The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1894-07-21
PRENDERGAST is HANGED
The Assassin of Mayor Harrison
Executed.
Tho Murderer Avoke in n surly Mood and
Expressed Interest In Nothing but
His Brcnkfast-Atc Like =
Starving Man.

the state IA expiated on the gallows
of the Cook county Jail this morning.
Nearly nine months have elapsed since
the bullet of an assassin deprived Chi.
cago of her chief executive, the state OF
one of her most illustrious citizens and
the country at large OF a statesman and
n patriot. Today the crime was
avenged and Patrick Eugene Prendcr
gastsuffered an ignominious death atthe
hands of the hangnan. The execution
was devoid of incident, for tho assassin
went to his death like an OK going to
the slamblcs. Up to the last IN
the hope of interposition from some
source or another did not desert him
When it came to the end he nerved
himself for a supreme effort and paid
the penalty of his crime without q
whimper md without n word.
, Up to 8 o'clock there were no signs
on the exterior Of the county Jail that
anything out Of the regular run OF
events was about to occur. At thai
hour, however, twenty-five police Off.
GERS from the East Chicago avenue
station, under command of Sergean,
Sauer, drew up in double rank at the
main entrance. Sixteen of the number
were assigned to positions ut the fou1
corners of the structure while the re,
mainder We're stationed on the side
walk before the steps with orders to
keep any crowd that might assemble
at a respectable distance. At $40 an
additional detail of twenty-five officers
frDO, Tho oay,trn1 Ia{ntJ ,ra.n .,ar,hnl
into the Jail yard, and double sentries
were posted at the doors and in tho
corridors of the court house.
1t was nearly midnight when tho
condemned man lay down on the couch
that had been prepared for him in the
private room of Juiler Morris. Five
minutes later, according to tho death
watch, Bailitfs John Writ and
William Johnson, he was sound
asleep. Chancellor Mu!doon of ti:e
Cathedral of the Holy Name and Father
Barry called at 3 O'clock, but Prender.
CAST was still sleeping soundly and he
was not disturbed. AT $40 he nwoke
with q start. The death watch
gave him a CHEEKY greeting,
but he was in a surly mood
and did not Immediately respond. He
slowly dressed himself In the suit OF
black clothes that had been brought
him by his brother yesterday
afternoon and then remarked to
the guards, "What about my break.
fast" What would you like?"
asked Writ. Prendcrgast expressed
a preference for n dish of ham and
eggs, fried potatoes and coffee, and in
fifteen minutes a dainty meal had been
prepared from u neighboring restau,
rant. 1t did not suit his appetite, how
ever, and after going through the bill
of fare he finally decided that a re.
past consisting OF q portcrhouse steak,
French fried potatoes, sliced tomatoes
and cucumbers, hot biscuits and Il big
pot of chocolate would be more tempt
ing. The second meal was promptly
ordered, and when it appeared
he ate like IL starving
a until the dishes wera
cleaned. He answered in the negative
when asked if he could eat anything
more and then the priests We're nd,
mitted to the room.
HIS breakfast finished Prendergast
listened quietly to the ministration OF
Father Barry. Twice he made a re,
quest for more chocolate and two quart
pitchers were taken to him. At 10
o'clock Sheriff Gilbert entered the cell
and read the death warrant. Prender-
CAST made no direct response
to the official but remarked to
Father Barry, 1--WE may yet hear from
the governor" Meanwhile the physi.
clans composing the jury, the members
OF the grand jury, now in session, and
about 200 ticket holders had been ad,
mitted to what is now known in the
Jail as tho death corridor"
AT l1:45 the deputy sheriff on the
scaffold rAised his hand to command
silence and one minute later the pro,
cession rounded the upper corridor and
came into view. Sheriff Gilbert led
the way with Father Barry close be.
hind. Prendergast walked between
two deputy s~leriffs and half n dozer
deputies brought up the rear. 1t was
apparent to everyone II a while the
condemned man was on the verge OF
collnpsing he was nevertheless deter
mined to present Il nervy front. He
looked neither to the right nor the left,
but straight ahead and seemed uncon-
he advanced to the trent o,
the scatfold he made a silent
cross upon his breast and upon his
forehead. Father Barry repeated
a prayer in an undertone while the
deputies adjusted the straps at his
lsncss and fastened his arms behind
him. The two deputies led him to tho
center of the trap, quickly adjusted the
moose and drew the white cap over his
head. His limbs seemed to tremblc 70,
n second and then there was u lnovc'
ment from under the white robe az
though he were bracing himself. The
signal was given TO the unseen cxecu
toner, the trap shot downward. The
body swung round and round, ther.
was one brief c%onvulsive struggle and
the murder of Carter Harrison had beer
avenged. The body was surrounded
by the jury of physicians aud as soor
as life had been pronounced extinct hi
was cut down.