Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-07-19
81 Will Die Game and Set a Shining
Example to the Country"
THESE WERE HIS FINAL WORDS
Ate a Breakfast at 7 and
Another at 8 O'Clock.
NERVOUS, BUT BOLD AND COLLECTED

Einai Scenes in Cook County Jail Friday
Morning, Attending the Execution OF
Patrick Eugene Prendergast, the Slayer
of Mayor HarrIson--He Was Bold TO the
End and Died Game--Ate Two Break
fasts--said He Would "Set n Bright and
Shining Example to the World"
SPRINGFtELD, ILL, July 12.-Gov-
ernor Altgeld to-day refused to interfere
In the case of Prendergast, the assassin
of Mayor Harrison.
The governor SAID the law must take
Its course.
SCENES IN THE JAIL.
CHICAGO, lila July 13.-Patrick
Eugene Prendergast, the assassin of
Mayor Harrison, was hung at 11.4S
o'clock this morning. He died game.
Within the gloomy whitened walls of
Cook county Jail to-day, all was hustle,
confusion and suppressed excitement as
the time rapidly drew near when
Patrick Eugene Prendergast, the con
demned murderer of Mayor Carter IL.
Harrison, would expiate his crime, pay
ing the forfeit with his life. The gallows
had been placed in position in the east
end of the north corridor, and at 1895
Jailer Morris and his assistants made
the final test Of the ropes, traps and
triggers.
Jailer Morris at 1915 said, "As near
as | can judge the march to the scaifold
will begin about 11.30."
Prefdergast rested well last night and
seemed calm and collected when the
jailer left him few minutes before
He refused until late last evening to re-
ceiye spiritual consolation, but when
nightfall came on he asked that Father
Muldoon be admitted. 81 am in doubt
MS to how he will act when he sees the
dangling noose," said Jailer Morris,
"and while am half inclined to think
he will make scene there is no telling.
He may brace himself and go through
it all right for he has often expressed
admiration for the manner in which
Buff Higgins met his DEATH"
At 1880 all the prisoners In the three
tiers of cells Immediately in front and
to the left of the scaffold were marched
out and taken over into the south wing,
in order that there might be no demon
stration during the final scenes.
CLOSELY GUARDED BY BAILIFFs.
AS IS the custom the assassin was
closely guarded by bailiffs during the
entire night. Between and o'clock
Prendergast partook heartily of break
fast of ham and eggs. He showed a
ravenous appetite and about o o'clock
sent word to Jailer Morris that he was
again hungry. The jailer had his
prisoner served with another hearty
meal. This Prendergast disposed Of
quickly and he seemed to relish it
greatly.
The assassin talked freely with his
spiritual advisors, and several times,
apparently fearing that they would
leave him, remarked "you must stay
with me to the end"
SIGNS OF NERVOUSNESS.
As the hour for execution came
nearer Prendergast showed some signs
of slightly increasing nervousness. But
on the whole he was remarkably calm
and well collected. Throughout the jail
the officers and other attaches remarked
about his behavior, for it was the general
opinion that he would weaken badly a
good while before the hanging. Father
Barry YVES still with Prcndergast at II
O'Clock u. M, having been in constant
attendance upon him all the morning.
The little assassin had "thawed OUT
very materially since last night and was
most deferential TO his spiritual ad.
visors. The doomed man announced
with trifle of bravado that 81 will die
game and set great and shining ex-
ample to this country"
PREPARATIONS FOR THE END.
He intended, it was stated, to make a
speech, which he asserted would be the
effort of his life, and was very particu-
lar lest he be misquoted or misinter-
preted.
Preparations were begun at II a. M,
to bring the condemned man to the gal
lows. Prendergast had been removed
from his cell in murderers' row to an
ante-room off the Jail office, which is in
fact the bath room, and where the last
kindly offices were being performed for
the miserable wretch.
AT 1l.42 a. IN, a hush fell upon the
throng. in the corridor and far down
the sombre halls could be heard the
mutf1ed tramp of the funeral cortege.
A few minutes later Sheriff Gilbert
and Jailer Morris appeared at the right
of the scaffold. The prisoner, pale and
unsteady, walked between them. He
stood without apparent nervousness
though trifle weak and steady AS his
arms were being pinionei; he seemed
determined to die game and looked
calmly out on the assembled crowd be,
low him.
The white shroud was next placed
about him and barring little restless
motion of the eyes up and down and
from side to side, he made no motion.
Jailer Morris now placed the rop(
about his neck, the white cap over hi
head and Prendergast, game to the last
had taken his last look of earth. Al
instant later, at 11.48,
HE SHOT DOWNWARD,
the head twisted to one side, the necl
having apparently been broken. Slowly
swaying back and forth he hung for
few moments while the physicians hell
his wrist. A slight spasmodic movemen
of the legs was all the sign of lif,
apparent within the loosely hanging
white robe.
Surrounded by the jury of physicians
the corpse swung to and fro and at II 81
nine minutes after the trigger wa
sprung he was pronounced dead, anC
the murder of Carter II, Harrison wa
avenged.
The assassin made no audible sounC
from the time he left his cell, appar