The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-01-06
PRENERGAST'S DOOM.

| Win LAptCtcu
CHICAGO. Dec 29.-The death watcl
sits tonight in the cell of Patricl
Eugene John Prendergast, the muir
derer of Carter Henry Harrison. Ill
must die on the gallows. Twelve rep
resentative citizens of Chicago adjudget
him responsible to the law for his cold
blooded, cowardly deed the night o
October IS. The verdict was agreed
upon after the jury had deliberated q
little over an hour.
The morning of the last day of the
trial was allotted to Alfred S. Trude
who pleaded eloquently for justice and
argued concisely to convince the twelve
men before him that the miserable
wretch knew he was committing d
crime when he took the life of the law
yer's friend.
| Judge Brentano followed with in.
structions to the jury, lengthy, but eX'
plicit. providing for every contingency
or doubt which might arise in the
minds of those who were Prengergast's
| judges. The texts of all verdicts for
and against the prisoner which could
Dt ClSC "tIC RlhCH W
the twelve peers, and they retired at
LES p. IN. to consider which one they
should return, according to the law
and the evidence. Prendergast sat
sullen and silent through this last
scene hut one in the trial. lie was
hemmed in by officers of the law, who
had no sympathy for him, and farther
away sat well-dressed men and women
who came to hear the eloquent Trude.
The contempt for the ugly-faced as
sassin may have been tempered with n
little pity, but their hearts were
steeled to receive verdict of guilty
and death. While the judge was read
ing his carefully prepared instructions
the prisoners face betrayed the keen
est anxiety. His open mouth twitched
nervously, and he turned his misshapen
head at every sound coming from the
entrance to the crowded court room
after the jury had retired. He was
fearful of 4 speedy agreement,
as he realized that it would be
significant of guilty" ver-
diet. After awhile he was taken
back to his cell in the adjoin-
ing Jail and the tension which had
kept the men and women subdued was
relaxed.
Suddenly at 2::aS o'clock, in the midst
of general conversation and laughter,
came a bailIff's shrill voice calling:
Take seats now, gentlemen"
The meaning of the order was well
understood. 1t had the effect of an
electric shock. THAT means guilty
sure" Its hanging" were the
words which passed from mouth to
mouth. Every eye was turned towards
the door and the buzz of excitement
and conversation died away. Instead
n solemn stiffness pervaded the cham
Der. From the door came procession
of stern-faced men. Judge Brentano
led the way, followed by the jury and
bailiffs.
Walking with guards in front of him
and guards behind him, Prendergast
returned slowly to his seat. Jail
Clerk Ben Price, who accompanied the
assassin, urged him to "Brace up and
keep your mouth shut" Prendergast
obeyed the latter injunction only.
His bravado and vanity had fled. The
mask had been torn from his face by
fear of an adverse verdict and he
stood before court and jury natural
a covering coward afraid to hear his
doom pronounced.
The countenance of every juror was
sphynx-like. No sign of hope for
Prendergast could be detected there.
lie dropped into his seat against the
wall and the guards stood over him.
His protruding lower jaw became
limp. so that his lips hung wide apart.
The silence was impressively intense.
1t was broken by the voice of Judge
Brentano saying:
'lIave you agreed upon a verdict,
gentlemen"
I'VE have, your honor, replied Fore
man J. Sutter, handing the fatal docu-
ment to the judge, who transmitted it
to the clerk. That officer quietly
opened it in the midst of breathless
suspense, and read as follow:
We the jury, find the defendant. Patrick Eu-
gene Prendergast. guilty of murder in manner
and form as charged in the indictment, and we
Fix his punishment at death.
When the clerk uttered the word
death" Prendergast made the Cath
Ole sign of the cross over his breast
with his right hand. His demeanor
was abject and pitiful. He looked in
deed miserable wretch in human
form. Not a word escaped his lips.
The effect of the death verdict kept
the spectators silent. No one rose to
go. Quickly the guards took hold of
the trembling prisoner, and were hur-
ring him back to Jail when the voice
of the judge was heard again.
Bring the prisoner back" he COM
manded, and the condemned creature
was led back to his seat. The formal
ity of polling the jury" had not been
complied with. 1t was soon over, each
juror answering Yes" to the question
"Was and is this now your verdict?"
Prendergast did not sit down the
second time. He stood pale and ter
rOr-stricken close to his chair, stretch
ing his hand for support against the
wall, while guard held the other arm.
After the removal of the guilty
wretch Attorney Wade entered the for
nal motion for a new trial, which will
be argued next week. Then the satis-
fed crowd quietly dispersed.
Preston Harrison was the first to ap-
proach Mr.. Trude and thank him
earnestly for his able services and per-
sonal interest in netting out justice to
the murderer of his father. His remarks
were free from exultant feeling. He
believed that justice only had been
done.
Prendergast created no scene when
he was returned to his cell, and the
verdict was kept from his fellow-pris-
oners as long as possible. They soon
received word through visitors, how
ever, and Jailer Morris removed the
condemned man tonight to Murder
er's Row" his cell being next to that
of George Painter.
Shortly after Prendergast arrived at
the Jail he was called on by his brother
John. The meeting between the BROTH
ers was painful. They shook hands
silently, and neither spoke for several
minutes. Then John said: Don't
lose hope, Gene; we'lf do all we can
for you" The assassin bowed his
head, but made no reply. Later he