The instructions to the jury on behalf of the state, which had been prepared by Mr. Todd, were very clear and accurate, and will no doubt stand the closest scrutiny when the case is appealed to the Supreme Court. They indicated large research and embodied the latest law in regard to the defense of insanity. In fact, Mr. Todd was detailed for duty upon this important case immediately after the assassination, and for two months devoted himself to providing and marshalling the testimony, and to fortifying himself on the law relating to it. He examined all of the witnesses for the state with great skill. His was the laboring oar in the prosecution from the commission of the crime to the verdict. The jury found the defendant guilty and fixed his punishment at death. The Chicago Legal News in commenting on the result said that Mr. Todd and Mr. Trude conducted the prosecution with great ability and decided vigor. The thanks of the community are due to them for their efforts in obtaining the result. Had Prendergast been found not guilty, it would have encouraged other cranks to take the lives of innocent persons in the hope that they might save their necks from the gallows by the plea of insanity. This verdict will have the effect of making cranks pause before they take human life, in the fear that they may follow in the footsteps of Prendergast.

We feel beyond all question that the verdict is just, for we believe that Prendergast was sane when he shot Mayor Harrison, and that he knew it was wrong to do so, and that is all there is of the case.

To speak for Chicago when she stood in her robes of mourning with her foot upon the grave of her lamented Mayor and her hand pointing toward the assassin, was a rare opportunity for Mr. Todd, and Sigma Chi is glad to place her laurel of appreciation upon his successful use. of it and upon his promising career.

James Todd was born at Franklin, La., March 14, 1866. His father came originally from Xenia, Ohio, with his parents, who settled upon a beautiful hill-top farm overlooking the city of Madison, Indiana, the Ohio River, and in the distance Hanover College. After becoming quite prominent in the politics of the county, and serving as Sheriff at Madison, James' father removed to Louisiana where some fifty years ago he purchased a sugar plantation in St. Mary's Parish. Here James spent his boyhood; playing with the little darkies on the plantation; swimming, fishing and boating on the Evangeline-traced Bayou Teche; shooting rats in the barn on Sunday morning; hunting alligators in the swamps; and having a royal boy's life generally-so royal in fact that James, Sr., probably became alarmed about the lad's intellectual welfare. For in 1879, when James was thirteen, he was sent back to Madison, Indiana, whence his father had emigrated, and placed in the public schools. Here he completed his common school education and in the

fall of 1881 entered Hanover College, which is just six miles below Madison on the beautiful bluffs of the Ohio.

James was only a "Junior Prep.," fifteen years of age, when he entered Hanover for his six years' course, but he weighed about one hundred and eighty pounds and stood six feet three. As his heart was in keeping with his external proportions he was deemed large enough for Chi chapter, into which he was speedily initiated. His good elocution and commanding presence easily won for him honorable mention for declamation in his Freshman year and made him an honor man on the Sophomore Exhibition, and an orator on the Junior Exhibition. In his Sophomore year he also won the Botany prize.

Mr. Todd played centre-rush on the foot-ball team which, in the year of his graduation, won the Indiana championship for Hanover College. In the game which was played in 1886 between Hanover and Butler at Indianapolis, he called out as he lay on top of the ball and beneath the fellows: "Hod-Zizaty-Down." The reporters took up the cry and headed their columns with it in the newspapers the next morning.

The Union Literary Society, of which he was a most active and useful member, made him in his Senior year an orator on its Spring Exhibition, leader of its joint-debate, and its president. The faculty made him one of the two leaders in the Senior debate and graduated him "A. B., cum laude" [not "come seven" as in his boyhood] in 1887.

Mr. Todd's father had died during his Senior year, and as it became necessary for him to be the architect of his own fortune, he came to Chicago immediately after his graduation and for a year was a conductor on a Pullman Palace Car. In 1888, he entered the law office of Bisbee, Ahrens & Decker, and became a student of the Chicago Evening College of Law, from which he received the degree of LL. B. in 1890. The following year he entered into partnership with George W. Ross under the firm name of Ross & Todd, in which partnership he is still interested. In February, 1893, Mr. Todd was appointed one of the Assistants of the State's Attorney in Chicago. During his brief term of office he has prosecuted twenty-three murder cases, and has had but one verdict of "not guilty." In this connection the Chicago Legal News says: "Mr. Todd opened the Prendergast case for the prosecution and his speech was logical, eloquent, and convincing. He is a young man of decided talent and his record of convictions for the last ten months is really wonderful. The following are some of the principal murder cases which he prosecuted, with their results: Police officer Wm. J. Kinsella, verdict five years; Frank Stencil and Anastacia Bieske, verdict forty years; Hutchinson, Catlin and Williams, verdict for life; Hennessey, twenty

five years; Lanagan, fourteen years; Leik, twenty years; Slopka Gentile, five years. He prosecuted every member of the famous Red Gavin gang and has convicted them and broken up the gang."

Everyone who attended the Columbian Grand Chapter will remember Brother Todd's appropriate address of welcome and his eloquent speech at the banquet at the White Horse Inn. To him the Chicago Alumni Chapter owes its existence, for it was through his individual efforts that it was organized in 1892, the old Omega Alumni Chapter having fallen asleep some years before. In 1891, Bro. Todd examined the merits of the petition for the revival of the Kappa Kappa. Sigma Chi has few

such loyal sons as he.

