Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-09-17

David IL. GilkinSon. Inc muruer &C
CURED on the 2lst of last March, at the
home of Fitzsimmons, about two miles
from MeKeesport, beyond the Youghio-
gheny river. Gilkinson and his as
sistant, p. j. Murphy, went there to ar
rest him for the robbery OF numerous
stores and residences in Mckeesport,
Bradford, DuQuesne and Homestead.
The detectives had been working on the
case for months, and had their man
spotted after a hard, long chace after
evidence which took them through sew
eral States.
1t was on Saturday evening that the
officers arrived at Fitzsimmon's house.
IL was in a lonely gulch. He was asleep
in bed. His wife met them and rec
ogniziug them to be officers refused ad-
mission. They insisted upon entering
and seeing her husband. She refused,
a wrangle ensued, the officers were de-
termined and they entered the house
against her will. The woman raised an
outcry and her husband sprang out of
bed and grasped two revolvers. With
out an instant's hesitation he began
murderous iusilade. The second or
third shot struck Detective Gtlkinson
in the forehead and that officer
fell dead. Detective Murphy was right
behind his chief. Murphy drew
his revolver and then began desperate
combat between the two men. Murphy
emptied his revolver and Fltzslmmons
emptied two. Murphy was struck by
half dozen bullets. He had his chin
almost torn away by one, another hit
him on the forehead and glanced OF
and he was shot twice in the breast.
He was otherwise injured by glancing
bullets. Murphy managed to wing
Fitzsimmons by wounding him In the
shoulder. Fltzsimmon's wife took part
in the shooting, giving her husband
revolver, and was also wounded In the
shoulder Murphy was forced to go
back to McKeesport, as he had no more
ammunition. In the meantime Fitz-
simmons made his escape.
He was captured in Homestead on the
evening of the following day, Sunday.
He had fled 10 the house Of NJ. c. Clark,
with whom he formerly boarded while
leading dual life. The Clarks, and
Mrs. Clark's sister, Cora Wyatt OF
Unlontown, are implicated in the entire
case. DR.. GLADDEN., of Homestead, saw
the shadow Of woman dressing mans
arm on the blinds on an upper room OF
the Clark house. He surmised that the
man was Fitzsimmons, and gave the
alarm. Fitzsimmons ran out into the
back yard and from there into an out
house, in which he was captured.
At the last term OF court Fitzsimmons
was convicted of the robbery OF
Schmidt's jewelry store in Homestead.
Cora Wyatt, who is said to be his con-
federate in the escape, was acquitted as
an accessory. The Clarks were convict
ed as accessories. Laura Snowden, the
woman who was another OF Fltzslm-
mons assistants, turned States evinence
and thus saved herself from being con-
vlcted In the robbery case.
The trial of Fitzsimmons and his wife
for the murder of Detective Gilkinson
was set for Monday next, and 1t is the
intention to go ahead, and, If Fitzsim-
mons is not recaptured, to try the wife.
Fred. G. FitzsimmOns has a. advent
urouS career behind him. He belongs
10 the FitzSimmons family OF Brock
vile, Ontario. This is highly respect
ed family in that section, and his par
entS lost track Of him many years ago,
when he left home TO make his fortune.
He was possessed Of an unusually tine
education and travelled in foreign coun-
tries exclusively. Hh put in year in
Europe and spent several years in Mex
leo and Central and South America.
In all of these countries his ability TO
speak Il number of languages fluentIy
helped him in many adventures. His
thieving propcnsities were evil
IDENTIFY then pretty strong, for
on one occasion during revolution
in South American country, he
stole a ship and looted it. After beat
ing about in strange lands in various
dlsguis,S as crook, bogus nObleman, and
all around confidence man, Fitzsimmons
returned to North America. He located
in New Orleans at first, but gradually
drifted up north and reached Pittsourg
about two years ago.
About year ago his father, who lived
at the family seat in BroOkviIie, died,
leaving a fortune OF abont 100000.
The fortune is to be divided among six
or seven heirs.
FitzSlmmous is said to have money at
banks in various cities throughout the
United States. No two deposits are
under the same name. He is therefore
considered to be pretty wealthy.