The evening world., 1894-07-13
PRENDERGASTAND HIS CRIME
COld-BlOOded Murder of Carter
Harrison, ChicaEO's Mayor.

Harrison, ChicaEO's Mayor.
Patrick Eugene Prendergast. shortly
after s o'clock on the night Of Oct. %,
1893, called at 23l Ashland avenue, Chi.
cago. the house of Carter H. Harrison.
then Mayor of the city.
. He asked TO see the Mayor, and, when
Mary Hansen, a servant, hesitated about
admitting him. he brushed past her and
entered the hallway.
Mr.. Harrison. who had been sleeping
in the dining-room on the first 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, nd drawing a 32-calibre re-
yoiver, shot Mr.. Harrison four times.
He then fled 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.
Mr.. 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. %, 1898. convicted of murder in
the first degree. Insanity was the sole
defense.
He was sentenced by Judge Brentano
to be hanged on March 20, 1894. Under
an Illinois law. providing that court
may empanel jury to hold a hearing to
defendant. at any time before execution
and after sentence, Prendergast's coun-
sci oirained from Judge Chetlaln. on the
eve of the day for the execution, stay
of proceedings FOR two weeks, or until
April 6 last.
This decision brought upon Judge
Chetlain the general censure of the
press and public. Various legal steps
death on the gallows, but he was finally
declared sane by a jury of experts, and,
as Gov. Altgeld refused to interfere, his
The assassination of Carter II. Harri-
son was one Of the most notable crimes
OF the century.
Prendergast had not the .vest!ge OF a
grievance upon which to base his at
tack. The dastardly character Of the
crime aroused such intense Indignation
in Chicago, and, in fact, throughout the
lynching Prendergast. and the long de-
lay in bringing him to the scaffold was
condemned at home and abroad as an
OUT age upon the name OF tine law.
Carter Harrison WAS one Of the best
known men In the United States, and
had been for years a picturesque figure
in politics.
His assassination cast a shadow over
the closing days of the great World s
Fair, towards whose success, as Mayor
and as business man and citizen, Mr..
Harrison had largely contributed. No
man in Chicago was more popular with
the people generally.
He was selected as a Cook County
Commissioner in 1871 and served In that
capacity until 1874. lie represented III
uois In the Forty-fourth and Forty
NTH Congresses. lie Was first select ed
MAYOR of Chicago In 1879 and served
i've consecutive terms, running on the
Democratic ticket.
In 1890 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
old, and was reared In Chicago. The sin
gle tax theory was one OF his hobbies.
and he was "A close student OF Henry
Georges writings. He also imagined
that he was a municipal reformer. and
thought II made Corporation Counsel
| he could abolish grade crossings In Chi