In 1892, while at his old home in Louisiana, recuperating from an attack of typhoid fever, Mr. Todd made some speeches against the Louisiana Lottery in company with Governor Foster, an old friend of his family. Mr. Todd is an ardent Democrat and is Vice President of the Third Ward Democratic Club of Chicago.

In religion, he is a Presbyterian, being a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, of which Rev. Dr. John H. Barrows is pastor. He holds a prominent place in the swell social circles of the South Side, and it is no secret that he is engaged to be married soon to one of the belles of the city, Miss Helen L. Mitchell, daughter of the well known physician, Dr. J. S. Mitchell, 2954 Prairie Ave. With all of his victories, Mr. Todd agrees with his friends who know Miss Mitchell, that this is his greatest conquest. Miss Mitchell has not only unusual graces of manner and of person, but is an accomplished singer and artist. She received a medal for the decoration of china at the World's Fair. At their wedding a host of friends will wish them happiness.

With a magnificent presence, a powerful and musical voice, a cordial manner, a sterling character; and with a good mind to direct all of his energies, there is only one conclusion to be drawn as to the future career of Mr. Todd. It will be a brilliant one, and in every way an honor to himself, to his friends, and to the Sigma Chi fraternity.

Chicago, February, 1894.

CHARLES ALLING, JR.

THE GRAND CONSUL'S RECOMMENDATION

FOR A COAT OF ARMS.

I recommend the adoption of a fraternity coat of arms; that it be plain, dignified and heraldically correct; and that its use by the chapters be made imperative.

I have recently given the subject careful consideration; have examined the leading authorities on heraldry; have consulted one of the most accomplished students of heraldry in this country; and have conferred with Brother Samuel R. Ireland. I am also indebted to Mr. Richard B. Lockwood, of 77 Chambers St., New York City, for some valuable suggestions. Mr. Lockwood's skill as a college fraternity and class engraver and his knowledge of heraldry make him peculiarly fit to aid one in such an investigation as this.

I am astonished to find what a large collection there is of heterogeneous nondescripts, produced by the different engraving houses of the country, the chief purpose of each one of which was to produce something different from and more involved than that of its rival. Those relating to Sigma Chi are no exception.

We should repudiate the ignorance and vulgarity of the designs attributed to us, and in their place adopt a coat of arms at once simple, dignified and correct-one peculiarly appropriate to Sigma Chi.

Such a design would become a part of the Fraternity, be instantly recognizable as a Sigma Chi mark wherever seen and would soon become an object of our affection and loyalty.

I recommend a pure Norman shield; below it a ribbon bearing the words "In Hoc Signo Vinces;" below the ribbon the Greek letters sigma and chi; and above the shield a garland. On the shield I would put a pure Constantine or St. George's cross, and nothing else. Thus:

In the above design the white or argent of the shield indicates white; the vertical lines of the cross indicate red; the dots on the letters sigma

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and chi and on part of the roll, gold; and the horizontal lines on the other portion of the roll, blue. Thus the shield is white, the cross red, the letters sigma and chi gold, and the roll blue and gold.

It will be observed at once that the cross I recommend is different from the badge which we all wear. The one which I recommend is a pure Constantine or St. George's Cross. Our Badge is what is known in heraldry as the "Danebrog Cross." The legend in reference to this cross is as follows: There is in Denmark an order known as "Danebrog," which it is said was founded in commemoration of a miraculous standard which fell from heaven during a battle with the Livonians, and so revived the courage of Waldemar's soldiers, that they gained a complete victory. Upon this standard, it is pretended, was a white cross and it was called in the Danish language, "Daneberg" or "Danenburgh," that is, "The Strength of the Danes." The cross they wear is a white enameled cross, and not only more nearly resembles the cross of Sigma Chi in shape than any I have seen, but is the identical one.

The objection may be urged, and with apparent force, that I am recommending at this late day the adoption of a cross different from that which the fraternity has been using since its organization. My reply to this objection is that I am recommending that we now, although it be at a very late date, use that symbol which the law of the fraternity directs that we shall use, namely, a St. George's Cross.

I do not advise that we shall change the shape of the badge we wear. Let that remain. It is an exquisitely beautiful emblem and one to which we are devotedly attached; and I would strongly urge that we retain it. But in adopting a coat of arms, let us select one prescribed by the law of our fraternity and in strict accordance with the rules of heraldry.

In support of the position which I assume, as to both shape and color of the cross, I quote as follows from Newton's Display of Heraldry:

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"It is said that Constantine the Great, the first Christian Emperor "of Rome, whilst fighting against the infidels, saw a red cross in the clouds, with the motto 'In hoc signo vinces,' in consequence of which ❝he immediately assumed the red cross on a white sheet as his banner, "and under this sign he led his troops forward with uninterrupted vic"tory. Constantine, being a Briton by birth, our Nation has adopted "his device, Argent, a cross gules (or, as it is commonly called, the "Cross of St. George), which has become the national ensign of EngThe Republic of Genoa carry the like device, St. George being "their patron saint."

According to Newton the following is the form of the cross borne by