Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1894 — ASSASSIN IS HANGED. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ASSASSIN IS HANGED.

SLAYER OF CHICAGO’S MAYOR PAYS THE PENALTY. Tli* Gallows Send* Patrick Sartos Pn*f iler(sst Into Eternity—Remarkably **- naeloas Legal Fight to Sara Hl* - Story of the Crime. HarrUon'* Murder Avenged. Without a word of protest or an as* of resistance, Patrick Eugene Josepk Prenderga-t suffered the extrema penalty of the law Friday for Use murder of Carter H. Harrison. Ha was hanged at 11:48 o’clock, In tha county jail in Chicago. He walked to the scaffold without support. Ha showed no sign of weakness till tha moment before the drop fell, when he stood with the noose about his neck, the white shroud enwrapping hii form, his feet and hnena strapped together, his arms fastened to his body, and the white cap covering his head and faoe. Then he almost

gave way. His trembled and seemed to sink underitylm. HU breath came in gos. s and he'fjgave convulsive guli ß that showed his 1 h/orvous system was breaking. HU puPq, was boating at 120 a minute, and h& was on the point of physioai collapse when tha drop fell. He died painlessly, as hi# nook was broken by tho fall. To tho 1 .very last moment he expected to bemaved from tho scaffold by some power. (Five minutes before ho begun his walk.to the gallows ho said ho expected’td hear soon from tho Governor. He tirade no sp eoh on the gpllows. H# had Intended to do so, but wak il di»Buadcd by his spiritual adv’iier. Rev. Father Barry, who pleaded tfhh him to submit to tne inevitable and not to make a scene. Ho accepted the ministrations of the prlosts who vrlsra with him to the last, and he recelvad the last rites of tho Catholic Church. Ton minutes before he stepped on the fatal trap ho repeated the statement that he had so often made—that he killed Mr. Harrison because he had to do so and that there was no malice in tho uot. This was practically hie dying declaration. Tho execution was accomplished without accident. Within throe minutes after Prendergast left his oell he was swinging at the rope’a end. Htory of the Crime. Tho crime for which Patriok Eugene Prendergast was executed was one of the most cold blooded and unprovoked murders ever committed. On Saturday, Oct. 28, 1893, Carter H. Harrison* then Mayor of Chicago, attended the closing of tho great World’s Columbian Exposition, and in his capacity ae Mayor delivered one of the addresses of tho day. The Mayor, tired and worn out by tho performance of his many official duties, returned to his home on Ashland avenue at an early hour in the evening. Prendergast first vUited the house ut 7:30 o'clock and was informed that Mayor HarrUon was engaged. A half hour lator ho returned and was let into tho hall by the servant girl. Mayor Harrison was adee? in his armchair, but was awakened by Prendergast s voice and walked toward the main 1 a lway. As ho did so Prendergast advanced, revolver in hand, and fired three shots at Mr. Hsurrlson. Two of the bullets to k effect, ono piercing his right hand and the other entering his stomach. Tho 4 woundod man sank to the H or and twenty minutes lator died in tho arms of his son, William Preston Harrison. Immediately following tho shooting, Prendergast loft tho house and made his way to Desplalnot street station, whore ho gave himself up. From Deaplainos street station tho murderer was taken to the city hall, where he made a statement concerning the shooting. He said ho was vory deeply interest:d in truck elevation and was anx ous po be made Corporation Counsel in order ,thut be might oari'y out his ideas on the subject. He said Ma,or Harrison had promised to upp Int, him Co'po ation Counsel, but pa t faded to d > so, and for this reus n,jhe thought he was justified iu taking the Mayor's life. KfTort** to Nftv« Hit Life. In its legal pha es the Prendegas* case is without precedent in the history of criminal law. Never before wore jsuch persistent and ingenious efforts made to save a prisoner s neck from the noose. The defense set up the plea of insanity, and on this line tho battle against justice was waged to tho end. Tho assassin was at alt times surrounded by legal talent well versed in the most intricats points of practice, and having all the technicalItieH at their command. Yet with all of these advantages the murderer of Mayor Harrison was unable to elude the scaffold which was twice erected for its victim.

PATRICK EUGENE JOSEPH PRENDERGASN