightfall
came on be sent for Father Muldoon.
Between and Z o'clock this morning
Prendergsst partook heartily of ham
and eggs, and about o'clock sent word
to Jailer Morris that he Was again hun
cry. The jailer had the prisoner served
with another hearty meal, which he
seemed to relish greatly. The assassin
talked freely with his spiritual advisers
and several times remarked, "You must
stay with me to the end." As the hour
for the execution came nearer Prender-
showed signs of slightly increasing nerv-
BUSINESS, but on the whole he was re-
markably calm and we'll collected.
Father Barry was in constant attend
auce upon Prendergast all morning. The
little assassin was most deferential and
announced with trihe of bravado, u'll
die game and set a great and shining
example to my country"
At IL a. m. Prendergast was removed
to the ante-room of the jail office, where
the last kind Offices were performed.
Prendergast especially requested Sheriff
Gilbert to allow him 20 minutes to make
a dying statement, but it was thought
he would at the last moment forego the
determination.
The jury of physicians at 10 filed
in and inspected the scaffold and appur-
tenances. Fifty deputy sheriffs were
ranged around the corridor.
AT 11:42 am. Sheriff Gilbert and
Jailer Morris appeared az the right of
the scsffold. The prisoner, pale and
unsteady, walked behind. He stood
without apparent nervousness, though @
trihe weak and unsteady. az his arms
were being pinioned. He looked calm
ly out on the assembled crowd below
him. While the shroud was being
placed about him, brrring little rest
less movement of his eyes, he made no
motion. Jailer Morris placed a rope
about his neck and the white cap over
his head.
:4S the body shot downward and
the head twisted to one eide, the neck
having been apparently broken. A slight
spasmodic movement OF the legs was the
only sign OF life apparently. Surrounded
by the jury OF physiciaus the corpse
swung to and fro, and at IL :57, nine
minutes after the trigger was sprung, he
made no audible sound from the time
contemplation OF his awful fate. He was
gently dssuaded by Sheriff Gilbert from
q determination to mako speech.
At IL :5S Jailer Morris unloosened the
anchored end of the rope. The shrouded
corpse was slowly lowered and laid in
the coffin standing underneath the plat
form. The face wss not badly distorted,
,hough the mouth was open and tongue
protruding. The color of the features
was blueish tint, which, with the un-
kempt, reddish hair struggling down
over the forehead, made sight long to
be remembered.
On the evening of Saturday, October
2Sth, 1898. the door bell rang at the
residence of Mayor Harrison of Chicago.
and when the servant opened the door
she saw young man, smooth shaven,
with dark eyes and clean-cut features.
who said he would like to see the mayor.
Mr.. Harrison was in his dining room,
and as he heard his name mentioned
he stepped out into the hallway and
his visitor Immediately began fir
ing upon him. Three times the as
eassin shot, and three times the bull
let's struck their helpless victim. One
bullet shattered Mr.. Harri1on's left
hand, and then passed into the lower
right side of his abdomen, and the third
entered his chest slightly above the
heart. Tho mayor endeavored to escape
his assassin and walked into his busler's
pantry where he fell on the floor. Mean
time his assassin, who gave the name
of Eugene Patrick PrendergaBt, cody
replaced his revolver in his pocket, and
walking out of the house took
street car and went at once to
the station house, where he gave him
self up. The mayor died in few min
utes. Chicago was in turmoil of ex-
element and there were threats of
lynehing the murderer, who proved to
be a newspaper carrier, and declared
that the dead mayor had promised to
make him corporation counsel; and that
his failure to receive the appointment
was his excuse for the deed.
Prendergast was promptly indicted
and tried and for eight months every
effort has been made by competent ct
torneys to save his neck on the plea of
insanity. All appeals. however, were
oyerruled and this morning the MUIR
darer expiated on the gallows one OF tie
NEST insxcusabls and objectionable
crimes in the history OF crime in this
country.
Death of Journalist.