The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-07-16

moment the hope Of interpositiOn from
some source or another did not desert him,
although he was fully cognizant of the
afact that all efforts in both state and fed
eral courts and in the executive chamber
bad been exhausted. When it came to the
end he nerved himself for a supreme effort
and paid the penalty of his crime without
Wthimper and without a word.
Prendergast laid down to rest for the last
time d midnight and in five minutes was
asleep He slept soundly until G:l0 o'clock,
when he awoke with a start and in a surly
mood. In a few minutes he was dressed
and asked for breakfast. He was asked
what he would like have. His order was
for ham and eggs, fried potatoes ana COT
rec, but whom 1t Was put before him il dt4
rot suil him, and he called for a porter
house steak, French fried potatoes, sliced
tomatoes and cucumbers, hot biscuits and
big pgt Of Chocolate. Then he cleaned the
dishes. During the morning he drank two
quarts Of chocolate in addition to what he
had at breakfast.
The waiting time was spent in company
with Father Barry
Hope to the Last.
When the death warrant was read to him
at 10 o'clock Prendergast remarked to the
priest: I'VE may yet hear from the gov
ernor."
Those who Witnessed the execution were
the examining physicians, the members of
the grand jury, now in session, and about
200 ticket-holders, among whom were in
cluded the newspaper men,
At 1:40 o'clock the procession to the
sscaffold moved Prendergast looked
straight ahead and gave no sign of weaken
ing. Just as the white STROUD was being
tied around his neck he took u long breath
and every one imagined that he was about
to make a speech. In a second however,
he. had set his teeth together, While his
- ,r,,l vr-bt nv
The two deputies led him to the center
of the trap, quickly adjusted the moose and
drew the white cap over his head. His
limbs seemed to tremble for a second and
then there was a movement from under
the white cap as though he were bracing
1Ti12s9lf
sfsESNsa Last of Prendergast.
Th8GSssgaal was given to .the unseen eX-
ecutionefsasa-- the body swung round and
round.
There Was~6ne brief, convusive struggle
ana the murder Of Carter Harrison had
been avenged TIFF Body was surrounded
by the jury of physicians and as soon as
life had been pronounced extinct it was
cut down.
The jail officials said after the execution
that the condemned man had requested
an indulgence of twenty minutes after
reaching the scaffod for the purpose of
making a speech. He was disSuaded from
his intention, however by Father Barry
Garter Iarri%on'S Assassination.
The crime for which Prendergrast was
hanged was the coWardly assassination or
Carter Harrison, mayor of Chicago. III was
on the night of october 2Sth last, just on
the eve of the closing of the world 1an.
The fair was to close on the following
Monday or Tuesday, and the city wac
thronged with visitors, when at apout
o'clock on Saturday night PrenderSr%S1
rang Mayor Harrisons door pen i,!I
MAYOR lived on South Ashland DouieVdiU
His hutIer answered the ring. lac sIitH
per at the door inquired for the mayor NJ
Harrison, who was lying down III 'He -
inc room heard his name caileu go "P go
stepped into the hall to receive ms 49,
Prendergrast strobe forward l"o Vi W.
naces presented a pistol at the mayor on"
frcd three shots in quick succession f-dcu
bullet took effect The assassin turned anu
ran out and down the street. a SCI N1i,'
followed and tried to shoot the heeihs mo-
Inf could not for fear OF hlttlnS pdS9el' Wy.
Neighbors ran in at the SCUM" u ny ny. ~,
and preston Harrison, the mayors SON. ran
49,, e+oire turning in a police alarm as
he descended the steps
Mr. Harrison realized that he was NOR
+a,1v wounded. His iiancee TO Whoh ne
was to be married in few days was up
stairs with one OF Mr.. Harrison dauSh-
tors The young lady reached him before
w. was unconscious, but death came III
very little time. ~. ,,4
The news spread over the city with light
ning-lke rapidtty. Every one was shocked.
No motive could be attributed at the mo-
ment for the horrible crime. There was no
clue to the assassin. The police knew not
which way to turn to run him down. But
they were saved that trouble. Within half
an hour Prendergrast walked into the Des
PLANES street police station and surren-
dered. stating that he had killed Mayor
Harrison because the mayor had not kept
a promise to appoint him city attorney:
Prendergrast was a newspaper carrier and
a cranl, He was convicted of murder on
his trial and was sentenced to be hanged
early in March. But his counsel succeeded
in stayng execution of the sentence.
Mayor Harrison had recognized that Prem
dergrast was crank ana huIhoTeo ni'''