People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1893 — A FOUL DEED. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A FOUL DEED.

Carter H. Harrison, Mayor of Chicago, Assassinated. Called to His Door by a Crazy Office-Seeker and Shot to Death—The Murderer Gives Himself Cp—Story of the Crime. MAYOR HARRISON KILLED. Chicago, Oct. 31.—Carter Henry Harrison, mayor of the city of Chicago, was assassinated at his residence, corner of Ashland and Jackson boulevards, Saturday evening. Three of the four shots fired by the assassin took effect in the body of the mayor. One bullet entered the abdomen, another pierced his body to the right of the right nipple, plowing its way through the axillary region, and a third lodged in the palm of the left hand. After the assassin had completed his work lie turned back to the door, the coachman of the Harrison household at his heels, fled across the lawn and out of the gatewaj’ leading to Ashland boulevard, north on that thoroughfare to Adams street, and east on Adams street out of sight. Gave Himself Up. Forty-five minutes later Patrick Eugene Prendergast, excited, out of breath, and panting from his long run, bounded up the steps of the Desplaines street station, and banding a revolver across the desk to Sergeant Barber, admitted the crime and was locked up for it Undoubtedly Insane. The story of the murder seems to indicate that it was committed by an insane or partially demented man. The act was cold-blooded and deliberate. The man had come to the Harrison mansion bent on murder, and whether actuated by motives the birth of an unbalanced mind or not, he did his fiendish work welt Slain in the Bouse. Mayor Harrison had been at the fair nearly all day Saturday. He returned to his home about 5 o’clock “dead tired,” as he said. Dinner was at 6 o'clock, and after it Mr. Harrison went into the back room

and lay down upon a couch, saying he would take some rest. Shortly after 8 o’clock a ring came at the front door bell. Mary Hansen, the maid who answered it, found waiting there a small-sized man with a wizened, smooth-shaven face. In answer to his question he was told the mayor was at home. He then gave his name as Prendergast and said he had particular business with Mr. Harrison. Assassin Admitted to the House. TVS Fancying that she recognized the man the maid admitted the visitor to the hall and went to wake Mr. Harrison. Apparently the stranger was familiar with the house, for, instead of waiting in the hall where the maid had left him, he walked back to the door of the room in which the mayor was. He had barely reached :it when the door was opened and he ■was confronted by Carter Harrison. The Murder. ' Drawing a revolver the murderer placed the weapon so close to his victim’s body that the clothes were burned and fired three shots, The first bullet struck the mayor in the abdomen. As he reeled backward a second bullet struck him just above the heart, and a third shot, fired as Mr. Harrison fell prostrate, wounded the now dying man in the left hand. Shot at His Pursuer. The assassin then left the house and on reaching the street broke into a run. Mayor Harrison’s coachman, on hearing the shots, realized what was transpiring, and securing a revolver, started in pursuit Prendergast, seeing that he was being followed, paused long enough to fire a shot at his pursuer, who returned the fire. Neither shot took effect, and jumping on a street car at a near corner, the murderer rode down town and surrendered himself at the Desplaines street station. Death of the Major. In the meantime a sad scene was being witnessed at the home of Mr. Harrison. Attracted by tffie shots Preston Harrison hastened from his room on the upper floor of the mansion to ascertain their cause. He found his father lying on the floor his life blood pouring from the gaping wounds. Almost at the same instant neighbors arrived and an attempt was made to raise the prostrate man. He was still conscious and moaning in his agony. He asked his son not to move him, saying that he knew he was dying. His friends tried to reassure him, but he was firm in the belief that the end was near. In a few minutes he lapsed into a state of semi-unconscious-ness, not, however, before requesting that Miss Annie Howard be sent for. This request was repeated twice —in fact, his dying words were a desire to see her. Miss Howard was Mayor Harrison’s affianced, and they were to have been married at Biloxi, Miss., November 16. She came to the house on being informed of the tragedy, but before reaching the side of her betrothed he had passed away. Her grief on realizing her loss ■was deep and the scene when she was shown his dead body was pathetic in the extreme, as was that on the appearance of his daughters, Miss Sophie Harrison and Mrs. Heaton Owsley, and bis daughter-in-law, Mrs. Carter Harrison, Jr. The sons. Carter, Jr., and Preston, bo’c up bravely for a time,

but finally succumbed as the sense of their terrible loss dawned fully upon them.

