Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-07-19

from the time he left the cell having
been dissuaded by the sheriff from car,
rying out his announced intention OF
making twenty minutes speech on
the gallows. Ten minutes after the
trap fell the body was lowered into
a coffin. The face Of the dead was not
badly distorted.
THE MURDERER.
The crime and the criminal were
alike extraordinary. Prendergast, q
newspaper carrier about % years Of
age, took great interest in politics.
During the mayoralty campaign two
years ago which resulted in the cleo
ton Of Carter Harrison, he was active
in small way in political circles and
spent much of his time electioneering
and working for Mr.. Harrison. He
was also an ardent and enthusiastic
advocate of the single-tax theory. He
regarded himself as prodigy of learn
ing and treated the other carriers
with supercinoisnnss, which they
were disposed rather to encourage
than resent, for Prendergast had a
disagreeable fondness for beating
and torturing his younger and slighter
co-workers. Last summer he grew
tired of his featureless existence.
What he wanted more than all other
things, what was more necessary than
everything else to his happiness was
to be talked about. At last 1t occurred
to him that it would create comment
if one in his station in life, humble
newspaper carrier, should apply for a
high Office in the municipal govern
ment.
lie appeared in Corporation Counsel
Adolph Kraus' office one day and an
nounced that he desired to succeed
Mr.. Kraus in the position, Mr.. Kraus
laughed at him and took the an
nouncement as joke.
This visit was not noticed by the
papers as Prendergast expected Ex-
asperated by his failure to secure the
notoriety he crayed, Prendergast de-
termined to make another attempt.
At last he selected Mayor Harrison.
He called upon the mayor, and, with
all the gravity he could master. stated
his desire to be appointed corporation
counsel But the mayor was in good
humor and the righteousness of the
affair struck him. He chaffed Prem
dergast good-naturedly and speedily
forgot him.
Again Prendergast failed OF his OBJ
ject. He was now more determined
that he would get his name into the
newspapers even at the risk of ar
rest. He called again upon Mayor
Harrison and limited that if his request
did not secure prompt attention it
would be the worse for the mayor.
Mr.. Harrison did not know fear and
he treated Prendergasts threats as
lightly as he had treated his request.
Prendergast wrote to the mayor.
His letter We're not only unanswered,
but he could not be sure they had ever
been delivered. Again he called on
Mayor Harrison This time he was
received brusquely and warned to keep
away and trouble the mayor no more.
Desperate with his determination to
secure the longed-for notorety, Prem
dergast at last worked himself into a
frenz!ed momentary courage and com
mitted the frightful crime for which
he died yesterday
On the night of Oct. %. 1898. Car
ter III Harrison mayor Of Chicago.
was seated al dinner with his son and
daughter in his residence on Ashland
boulevard. The doorbell rang and an
ill-clad fellow asked 10 see the mayor.
The man was Prendergast. When he
was informed that the mayor was at
dinner. he turned away and said he
would return later. 1t was "Ameri-
can Cities" day at the worlds fair,
and The mayor had made the best
speech of his life to a vast throng of
people.
Mr. Harrison was doing. He was
awakened by the sound of voices and
came towards the door. The man APP
preached the mayor. pointed a revoI-
Yer at Mr.. Harrison's breast and fired.
The assassin ran into the street, and
after discharging bah at the pur-
suing butter, disappeared, shortly af-
forwards surrendering himself to the
police, about the time that Mayor
Harrison expired in the arms Of Miss
Anna Howard OF New Orleans. to
whom he was 10 have been married in