The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-07-20

gave way. His knees trembled and
seemed TO sink under him. His breath
came in gas $ and he gave convulsive
gull that showed his nervous system
was breaking. His pull Q was beating
at 12O minute, and he was on the
point OF physical collapse when the
drop fell.
He died painlessly, Is his neck was
broken by the fall. To the very last
moment he expected to te saved from
the scaffOld by some power Five min
utes before he began his walk to the
Rallows he said he expected to hear
soon from tn Governor. He made no
sp ech on the gallows. He had
intended to do so, but was dis
suaded by his spiritual adviser.
Rev. Father Barry, who pleaded with
him to submit to the inc liable and not
TO make a scene. He accepted the
ministrations of the priests who were
with him to the last, and he received
the last rites of the Catholic Church.
Ten minutes before he stepped on
the fatal trap he repeated the state
ment that he had so often made-that
he killed Mr. Harrison because he had
to do SO and that there was no malice
in the act. This was practically his
dying declaration. The execution was
accomplished without accident. With
in three minutes after Prendergast left
his cell he was swinging at the ropes
END.
Story of the Crime.
The crime for which Patrick Eugene
Prendergast was executed was one OF
the most cold blooded and unprovoked
murders ever committed. On Satur-
day, Oct. %, 1893, Carter Fl. Harrison,
then Mayor OF Chicago, attended the
closing of the great Worlds Columbian
Exposition, and in his capacity as
Mayor delivered one of the addresses OF
the day. The Mayor, tired and worn
out by the performance OF his many
Official duties, returned to his home on
Ashland avenue at an early hour in
the evening. Prendergast first visited
the house at 1870 o'clock and was in
formed that Mayor Harrison was en-
gagged. A half hour later he returned
and was let into the hall by the serv-
ant girl. Mayor Harrison was asleep
In his armchair, but was awakened by
Prendergasts voice and walked to-
ward the main a lway. AS he did so
Prendergast advanced, revolver In
hand, and fired three shots at Mr.. Har-
Il
one piercing his right hand and the
other entering his stomach. Tho
wounded man sank to the Il or and
twenty minutes later d ed in the arms
Of his son, William Preston Harrison.
Immediately following the shooting,
Prendergast left the house and made
his way to Desplaine rect station,
where he gave himself up. From Des.
Dlaines street station the murd rer WAS
taken to the city hall, whore he made a
statement concerning the shooting lie
said he was very deeply interest d In
track elevation and was anX Gus to be
made Corporation Counsel in order
that lie might carry out his ideas on
the subject. He said MAJOR Ha -rison
hal promised 10 app int him Go po a
tion Counsel, but hal fa led 10 d SO,
and for this reas he thought he was
just fed in taking the Mayot's life.
Efforts to Save Ills Life.
In its lie al pha es the Prendegast
case j. without precedent in the his
tory of criminal law. Never tefore
were such persist nt and ingenious
efforts made to save prisoner neck
from the moose. The defense set up
the plea of insanity and on this line
the battle against justice was waged
TO the end. The assassin was ut all
times surrounded by legal talent we
versed in tho most intricate points OF
practice, and having all the technical
itie' at their command. Yet with al
OF these advantages tho murderer OF
Mayor Harrison was unable TO e'u1e
the scaffold which was twi crested
+ its victim.