All the doctors who saw Mayor Harrison expressed the opinion that death resulted from the wound in the abdomen and the one in the chest. There were three wounds—one in the pit of the stomach, one in the right side

between the fourth and fifth ribs and one in the left hand. The wound in the stomach, causing internal hemorrhage, produced death. The Assassin. After giving himself up to the desk sergeant at the Desplaines street station Prendergast refused to talk. He was disarmed and placed in a celt He was dressed in a shabby-genteel manner, is about 23 years of age and weighs about 125 pounds. His aspect is forbidding. Insanity was written both in his features and in the restlessness of his manner. Inspector Shea soon arriving, the prisoner was placed in a patrol wagon, and heavily guarded, was transferred to the central station, located in the city hall. Around this place an immense crowd of angry citizens had gathered. There were loud threats of lynching passing from mouth to mouth as the patrol wagon with Prendergast arrived. The officers, however, had little trouble in forcing the crowd aside and entering the building. Why He Did It. The prisoner was ushered into the presence of Chief of Police Brennan and a corps of shrewd detectives, where he was submitted to a cross-fire of questions which were calculated to secure from him the story of his crime, and detect whether or not his insanity was real or feigned. He was a most abject-looking person as he faced the officers, and his every look, word and action gave evidence of a disordered brain. At the conclusion of their examination of Prendergast the universal conclusion of officers, reporters and others who were present was that Mayor Harrison’s assassin was undoubtedly an insane man. From the mass of intelligible and unintelligible answers given by Prendergast it was developed that he was a newspaper carrier. He declared that he had worked hard to secure the election of Mayor Harrison last spring, and that no recognition of his services had ever been made by his victim. He said that the subject of elevation of railroad tracks throughout the city—which has been discussed in the newspapers, and which Mayor Harrison has been urging since his election—had occupied his attention for many weeks. He had formed a plan for track elevation which he was sure would be a success, in fact, he knew he was the only man in the city who could elevate the tracks. He had told Mayor Harrison of his plan, and had asked that he be given the position of corporation counsel in order that he might have power to put them in operation, and thus put a stop to the daily loss of life at the grade crossings in the city. Mayor Harrison had promised him the place, but had not kept his promise. Feeling that thq mayor had betrayed his confidence, he made up his mind to kill him, and in pursuance of his determination had, on Saturday, purchased a revolver for four dollars, and proceeding to the mayor’s residence, had shot him. He felt that he was justified in killing him, and fully expected to be acquitted. He gave but the most meager details of the dreadful occurrence—not as much as are narrated above. He could not remember, he said, whether there had been any conversation between them prior to the shooting. As has been stated, the officers feel certain that Prendergast is insane. His relatives, however, say they never noticed any signs of insanity in the unfortunate youth, and that insanity was unknown in his family for generations back. Interne Excitement. As the news of the assassination spread throughout the city crowds flocked to the city hall, the newspaper offices, club rooms and hotels eager to hear the horrible details. The utmost excitement prevailed among the angry people, and expressions of indignation and horror and dire threats against the assassin were heard on all sides. A big force of policemen guarded the entrances to the city hall and kept back the excited crowds which pressed forward, loud in their denunciation of the mayor’s murderer. No scenes of violence occurred, however. At the House of Death. A great but quiet and orderly crowd assembled about the dead mayor’s Ashland boulevard mansion, and until far past midnight the streets in the vicinity were packed with sorrowing citizens. A force of policemen guarded the residence all night None were admitted to the house except city officials, aidermen and immediate friends of the family. Sad Close of the Fair. Especially sad is the taking-off of the mayor in this awful manner com-, ing as it has on the eve of the closing of the Columbian exposition. Since its inception Mayor Harrison has been a prominent character in connection with its history. Especially fitted to receive the honored guests of all lands, Mr. Harrison’s great ambition was to be mayor of Chicago during the world’s fair period. He has been a most prominent figure at all the notable gatherings at Jackson park during the fair season. On the day of

