Afterword to Lunatics and Anarchists: Political Homicide in Chicago

Abstract

The facts of the case as reported here are confirmed by several independent sources, including copies of original records obtained from the Office of the Clerk of Criminal Court of Cook County1, and from other sources. The original records were obtained from the Office of the Clerk of the Criminal Court of Cook County included the following: The case was Case No. 33802, People v. Prendergast, and the jury verdict was filed December 29, 1893. The records include the original typed instructions on the law to the jury, including the instructions on the imposition of the penalty of death and the instructions on the insanity defense. The original record includes the signed verdict sheet finding the defendant guilty of murder and fixing the sentence at death, signed by the twelve jurors and certified by John C. Schubert, Clerk. The record also includes several medical opinions and notes. One note on medical stationery dated December 15, 1893, directed to the State's Attorney Jacob Kern, by Dr. Brower finds the defendant: "insane (medically) and that the form of insanity if paranoia As to his legal insanity, which as I understand it, is about synonymous with