The Grange advance., 1874-11-04
ARREST OF A NAN CHARGED WITH
MURDER.
Sheriff King OF Canada interviewed.

On Wednesday Of last week, Sheriff
Chandler caused the arrest of one Henry
Fitzsimmons, charged with committing a
premeditatcd murder in St. Thomas Prov
ince Of Ontario, Canada, about two years
ago. He was Sc pt to the County Jail to
await examinations, The person charged
with the fearful crime has been in this vi
cinity fifteen months, working first in town
and afterwards il the country at divers
places, but lately and up to the time Of his
arrest upon the farm of Mr. Samuel Church
about twelve miles from Red Wing.
Mr. Church in some manner discovered
that u murder had been committed in st.
Thomas, Canada, about two years ago by a
man named Henry Fitzsimmons, and that
the description given Of him by the Cana
dian authorities corresponded with the ap-
pearance OF a man in his employ who went
by the name of Tom Breland. Mr. Church
also, having learned that two rewards, one
Of $500, and one Of $1,000 were offered for
the apprehension and capture of the said
Fitzsimmons, procured a photograph and an
accurate description Of Tom Breland and
started for Canada; Upon arriving at St.
Thomas he hunted Up the officers OF the law,
stated his business, and Al ter careful COM
parison Of the description of Brvland. and
FitzsimM0ns It was decided that they were
one and the same person. Sheriff King i'm
mediately tclegraphed to the authorities
here to arrest rs soon as possible, man
called Tom Breland, and to retain him in
custody until he could be identified by the
Canadian officers. Sheriff King, accompan-
led by Detective Murray, took the first train
for the west and arrived in this city last
Saturday morning it four o'clock. King,
who has known Fitzsimmons since boyhood,
at once recognized the prisoner as the man
he had been searching for the past two
years. Fitzsimmons alias Breland knew Mr..
King at once and did not pretend otherwise
but advanced towards him holding out his
hanu in welcome.
We visited the prisoner Saturday after
noon in his cell under the Court House.
lie did not appear At all depressed or surly,
but on the other hand was quite cheerful,
expressing himself rs willing to return to
Canada for trial as he was confident of an
acquital. lie furthermore said that he
was very we'll satisfied with his treatment
at the hands Of Sheriff Chandler and with
his quarters.
From Mr.. King we have obtained the
following facts regarding Fitzsimmons and
the murder:
Henry Fitzsimmons was born in Canada,
Province of Ontario, County of Elgin, town
ship OF Farmouth,s about sixty rods from
the northerly line Of the said town. He is
about thirty-six years of age ; is of re-
spectacle parentage, his father being we'll
to do farmer. Hismother is dead, but his
father is living and resides in St. Thomas.
Both parents came to America from Ire
land. Henry began his career Of crime by
Becoming addictedto) )str9ag drink and was
always qaaFreling Add fighting. He has
been in Jail in Canada twice to the certain
knowledge of our slnformants has always
been common slaborer, never having
learned trade. At home he would work
we'll and hard three days out of week the
remainder Of which he would spend in ca.
rousing and drinking. He has respecta-
BILE and deserving wife and five children
whom he deserted however several years
ago.
The murder charged consisted in the
killing Of one DR.. Ninham an Indian ply
sician. The deeds WAS committed upon a
moonlight night tip years ago this summer
in St. Thomas. Tie victim was sitting in
front of the village hotel, unconscious Of
danger, when theassassin crept up behind
and dealt him several blows directly upon
the skull with an axe, wrapped in CON-
mon two bushel bar. Ninham died almost
instantly uttering no cry. Although the
terrible crime waawitnessed by six or sew
en- persons the pefpetrator escaped before
he could be ssearsa. By two o'eloei, five
hours after the killing, the officers armed
with the proper sprrants, were upon the
the murderer's trask but he escaped. DR..
Niaham was feet inches tall, weighed
TWO hundred and Atty pounds and was 65
years old. E., -
1t is supposed t1st Ninham was assassi-
mated through mftake, Fitzsimmons sup.
posing him to be ason Of the Doctors who