Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-01-04


as the evidence has been to show
PrendcrgaSt insane, and thus to save
his neck, the jury found him response
bic for the act and demanded that he
pay the highest penalty for his Offense
against the law This, however, is a
sorry value compared to the life of Car
ter Harrison.
Nothing since the commission Of his
crime hans so irritated Prendergast us
a comparison between himself and
Guiteau, but in the court room this
afternoon he showed one trace existed
in common between them. He proved
himself unmanly, u miserable coward
who would have life at any price, only
let it be life.
When Clerk Fitzgerald arose to read
the finding of the jury, the prisoner
stood clutchin, the back of Il chair,
his face flushed and his knees tremb
ling violently.
I'VE, the jury, find the defendant
Patrick Eugene John PrendergaSt, gull
tv of murder i'll the manner and form
as charged i'll the indictments and fix
the penalty at death" read Fitzgerald.
Then PrendergaSt revealed himself
10 be an utter coward. His face turn
ed pale, he opened his mouth to speak,
but only Il faint murmur came. He
moved slightly and would have fallen
but for the assistance of the bailitf.
When the jury WtGS pOlled he listened
with avidity to each and every answer
10 Judge Brentano's questions and as
each juror i'll turn reiterated the YER
dict, the last vestige of courage left
prendergust.
He was half led, half carried back to
his cell where, refusing to speak, he
thre y himself upon his bunk in an
attempt TO hide from his fellow prison
erS whose expressions of satisfaction
were more emphatic than graceful and
m0-n sincere than polite.
Attorney Trude concluded his argu
ment for the prosecution about noon.
HIe reviewed the testimony carefully,
lie said: They had witnesses to prove
that Prendergast was insane because
he dWelt upon the theories of Henry
George. The single-taX witnesses took
the position that Prendergast was in
sane becuase of his advocacy Of GER
cain religious topics at times.
The brothers of the church said that
they thought the defendant insane be-
cause Of his advocacy of single tax.
There you are. One side arrayed
against the other and what does the
evidence amount to-"
+, In the course of his remarks Trude
had occasion to characterize Henry
George us migratory and pesti1ential
paranoiac."
rrude closed with an eloquent plea
tor the conviction OF the prisoner,
whom, he declared, has been proved
sane by preponderouS evidence. The
court then took II recess till l O'Clock
and promptly at that hour Judge Bren-
tano began his charge TO the jury.
prendergast buried his face i'll
black handkerchief and did not look
up III, at the close OF the judges charge
the word death" was uttered, and the
prisoner looked up for an instant
Upon the question of insanity, which
was the main point at issue, Judge
Brentano said If the jury believed the
defendant committed the crime as
charged, knowing it to be wrong, it
was the duty OF the jury to find the
prisoner guilty even though they be-
lieyed at the time the crime was com
IL tied the prisoner was not perfectly
sane; but if the jury believed that at
the time of the act the prisoner was
not OF sound mind, but affected with
insanity, and that such affection was
sufficient to cause the act, then the
prisoner ought to be acquitted. If the
jury has any doubts as to the prison
cr's sanity the law gives him the bene-
tit of the doubt. If the jury believes
the defendant is laboring under de.
fusion, which has depriv ed the ac-
cused the power betN choosing be-
tween right and wroI@ then the jury
must acquit him.
At 1870 o'clock the 'ury retired to
consider the verdict Nothing was
heard from it for e1lc,4y an hour, then
Bailift BusSe hurried through the room
to NOTIFY the jailer to bring the pris-
oner into court and Il few minutes
later the jury filed IN and took its
place.
AS Prendergast took his seat the
judge said: Have you agreed upon
the verdict|'
The twelve men bowed assent and
Foreman Suffer handed the paper con
tanning the verdict to Clerk Fitzger-
aid. When Fitzgerald read in meas
ured tones, the finding of the jury. the
prisoner was watched by every person
in the room and it was with difficulty
that he kept from breaking down.
Attorney Wade made the usual re
quest that the jury be polIed and ther
the prisoner was removed and the
Judge announced that the Jury wal;
excused and the proceedings were a.
an end. Before the adjournment OF
court Wade made the usual appHca
ton for new trial and the Judge an
nounced that he would hear the mo
ton at 4 future date
The mother Of the prisoner did no
trust herself to remain in court K
hear the result of the trial but fingered
around the corridor waiting for tn,
first news 10 come from the court room
When it came she tottered away. cling
ing to the bannister for support a
she descended the stairs.
John Prendergast, the prisoner
brother, if he was in the room Ief
without attracting attention.