The evening world., 1894-07-13
PRENDERGASTAND HIS CRIME
Cold-Blooded Murder of Carter
Harrfson, Chicago's Mayor.

Patrick Eugene Prandergast, shortly
after 8 o'clock on the night OF oct %.
1893. called at 23l Ashland avenue. Chi
cago. the house OF Carter II. Harrison,
then Mayor OF the city.
He asked 10 see the Mayor. and. when
Mary Hansen, a servant hesitated about
admitting hinN he brushed past her and
entered the hallway.
Mr.. Harrison. who had been sleeping
in the dining room on the frs. floor OF
his residence, was awakened by the con
versation and walked out into the hall
way.
He asked Prendergast what he wanted
and the servant retired to the kitchen.
Prendergast muttered someth ing about
wanting to be appointed Corporation
Counsel, ard drawing Il s2-calbre re-
volver, shot Mr.. Harrison four times.
lie then fed. and on the way fired at
and missed Coachman Charles Parth,
who went to the Mayors assistance. and
who pursued but failed to overtake the
assassin
MIR Harrison died within twenty min
utes after being shot.
Prendergast. after the murder, I'm
mediately proceeded to the Desplaines
street station and surrendered
He said he had shot the Mayor because
the latter had broken faith with him in
failing to appoint him Corporation Coun-
sci.
Prendergast was indicted. tried and
on Dec. 20. 1899. convicted of murder in
the first degree. Insanity was the sole
defense.
He was sentenced by Judge Brentano
to be hanged on March q, 1894. Under
may empanel a jury to hold a hearing to
determine the sanity or insanity of a
defendant. at any time before execution
and after sentence, frenderEasts coun-
eve of the day for the execution a stay
OF proceedings for two weeks. or until
| April 6 last.
This decision brought upon Judge
press and public. Various legal steps
were taken to save Prendergast from
death on the gallows, but he was finally
declared sane by a jury of experts. and.
as GOV. Aitgeld refused to interfere, his
doom was sealed.
The assassination of Carter II. Harri-
son was one OF the most notable crimes
Of the century.
Prendergast had not the vestige Of a
grievance upon which to base his at
tack The dastaEdly character Of the
In Chicago. and. in fact, throughout the
country. that there was at first talk OF
lynching Prendergast. and the long de
lay in bringing him to the scaffold was
condemned at home and abroad as an
outrage upon the name OF the law
Carter Harrison was one OF the best
known men in the United States. and
had been for years picturesque figure
His assassination cast shadow over
thu, closing days of the great Worlds
| and as a business man and citizen. Mr..
Harrison had largely contributed. No
man in Chicago was more popular with
| the people generally.
| He was selected as Cook County
Commissioner In 1871 and served in that
capacity until 1874 He represented Hi
NTH Congresses He was first selected
Mayor OF Chicago in 1879 and served
Ave consecutive terms, running on the
| Democratic ticket.
In 1880 he ran again for the Mayora!ty.
but as an Independent, and was de-
feated. In 1892 he was once more a
candidate and was elected, He was
frequently mentioned as a possible Demo-
cratic candidate for President.
| Prendergast was born in Ireland but
came to this country when five years
gle tax theory was one of his hobbies,
| and he was close student OF Henry
Georges writings. He also Imagined
that he was a minicipal reformer. and
he could abolish grade crossings in Chi
cago and solve the problem of elevating
ali the railroad tracks within the city
| limits.
AS a boy, 1t Is said. he was conscien-
| tributing newspapers and circulars,
| Disappointed political ambition was
no doubt, the cause Of his crime. For
some time before its commission he had
haunted the Municipal Building in Chi
cago, and vented his spite by writing
threatening postal cards to various city
| officials.
| After the murder he manifested hut
| little concern as to the result OF his
| trial. and seemed to have no apprecia-
| ton OF the enormity OF his crime.
| When sentenced, he lost his nerve for
| a time but he resumed his bravado
when granted a respite by Judge Chef
| lain on several occasions ne inter-
rupted his counsel and made scene in
| court
| He insisted that he was not insane, and
| that he did not want any such line of
| defense.