The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-23
THE ASSASSIN SAVED.
A Chicago Court Respites Prem
dergast Two Weeks.
TO LOOK INTO HIS SANITY.
The Actin. GoSeraor Refuses . Stay
The Fiend Objected to Being Hanged
on Good Friday.

SPRrSsFlELp, H.. March 22.-After the
refusal OF the supreme court YESTERDAY TO
grant stay TO Patrick Eugene Prender-
CAST. sentenced TO hang at Chicago tomor-
row for the murder of Mayor Harrison.
the attorneys for Prendergast de-
cided to appeal to Gov. Altseld.
Last evening C. s. barrow teie-
graphed the governor at Biloxi, Miss.
asking him TO grant a respite. Gov. Alt
geld answered that he declined TO interfere
with the duties belonging to the ieufen-
ant governor of Illinois. A petition for q
respite was then drawn np by Mr.. barrow.
and he secured the names of nine circuit
judges of Cook county. The petition asks
for the respite on account Of
doubt existing as TO Prendergast's
sanity, and in order that . full
investigation and pardon might b
had. Lieut.-Gov. Gill was telegraphed at
Murphysboro. and answered that he would
hear the case today. He arrived in this
city at noon. but at Mr.. barrow request
the hearing was postponed to $3.50 p. m,
in order that Richard Wade. another
attorney for Prendergast. might be
present. barrow tried hard To Sc
cure a hearing with closed doors, but
the governor declined. barrow presented
the petition ana argued that Prendergast
is now insane ana was at the time he
killed Mayor Harrison, and that it would
he disgrace to hang an insane man.
He offered no additional evidence.
He pleaded that Prendergast objected
to being hung on Good Friday, and
on that ground alone clemency should be
shown him. He asked that stay Of exc
cution should be granted until tie lieu
tenant governor could fully examine the
evidence in the case. Attorney Wade
failed to arrive at p. M, and Lieutenant
Governor Gill postponed further hearing
till 9p. m.
After hearing the arguments of Prem
dergast's attorneys Lieut-Gov. Gill an
nounced that he could not grant re-
prieve. He said that Frendergast had
been tried by jury fairly anu had been
convicted and that they had adjudged
him sane. As the executive of state he
did not feel he could interfere in case
where all the courts had refused to.
CHICAGO, March 2G-The United States
court of appeals, Judges Jenkins. Woods
and Baker on the bench. this morning
denied the petition Of the attorneys for
Prendergast, the assassin of Mayor Harri-
son. for o writ of habeas corpus to prevent
Prendergast's execution tomorrow
When the Federal judges announced
that they would not grant the appeal for a
writ of habeas corpus in the case of
Prendergast the assassin's attorneys re-
newed their efforts by raising the question
of their clients sanity. The point now
raised is that Prendergast has become
insane since the trial, so they
applied to Judge Chetiain, and he con-
scented to hear arguments TO show that he
could properly take the matter up. 1t was.
nearly 1890 O'Clock tonight before they
concluded their opening arguments and
Judge Chetiain decided that he could
rightfully take the case. Having
heard the arguments. the Judge an
nounced his decision. extending the
time for execution two weeks to April 8,
and setting the commencement Of the
trial as TO the question Of the prisoners
sanity at Saturday morning at 10 o'clock
the stay was the testimony of two wit
nesses. who stated that Prendergast had
become insane since his trial
30 q. m.-Sheriff Gilbert was seen Q
few minutes ago, and by his remarks has
added an element Of uncertainty as TO
whether Prendergast shall hang today or
not. He would not say what he would
do, beyond that he would obey the orders
of Judge Chetlain if his legal adviser
should instruct him tina. such would be
the proper course for him to pursue.