Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-07-27

gave way. dis knees tremOled ana
seemed to sink under him. His breath
came in gas 8 and he gave convulsive
gnl. 8 that showed his nervous system
was breaking. His rule was beating
1t 12O a minute, and he was on the
point Of physical collapse when the
drop fell.
He died painlessly, as his neck was
broken by the fall. To the very last
the scaffold by some power. Five min.
utes before he began his walk to the
eallows he said he expected to hear
soon from the Governor. He made no
sp ech on the gallows. He had
intended to do so, but was dis
suaded by his spiritual adviser,
Rev. Father Barry, who pleaded with
him to submit to the inc vitable and not
TO make a scene. He accepted the
ministrations of the priests who were
with him to the last, and he received
the last rites of the Catholic Church.
Ten minutes before he stepped on
the fatal trap he repeated the sta.e-
ment that he had SO often made-that
he killed Mr.. Harrison because he had
to do so and that there was no malice
in the act. This was practically his
dying declaration. The execution was
accomplished without accident. With
in three minutes after Prendergast left
his cell he was swinging at the ropes
ond.
Story of the Crime.
The crime for which Patrick Eugene
Prendergast was executed was one of
the most cold blooded and unprovoked
murders aver committed. On Satur-
day, Oct. 28, 1899, Carter 81. Harrison.
then Mayor of Chicago, attended the
closing of the great Worlds Columbian
Exposition, and in his capacity as
Mayordelivered one of the addresses Of
the day. Tho Mayor, tired and worn
out by the performance of his many
official duties, returned to his home on
Ashland avenue at an early hour in
the evening. Prendergast first visited
the house at 1880 o'clock and was in
formed that Mayor Harrison was en-
gagged. A hall hour later he returned
aud was let into the hall by the serv-
ant girl. Mayor Harrison was asleep
in his armchair, but was awakened by
Prendergasts voice and walked to-
ward the main la lway. AS he did so
P~rendergast advanced, revolver In
hand, and fred three shots at MIR. Har-
rison. Two of the bullets took effect.
m piercing his right hand and the
other entering his stomach. The
wounded mar sank to the floor and
twenty minutes later died in the arms
Of his son, William Preston Harrison.
Immediately following the shooting,
Prendergast Left the house and made
his way to Desplaines street station,
where he gave himself up. From Des.
PLANES street station the murderer was
iaken to the city hall, where he madea
statement concerning the shooting. He
said he was very deeply interested in
track elevation and was n ous to be
made Corporation Counsel in order
that he might carry out his ideas on
she subject He said Mayor Harrison
had promised to- appoint him Corpora.
zion Counsel, but had failed to do so.
and for this reason he thought he was
justified In taking the Mayors life.
Efforts to Save His Life.
In its legal phA:es the Prendegast
case Is without precedent in the his.
tory of criminal law. Never before
we're such persistent and ingenious
efforts made to save a prisoner 8 neck
from the moose. The defense set up
the plea of insanity, and on this line
she battle against justice was waged
70 the end. The assassin was at all
times surrounded by legal talent well
Tersed in the most intricate points Of
practice, and having all the technical.
tties ut their command. Yet with all
Of these. advantages the murderer of
Mayor Harrison was unable to elude
the scatfold which was twice erected
SIR its victim.