his death he led a procession of the mayors and other officials of fifty or ‘more American cities who had gathered in response to Chicago’s invitation to celebrate Cities’ day. But a few hours before he was stricken down by the assassin’s bullet he had addressed this gathering at Music hall, his burning eloquence as he referred to the glories of the fair, and the conscious pride shown in his utterances with reference to the city which he loved, attracting marked attention and winning for him uproarious applause. During his remarks he gave utterance to a belief that he would yet live to see Chicago the metropolis of America and the third city in the world in point of population. The shock experienced by the visiting officials on learning of the death of him who but a few hours before stood before them, vigorous and eloquent, can better be imagined than described. An inquest was held on the remains of the dead mayor at his late residence Sunday morning. Prendergast was brought to the scene of his awful deed and was identified by the servant girl who admitted him on his fatal mission. The prisoner refused to make a statement, but admitted that he was at the mayor's residence Saturday evening. The physicians who had made a post mortem examination of the body declared that death resulted from the bullet wounds found, and the jury returned a verdict holding Prendergast to the grand jury on a charge of murder. The funeral of the dead mayor will take place on Wednesday, and the remains will be interred at Graceland cemetery. The body will lie in state at the city hall from Tuesday morning until the hour of ’ the services, in order that citizens may take a last view of their assassinated ruler. The festivities planned for closing day at the world's fair were not held, the great exposition dying without the elaborate ceremonies for which all preparations had been made. Instead memorial services were held in Music hall, and the flags at Jackson park were placed at half-mast A Washington dispatch says that sinse the opening of the silver debate in the senate Senator Dubois has been daily in receipt of postal cards written by Prendergast the burden of which was the silver question, disclosing the fact that he was a devotee of silver, even to the point of an unbalanced mind. His Career. Carter Henry Harrison was born near Lexington, Ky , on February 15, 1825, and may be said to have inherited his taste for political lite His great-great-grandfather was the an- ' cestor of President William Henry Harrison, his grandfather a cousin of Thomas Jefferson and he himself a cousin of John G Breckinridge. His father died when he was 8 months old, and he was left to the care of his mother—a daughter of Col. William Russell, of the United States army, one of the pioneers of the northwest, of which Illinois Is now a part. From his mother Mr. Harrison inherited those principles which in 1859 placed him in the front rank ,of the emancipationists of Kentucky. Most of his education, preparatory to entering the sophomore class of Yale college, he received, from Dr. Marshall, brother of the chief justice, the father of Tom Marshal, the great orator. Graduating in 1845 he commenced the study of law, but. did not enter into practice at once, as his mother needed his company and comfort. In Chicago Since 1835. In 185! he went abroad, traveling for two years in Europe, Asia and Egypt. In 1855 he commenced a prospecting tour through the northwest, but reaching Chicago became so Impressed with the young city that he invested all his means in real estate, expecting also to enter into the regular practice of the law, but his acute business foresight induced him to confine his efforts entirely to real estate transaotions, thus laying the firm basis of an ample fortune. He Enters Polities. Mr. Harrison did not actively engage in politics until 1870, being elected during the succeeding year a member of the first board of county commissioners. He held office until December, 1874, when he took his seat as a member ot congress from the Second district of Illinois. His term in congress was marked by an earnestness and ability which made him one of the most prominent members in that body. A resolution, introduced by him, to fix the presidential term at six years with ineligibility for reelection and making the retiring president a senator for life, drew the attention of the country to him as a man of broad and radical views. His efforts in behalf of the centennial appropriation bill exhibited him not only as an energetic worker and ready debater but as a brilliant orator. A Candidate for Governor. Mr. Harrison spent the summers of 1874 and 1875 in Europe with his family He was elected mayor of Chicago in 1879, 1881, 1883 and 1885 Against his own desire he was nominated for governor of Illinois in 1884, and during the fall of that year conducted a most energetic and brilliant canvass which resulted, in cutting down the republican majority of 37,033, enjoyed by Gov. Oullum, to 13,000. Married Twice. Mr. Harrison was married on April 12, 1855, to Miss Sophy Preston, who came from a distinguished southern family. His wife dying in Europe in 1878, he married in 1882 Miss Marguerite E. Stearns, daughter of one of Chicago's oldest and most respected and wealthiest citizens. The second Mrs. Harrison died in1886. Mr. Harrison had received and accepted the nomination for mayor in 1887, but before the campaign had fairly opened his second wife died and, bowed with grief, he withdrew and started ou his tour of the globe, leaving Chicago in the hands of Mayor Roche. His travels began July 26, 1887, and ended November 8, 1888. Everything of importance in connection with them was recorded by Mr. Harrison in his newspaper letters and his book, “A Race with the Sun." Returning, he was received with a popular ovation unique in its way, and retired to private life, devoting himself to literature and business interests. Defeated. Reentering active polities in 1891, Mr. Harrison was nominated for the mayoralty by his personal friends, although Dewitt C- Cregier had been renominated by a democratic convention, and began a canvass against Hempstead Washburne, Elmer Washburn and Mr. Cregier. He was defeated, and Hempstead Washburne was declared mayor of Chicago. His Last Election. The election of Mr. Harrison as mayor last spring, in spite of the most fierce opposition he had ever encountered, is fresh in the minds of all, since his campaign was closely watched all over the country. His life ended in the midst of what Mr. Harrison considered the crowning honor of his career—the dignity of the chief magistracy of Chicago during the World’s Columbian exposition Was Soon to Have Married. The announcement of the wedding of Miss Annie Howard and Carter H. Harrison at Biloxi, MisS., November 16, was publicly made a few days ago, and one of the most distressing features of the tragic death of Mayor Harrison is the terrible grief of the fiancee. Of ten children born to Mr. Harrison by his first wife four survive, the others having died in infancy or in early youth: Mrs. Lina Owsley, the wife ot Heaton Owsley; Carter H. Harrison, Jr., William Preston Harrison and Mlsa Sophie Harrison, all residents of Chicago.

CARTER H. HARRISON.

MISS ANNIE HOWARD.