The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-07-19

gave way. His knees tremhled and
seemed to sink under him His breath
came in gas and he give convulsive
gul tina. showed his nervous system
was breaking. His rul Q was beating
a. l2ba minute. and he was on the
point of physical collapse when tho
drop fell.
He died painlessly, a his neck was
broken 10y the fall. TO the very last
moment he expected to lie saved from
the scatfOld by some power. Five min
utes before he began his walk to the
gallows he said he expected to hear
soon from tn Governor. He made no
sp ech on the gallows. He had
intended to do 80, but was dis
suai,d by his s. ritual adviser.
Rev. Father Barry. who pleaded with
him t. submit to t.e Inc liable and not
to make Sc ne. He accepted the
ministrations Of the priest, who were
the last rites of the Catholic Church.
Ten minutes before he stepped on
the fatal trap he repeated the state
ment tina. he had SO often made-that
he killed Mr.. Harrison because he had
to do SO ana that there was no malice
in the ACT. This was practically his
diving declaration. The execution wa
accomplished without accident. With
in three minutes after i'rendergast left
his cell he was swinging at the rope
END.
Story Of the Crime.
The crime for which Patrick Eupen.
Prcndergast was executed wa, one of
the m ),t cold blocdcd and unprovOkcd
murders ever committed. On Satur-
day, Oct. 81, 1892, Carter II. Harrison.
then Mayor OF Chicago. attended the
closing Of the great Worlds Columbian
Exposition. and in his capacity AZ
Mayor delivered one of the addresses OF
the day. The Mayor. tired and worn
out by the performance of his many
oI;ciai duties. returned to his home on
Ashland avenue a. an early hour in
the evening. f'renderg.,t first visited
the house at $50 o'clock and was in
formed that Mayor Harrison was en-
gagged. \ hall hour later he eturnei
, and was let into the hall ty the serv-
! ant girl. Mayor Harrison was ,leep
in his armchai'. but was awakened by
rendergast zee and walked to-
ward the main {. !wav. AS he did SO
PrenGergast advanced, rev Diver in
han nd, and fired three shots at MIR. Har-
ri-or. Two If the bullets to X effect.
one piercing his right hand and the
other entering his stomach. Tfo
wounded man sank to the Il or and
twenty minutes later a'ed in the arms
of his son, William Preston Harrison.
Immediately following the shooting.
Prendergast left the house and made
. his way to Desplaine' s rect station.
where he gave himself up. From Les.
PLANES street station the murderer was
taken to the city hall. where he made
statement concerning the shooting he
said he was very deeply interest d in
track elevation and was anx GUS TO lie
made Corporation Counsel la order
that he might carry out his IDEAS on
the .ubject. He said Ma or Ha rison
mai promised TO app int him Go pO a.
ton Counsel, but hal ia led 10 4 /, SO,
and Tor this reas n he thought h. was
justified in taking the Ma .o:'s life
Efforts Z" save I'll. Life.
In its legal pha es the Prendegast
case Is without precedent in the his
tory OF criminal law. Never tefore
were such persistent and ingenious
efforts made to save q prisoner neck
from the moose. The defense set up
the plea OF insanity. and ON this line
the battle against justice wa: waged
times surrounded by legal talent We
versed in the most intricate points of
practice, aud having all the technical
title at their command. Yet with ali
| OF these advantages the murderer Of
Mayor Harrison was unable 70 e.udo
| the scafold which Was twice erected