Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1894 — CONDEMNED TO DIE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONDEMNED TO DIE.

THE SLAYER OF CARTER HARRISON MUST HANG. Prendertut la Found Goaty of Harder «» Charged—Jury Alter One Hour’. Deliberation Decides He Is Sane—Mokes the Sign of the Cross. Death the Penalty. The Prendergast trial ended in Chicago on Friday, and death is the penalty decreed against the slayer of Carter H. Harrison. The la3t word of awful accusation was uttered by Attorney A. S. Trade at noon; an hour later the Judge charged the jury, and sixty-two minutes after Prendergast's fate was committed to twelve of his peers a verdict was returned, which read: “We, the jury, find the defendant, Patrick Eugene Joseph Preddergast, guilty of murder, in the manner and and form as charged in the indictment, and fix his punishment at death.” The assassin did not falter at the announcement of his doom; he bent his head slightly, and. touching his forehead with the tips of the fingers of his right hand, then bis breast, next his left and lastly his right shoulder — making the “sign of the cross”—he mumbled the words, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” The trial was begun Dec. 6 and occupied just twenty court

days. Two months ago and a day from the time Patrick Eugene Prendergast committed his crime the death watch was set at his call to remain with unremitting vigilance until he is led to the scaffold. There was an impressive silence in the court-room when the verdict was brought in. Few of those who were in the court-room when Judge Bientano gave his instructions to the jury had left, for there was a general feeling that the jurors would not be long in arrivingi. at a verdict. It took the Judge twenty-five minut:s to read his instructions, the jurors standing while they were being given. The instructions concluded with forms of verdicts to fit every possible conclusion at which the jury could arrive. These, together with all the letters and papers which had been introduced in evidence, were handed to Bailiff Busse, who led the jury to one of the jury rooms adjoining the court room. At the same time the prisoner was taken back to the jail to await the deliberations of the twelve men who held his fate in their hands. Judge Brentano retired to his chambers, and the lawyers and visitors at the trial, among whom were a large number of ladies, remained in their places or gathered in groups to discuss the outcome. An hour after the jury retired Bailiff Busse was informed by the jury that they were ready to appear in court. He immediately notified the judge and passed out through the covered passageway leading to the jail to notify the officials there to bring the prisoner into court. Those in the court room knew when they saw the bailiff pass to the jail that a verdict had been reached. At once all conversation ceased. The jurors with grave faces filed in and took their accustomed seats. The judge took his place on the bench. The prisbnefr, "pale and anxious, was brought'in by 1 Jail Clerk Price. “Have you agreed upon a verdict?” inquired the judge. Most of the jurors bowed assent; some of them answered audibly. “Hand your verdict to the clerk to be read,” and Juror Sutter, who had been chosen foreman, handed the folded document to Clerk Fitzgerald. While the clerk in measured tones read the verdict every ear was attentive to catch its fateful words. Scarcely was the reading concluded when Clerk Price and Bailiff Busse, who stood on either side of the prisoner, started with him toward the jail. They had nearly reached the exit from the court-room when the Judge called them back that the prisoner might be present when the jury was polled. To each juror the clerk put the question: “Was this and is this now your verdict?” and each, as his name was called, robe and answered, “It was and is.”’ When the last answer was given the prisoner, supported by the two officials, was taken back to jail. “You, gentlemen of the jury, are discharged from further duty,” said the Judge. Mr. Wade made the usual motion for a new trial, which the Court directed to he entered, and the Prendergast trial was at an end.

ASSASSIN PRENDERGAST.