The record-union., 1894-07-14
STORY OF THE CRIME
For Which Mayor Harrison's Assassin
Was Executed.

For Which Mayor Harrison's Assassin
Was Executed.
Many months have elapsed since Prem
dergast committed the atrocious crime
for which he suffered punishment to-day.
in that long time public opinion has not
changed a particle. 1t is as stern and re-
lentless now as then, in the shadow of the
gallows, as under stress of the excitement
which the murder created.
The awful event Of to-day is approved,
it is not too much to say, by the whole
civilized world. There are a few men
who would prefer to see Prenderpast in
an asylum, rather than in his grave, but
they are so few that their opinion is not
entitled 10 consideration. The belief is
practically unanimous that the assassin
is, and in October last. was sane enough
TO come within the legal definition OF
sanity.
The crime and the criminal were alike
extraordinary.
Patrick Eugene James Prendergast. a
newspaper carrier, about 4 years old,
took great interest in politics. During the
Mayoralty campaign a year ago, which
resulted in the election OF Carter II.
Harrison, he was active in political cir
cles, and spent much of his time cleo
tioneering and working for Harrison. He
was also an ardent and enthusiastic adj
herent of the single-tax theory. He was
IN the habit of attending meetings of the
single-tax club, and took part frequently
IN the debates. Thus he gained a Smat-
tering of knowledge about various mat
ters, and among his fellows was regarded
as q prodigy OF learning. He regarded
himself in the same light, and treated the
other carriers with superciliousness and
evident contempt, which they were dis
posed rather to encourage than to resent.
f,ir "A IL
youth, who had disagreeable fondness
Tor beating and torturing his younger and
smaller co-wOrkers.
Last summer he grew tired of his feat
ureless existence. What he wanted more
than all other things, which was more
necessary than everything else to his hap
pineSg, was to be talked about He
longed to see his name in the newspapers;
TO know that he was filling the public
eye. He lusted after distinction no mat
ter whether 1t was good or bad. He felt
that to enjoy the sensations of notoriety
he would risk much. But he was cow
ard and would not risk his life. He ewould
risk his liberty for the delight of a noto-
TiouS light. At last Ii occurred to him
that it would create comment if one III his
station OF lite-an humble newspaper car
rier-should apply for high office in the
municipal government. The thought
took complete possession of his mind.
de appeared III Corporation Counsel
kraus' Office one day and announced that
he desired to succeed Mr.. Kraus in the
position. Mr.. kraus laughed at him and
took the announcement as joke, and
Prendergast sneaked out. With what
eagerness he looked for the newspapers
the next morning. How anxiously he
hoped they would contain an account of
his visit TO Mr.. Kraus. If they had prob
ably Mayor Harrison would be alive to-
day. II they had probably Prendergast
would have been satisfied. He would
have seen his name in type. He would
have lorded il over the other carriers OF
whom the public had never heard. But,
uniuckiIy for Mayor Harrison and for
him, he was disappointed. The news
papers contained no mention of the incl
dent he had so carefully planned.