Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-01-04
HARRISON'S SLAYER IS SANE.
Verdict of Guilty Returned In the Premier
CAST Murder Case.

Verdict of Guilty Returned In the prender
CAST Murder Case.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Dec. 29.-At3:7 this aft
ernoon the jury in the Prendergast case
came into court and returned averdlct
finding that the defendant was sane
when he killed Carter Harrison
and holding the prisoner guilty OF
murder in the first degree. The jury
declared that Prendergast should hang
Attorney Trude resumed his closing
argument for the prosecution in the
Prendergast trial to-day. He paid par
ticular attention in opening to the re-
ligious disposition shown by the prls-
oner and showed the contrast between
his protestations Of Christianity and his
cruelty to boys smaller than himself.
The courtroom was crowded with
spectators. Prendergast'sf face assumed
a sickening pallor as he was brought
into court to witness the last scenes IN
the proceedings which meant life or
death to him.
When Lawyer Trude concluded the
Court began his address to the jury.
Judge Brentano's charge was a lengthy
one: During the course of it he said
that if the jury believed beyond rea-
pable Of choosing to commit or not to
commit the act, he should be
found guilty even though they
believed he was not at the
time perfectly and entirely sane. San
ity is an ingredient of crime, the Court
continued. and if the jury entertained
reasonable doubt Of the prisoners
sanity he should be acquitted.
The court then instructed the jury as
to the various forms Of verdict and the
twelve men filed out to decide the fate
of the prisoner.
When the jurors returned to the
courtroom after being ont one hour and
three minutes, the prisoner was not IN
the room, having been previously re-
moved to the jail. 1t was fully five min
utes before he could be brought back.
When he had reached his seat Judge
Brentano addressing Foreman Suffer,
asked if the jury had reached YER
diet
eve have, your honor" replied Mr.
"What is your verdict?' asked the
Court.
Foreman Suffer then proceeded to
read in solemn voice the following YER
dict: eve, the jury, find the defend
ant, Patrick Eugene John Prendergast,
guilty of murder in manner and form as
charged in the Indictment, and fix the
penalty at death"
Prendcrgast, who was fear-stricken
and trembling when brought back to
court, utterly collapsed when this an
nouncement was read. He sank back
in his chair, his chin dropped, and he
he seemed completely dazed by the
news of his terrible fate. He looked APP
pealingly at the Court and the jury, and
tears gIistened in the eyes from which
heretofore only fierce glances Of hatred
have been shot.
AS soon as the verdict was announced
the bailifIs grabbed the miserable,
trembling prisoner, and started to rush
him back to his cell in murderers' row.
They had nearly reached the door
when Judge Brentano ordered them to
stop.
Let the prisoner remain while the
jury is polled," he said
Prem dergast took his stand before the
chair in which he has jerked and
squirmcd during the progress of his
trial, and neryously clutched the back.
Then Judge Brentano solemnly put to
each juror the question: "Was this and
is this now your verdict?
Calmly but decisively each CT the
twelve jurors answered in the atfiirma-
tive, and each reply added more and
more to the pitiful, despairing look on
the trembling prisoners face.
When the last juror had made his
answer Prendergast's knees shook, his
chin dropped down and he would have
fallen had not one of the attending
bailiffs lent q supporting arm.
The duty of the jury was then fin
ished, a just Judgment on a cowardly as
sassination had been pronounced, the
murderer had been informed that his
life must pay the penalty and he was
half led and half carried back to his cell.
Foreman Suffer was seen after the
verdict was returned. He said that an
agreement had been entered into bv
the jurors that none of them should
speak of what took place in the jury
room.
81 can't tell you how many ballots we
Took said Mr., Suffer, cor how the
jury stood at the start. We felt that
from the evidence we must find the
prisoner guilty of the crime charged
and fix his penalty at death. 1t was a
hard task we had to perform and l am
glad that it is over"
For the assassin's conviction great
credit is due to Mr.. Trude. That great
lawyer made the effort of his lie in
prosecuting the culprit. With him it
was q labor of love. The high esteem
in which he held the late Mayor Har-
rison prompted him to use every hon
orable means to bring the murderer to
the gallows