Eugene Patrick Prendergast

Eugene Patrick Prendergast (1868 - July 13, 1894) was the U.S. assassin of Chicago, Illinois Mayor Carter Harrison, Sr..

Related Topics:
1868 - July 13 - 1894 - U.S. - Chicago, Illinois - Carter Harrison, Sr.

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Prendergast was a newspaper distributor in Chicago. In addition, he lobbied for improvements in Chicago's railroad level crossings, which he saw as a danger to the public. In 1893, he supported Harrison's re-election campaign. Prendergast was under the illusion that if Harrison won the election he would receive an appointment as Corporation Counsel. When the appointment didn't come, Prendergast visited Harrison at his home on October 13, 1893 and shot the mayor four times. Harrison did not know who Prendergast was.

Related Topics:
Level crossing - 1893 - October 13

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In his first trial, Prendergast's attorney tried to have him found insane, but failed. Clarence Darrow later won a hearing on Prendergast's sanity, but it failed. Prendergast was hanged on July 13, 1894.

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Prendergast's story is one of the sub-plots in Erik Larson's non-fiction book, The Devil In The White City.

Related Topics:
Erik Larson - The Devil In The White City

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