Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1894-01-04

Eugene John P~rendcrgsst. the muir
derer ~ Carter Henry Harrison. He
must die ON the gallows Twelve rep
resentative citizens Of Chicago sdjudged
him responsible to the law for his cold
hlos-ied. eowarily deed the night OF
October - The verdict was agreed
upon after the jury had ,,eliberated .
little over an hour.
The morning of the last dsy Of the
trial was allotted TO Alfred = Trude.
who pleaded eloquently for Justice and
argued soncisely t. convince the twelve
men before rim hat the miserable
wretch knew he was committing a
crime when he took the life of the law
yer'S friend.
Judge Brentano followed with in
struetious to the jury, lengthy, but ex-
plicit. providing for every contingency
or doubt which might arise in the
minds of those who were Prengergast's
judges The texts of all veriicts for
and against the prisoner which could
he rendered in his case were given To
the twelve peers. and they retired at
i.2S r. m. to consider which one they
should return. according 20 the law
and the evidence. Prendergsst sat
suilen and silent through this last
scene but n in the trial. He was
hcmmed in by officers Of the law, who
had no sympathy for him. and farther
away sat w~ell-dresSed men and women
who came to hear the eloquent Trudc.
The contempt for the ugly-fsced as
sassin may have beer tempered with a
little pity, but their hearts were
steeled to receive a verdict of guilty
and death. While the judge was read
ing his carefully prepared instructions
the prisoners face betrayed the keen
est anxiety. His open mouth twitched
~nervously, and he turned his m~isshapen
head at every sound coming from the
entrance to the crowded court room
after the jury had retired. lie was
fearful OF a speedy agreement,
a. he realized hat it would he
significant of n guilty" YER
dict. After awhile he was taken
back to his cell in the adjoin-
ing Jail and the tension which had
kept the men and women suhdued was
relaxed.
Suddenly at 2:2s o'clock. in the midst
of general conversation and laughter,
came n baihfs shrill voice calling:
Take seats now gentlemen"
The meaning OF the order was well
understood. IL had the effect of an
electric shock. That means guilty
sure Its a hanging" were the
words which passed from mouth to
mouth Every eye was turned towards
the door and the buzz of excitement
and conversation died away. Instead
a solemn stiffness pervaded the cham
Der. Prom the door came a procession
OF stern-faeed men. Judge Brentano
led the way. followed by the jury and
bsilifs.
Walking with guards in front Of him
and guards behind him, Preudergast
returned slowly to his sect. Jail
Clerk Ben Price. who accompanied the
assassin, urged him to Brace up and
keep your mouth shut Prendergast
obeyed the latter injunction only.
His bravado and vanity had fed. The
mask had beer tori from his face by
fear of an adverse verdict and ne
stood before u and jury natural
a covering coward afraid TO hear his
doom pronounced
The countenance of every Juror was
~sphynx-like. No sign OF hope for
P~rendergast could be detected there.
lie dropped into his seat against the
wall and the guards stood over him.
His protruding lower jaw became
limp. so that his lips hung wide apart.
The silence was impressiveIy intense.
II was broken by the voice of Judge
Brentano saying:
Have you agreed upon a verdict.
gentlemen?'
we have. your honor. replied Fore
man j. Suffer, handing the fatal docu-
ment to the judge, who transmitted it
TO the clerk. That officer quietly
opened il in the midst of breathless
suspense, and cad a. follow:
We. the jury. ind the defendant. Patrick Eu-
gene Prenderxast. guilty OF murder in manner
and form as charged In the indictment. and we
az his punishment a. death.
When the clerk uttered the word
death, Prcndergast made the Cath
Ollie sign of the cross over his breast
with his right hand. His demeanor
was abjeet and pitifuL. He looked in
deed a miserable wretch in human
form Not a word escaped his lips.
The effect of the death verdict kept
the spectators silent. No one rose to
go. Quickly the guards took hold of
the trembling prisoner, aud were hur-
ring him back TO Jail when the voice
Of the judge was heard again
Bring the prisoner back he COM
manded. and the condemned creature
was led back TO his seat. The formal
ity Of polling the jury" had not been
complied with II was oon over, each
juror answering Yes 10 the question
Was and Is this now your verdict7'
Prendergast did not sit down the
seeoud time lie stood pale and ter
ror-striexeu close e his chair, stretch
ing his hand for support against the
vail. while . guard held the other arm.
After the removal of the guilty
wretch Attorney Wade entered the for
nal motion for q new trial. which will
10 aryued next week Then the salts
fed crowd quietly dispersed.
Preston Harrison was the drst to ap-
preach Mr. Trude and thank him
earnestly for his able services and per-
sonal interest in netting put justice to
the murderer Of his father. His remarks
were free from exnltant feeling. He
believed tina, justice only had been
done.
Prcndergast created no scene when
he was returned TO his cell. and the
verdict was kept from his fellow-pris-
oners a. long as possible. They soon
received word through visitors. how
errr and Iailer Morris remnxsl ths