The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-04
PRENDERGAST is SANE
AND MUST PAY THE PENALTY FOR
KILLING CARTER HARRISON.
Jury Decides that the Assassin Is Not
Crazy, and the Court Sentences
Him to BE Hanged July 13.

CHICAGO, July 3.-Prendergast, the as
sassn of Mayor Carter II. Harrison, was
declared mot insane by jury i'm Judge
Payne's court this afternoon, and, under
sentence of the court. must be hanged
Friday, July Is. The jury was out just
two hours and five minutes.
There was much confusion in the court
room among the waiting lawyers and
spectators just before the jury came in
when movement was noticed among the
bailiffs- In a few moments Prendergast
was brought in. With him were six
bailiffs, who stood along the passageway
back of which the prisoner sat- to the
door leading to the bridge connecting with
the jail. Then a hush fell upon the court
room. Every one there seemed impressed
with the solemnity of the occasion. Judge
Payne took his place on the bench and
the jurors filed into their seats in the pox
Gentlemen of the jury said Judge
Payne. have you agreed upon your YER
dict?"
Yes your Honor" said foreman Chas.
b. Schenck as he partly arose from his
chair.
Read the verdict" said the court.
The clerk unfolded the paper and read
in distinct voice the doom of Prender-
CAST in these words: 1--WE, the jury, find
Patrick Eugene Prendergast not insane
nor lunatic." The paper was signed by
foreman Schenck and all the Jurors Mr.
Gregory asked that the jury be polled,
and the name of each juror was called.
Was this and is this now your verdict?"
was the question asked.
1T is" came the answer in every case.
Then, addressing the jury, Judge Payne
sald: Gentlemen. want very much TO
thank you for the attention you have
given this difficult case and the faithful
manner in which you have performed
your duty l want you to know that L
appreciate the deprivationS you have I'M
dergone during your confinement. Gentle
men, you are discharged"
Prendergast sat unmoved during the
whole proceeding He made no outcry and
was at once removed to his cell in the
Jail. His counsel will move for a new
trial, and If this be not granted they have
expressed their intention OF carrying the
matter to the Supreme Court. Messrs.
barrow, Harland, Gregory and Heron, who
Prendergast were all in court wnen the
verdict was rendered. Assistant States
Attorneys Morrison and Todd were there
but neither the assassins mother nor
brother was present.
When the jury received the instructions
of the court and retired to deliberate
at any time heretofore in this trial, which
has attracted so wide attention. Prem
dergast sat unmoved during the reading
of Judge lPayne's charge; His mother
and brother were then in the court ROOM
Judge Payne read his charge from the
witnesses chair. which stands between the
bench and the jury box. He spoke in a
clear, calm voice, enunciated distinctly and
slowly. and the jury paid close attention
to every word. The charge was considered
a fair exposition of the law. 1t confined
the jury to the consideration of the point
the verdict of the jury which held him re-
sponsible for the murder of Mayor Harri-
son and affixed the death penalty. The
jurors could. however the court sad
find Prendergast insane if they deemed
that he failed TO realize the nature of the
present proceedings, If he failed to ap-
preciate his present position before the
law touching his execution that he was
in such a state of mind as to disable him
from preparing for death: in short, If his
execution on the gallows would be in
human.