The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-07-18

sng the mayoralty campaign two years
ago, which resulted In the election of
Garter r. 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, and he was in
the habit Of attending meetings Of the
single tax club. Thus he gained a
smattering of knowledge about various
matters, and among his fellows was re-
garded a prodigy of learning. He re-
,garded himself in the same light. and
treated the other carriers with superctl-
iousness and evident contempt, which
they We're disposed rather to encourage
than resent.
Prendergast had disagreeable fond
ness for beating and torturing his young
er and slighter cO-workers- Last sum-
mer he grew tired of his featureless ex-
istence What he wanted more than all
other things, what was more necessary
than everything else to his happiness,
was TO be talked about. He longed TO
see his name In the newspapers, to know
that he filing the public eye. He
flusted after distinction, no matter
Whether il was good or bad He felt
that 10 enjoy the sensations Of notO-
triety he would risk much. But he was
according to general belief, a coward,
land would not risk his life. He would
risk his liberty for the delights he
dreamed of, but not his life.
For days and weeks he cast about him
for a promising means to his end. At
last it occurred to him that it would
fcreate comment if one in his station in
life, humble newspaper carrier. should
tapply for a high office in the municipal
tgovernment- The idea, once admitted,
took complete possession of his mind. He
appeared in Corporation Counsel Adolph
. Krause'5 Office one day and announced
that he desired to succeed Mr.. Krause
I'm the position. Mr.. Krause laughed at
him and took the announcement as
Joke, and Prendergast sneaked out, and
there was no comment on the incident
On the papers next morning.
Exasperated by his failure to secure
the nOtOriety he craved, Prendergast de-
termined to make another effort. At
last he selected Mayor Harrison. He
called upon the mayor, and with all the
gravity he could master stated his de-
eire to be appointed corporation counsel.
The mayor was in good humor and the
righteousness Of the affair struck him.
He chaffed Prendergast good naturedly
and speedily forgot him. A any rate,
he did not think 1t necessary to notify
the newspapers, and again Prendergast
failed of his object. He was now more
determined than ever to attain it. He
resolved that he would get his name into
The newspapers even at the risk of ar
rest. He called again upon Mayor Har-
Prison and limited that If his request did
ylOL secure prompt dlltullol II WOulQ DC
worse for the mayor.
But his cOwardice prevented him from
making the hints ominous enough TO
brighten or even startle the mayor. Mr..
Harrison did not know fear, and he
treated Prendergast'S threats as lightly
as ne had treated his requests. This
time he ordered Prendergast out Of the
office, but in spite of that he did not
think the matter important enough to
mention it. Prendergast concluded to
1afFe 1faf
only unanswered, but he could not be
Sure that they had ever been delivered.
again he called on Mayor Harrison. This
time he was received brusquely and was
warned TO keep away and trouble the
mayor no more
Desperate with his determination to
secure the longed-for nOtoriety, and en-
ragged at his repeated failure. Prender-
CAST at last worked himself into fren-
zied momentary courage. and committed
the frighuful crime for which he died to-
day On the night Of Oct. IS, 1893 Car
ter II. Harrison, mayor of Chicago, was
seated at dinner with his son and daugh-
ter, in his residence IN Ashland boule-
Yard The dOor-bell rang. and a low
browed. shambling, ill-clad fellow asked
to see the mayor.
The man was Prendergast. When in
formed that the mayor was at dinner he
turned away and said he would return
later. When the man called again the
mayor was doing on a couch. It had
been American Cities Day" al the
Worlds fair. and he had made the best
speech of his life to a vast throng Of
people. He was awakened by the sound
OF voices and came toward the door. The
man approached the mayor, said some
thing that was not overheard by the
servant. and then pointed a revolver at
Mr. Harrison's breast and fired. The
assassin ran into the street, and, after
discharging a ball at the pursuing butler,
disappeared in JacksOn-st., shortly after
ward surrendering himself 10 the police
about the time that Mayor Harrison eX-
pired in the arms of Miss Anna Howard
OF New Orleans. TO whom he was TO have
been married in a few days.