Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-03-03
PATRICK EUeENE PRENDERaAsT

he expected the worst, and was making
strong effort to conceal his fear. The
courtroom was filled with spectators.
Judge Brentano read a lengthy decis-
ion overruling the motion for a new
trial.
Prendergast arose in response to the
courts order, and the crowd surged
forward. No attention was paid to the
orders of the bailiffs, and the anxious
spectators could not be quieted. when
asked by the court if he knew of any
reason why sentence should not be-
passed upon him, Prendergast arose.
Producing few sheets of paper, hei
began to read, as follows:
Your honor, have nothing particular %
say. l suppose your honor is, under the impress
sion that you have done your duty. But this
plea Of insanity has been set up by my attor-
neys without my consent 1t was an
infamous, dirty and disreputable plea.
| and done against my objections Now as
| for Juror Murray 1t is certain to my mind that
from the manner he answered questions
| he was anxious to be Juror in the
| case There was something wrong
| also in regard to summoning the
| veniremen Juror Larkin came here
| on written statement but, of
course, the defendant had no control over
| this part OF the courts work. Newspapers had
whole columns about It ut the time and 1t is not
necessary for me TO go into 1t further now. We
| had no opportunity to watch the proceedings
| in summoning the jurors"
Here Prendergast laid aside his notes
and seemed to become animated with
his subject Raising his voice he ex-l
tended his long, thin arm, and, gesticu-'
lating like lawyer addressing the
court, continued:
| thatu
| great and good man. / deny this. good
man Is generally faithful 10 his friends, and
| Harrison WAS not II he had been n good man
| he would not have been hostile toward me.
| Harrison was attacked by the news
paper trust We have been attacked by the
newspaper trust, and II the sentence OF this
court is carried out on me you will all be at the
mercy OF this newspaper trust No mans
character or reputation will be safe. Fiattery,
blackmail and corruption will prevail don't
know what the result will be-
'The issue In this case wns whether I did
right or wrong; whether did my duty
or not; whether did the will OF God or not
II did wrong should be condemned. and II Z
did right should be justified and ac-
Quilted This was the real issue in the case.
and that issue never settled II tine court
wants TO shirk the responsibility In this case it
will not be my fault The most OF the motions
made by the attorneys for me have been over
ruled by the court, and that was wrong
This great grade crossing issue-if you con-
sent to my death, my execution. my being
| legally murdered, you also consent to this
that caused me TO shoot Harrison as much as
his unfuithfulness-I am feeling much better
than when came here"
. He closed by declaring that if he went
: to the scaffold the jury and doctors
would be infamous throughout all the
ages.
Then Judge Brentano said:
s.t,t 49,. 4. l.,
full duty to sentence you to death The sen
tence Of the court is that on March %, between
the hours Of 10 and l2 q M. in the county jail
! | you be hanged by the neck till you are dead"
? AS the last words left the judges lips
, Prendergast rceled as if he had been
struck heavy blow. The baili ifs tried
to catch his arm, but before they could
3 reach him. he had steadied himself by
, taking hold of Attorney Gregory.
chair. Resuming his position he agair
Q justified his act. He would have spoken
r further, but the bailitfs led him away
0 to Jail 4.
h Attorney Darrow, for Prendergast
{ asked leave to file bill of exceptions
!. within thirty days 10 take the case L
the supreme court. This was granted
although the court had overruled hi
: motion for an arrest of judgment
NEW YORK, Feb ga communica
!. ton addressed To the New York Times
:, brings up coincidence that has no
n yet been commented on. The writer
J. who signs himself Good Friday" says
/ HAS the day appointed by Judge Brentanc
of Chicago March %, for the execution OF Prem
dergast the assassin OF Carter Harrison. bee
, designedly selected because 1t will be Good FIR
day, or was II uccidenta selection. and II &c
!. will the sentence be executed The sanctity @
= this hUiy day, reverenced almost universall
2 for its preorialned execution, has not
IS the recollection OF man been desecrated b
such an unhallowcd act"