The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-02-12


suicide Ia the Parish Prison ~ New
Oriesas-s1is Last Letter and Ples fol
liis Wife.
NEw ORLEANS. Feb. 5.-Frcdcr,ck q.
Fitzsimmons. alias Ambrose q. Budd
and several other names, who was mr.
rested here Tuesday night. charged
with murder and theft In Pittsburgh.
Pa, cut his throat with pcnknife. nj
II o'clock yesterday morning. IN a cell
at the parish prison lie died II |
o'clock this morning.
Fitzsimmons left \ long letter ad.
dressed 10 G. II. Fitzsimmous, William
Fitzsimmons. Chief Of Police Caster.
the press and citizens Of New Orleans,
In which he says:
The sunny south and the Crescent city carry
none but the most pleasant reccllections in my
memory. have pursued crime with is fatal
consequences; my liberty il again jcopsrdizsi,
and ~ liberty or death II paramount In my
mind. prefer the latter = imprisonment. dis
grace. slow death and dragging further In the
mire the good name of honorable and respected
relatives. Ny beloved wife is the daughter oe
one Of New Orleans once popular and re-
spected citizens Ny wife. Lucy Rebecca
fitzsimmons. was improperly convicted Il the
Allegheny county court house Of murder In the
second degree through the testimony OF per-
juring detective and q perludiced jury and Judge.
and Is still IN Imprisonment. Knowing that
am about 70 hurl myself into eternity. I
solemnly swear that my wife Il innocent e.
fected my escape from 1.-THE Allegheny county
trial began The bright sunny atmosy here sur
rounding my soul is replaced by gloom and .
sad heart that only death can alleviate.
Fitzsimmons. after writing the latter
yesterday morning. jumped into bed,
threw blanket over his head and an
parently went TO sleep. Half an hour
later one Of the attendants in the Jail
heard him grooming. and on going 10
the bed, found Fitzsimmons had slashed
his throat three times while under the
blanket. and seemed TO be dying from
the loss Of blood.
The wound in the dying burglars
throat was fully two inches deep cx-
tending from ear to ear. Surgeons were
at once called in by the prison officials.
and they set TO work to save his life.
although they announced that the task
was hopeless
Detectives Finney and Murphy. who
were awaiting the arrival Of reputation
papers to take Fitzsimmons back TO
Pittsburgh, were much surprised when
informed Of the suicide They knew
the nerve OF the man. but did not sus-
pcct that he would attempt to take his
own life.
The capture Of Fitzsimmons was
made on the night 81 January 81. The
Pittsburgh officers located him here,
and Detective Finney. OF that city
came on to identity and take him. lie
appraised the local officers OF his plans.
md told them Of the desperate charac-
ter Of the criminal he was after. Fin
ney knew the escaped murderer by
sight. but was not known TO the latter.
Holmes Anderson. who was acquitted
81 another murder. and who occupied
he cell adjoining Fitzsimmons. before
MS escape last September from the
city prison, gave the Pitts
burgh police the clew to Fitzsimmons'
On account Of the des-
'erate character Of the murderer il was
not deemed advisable to attempt to take
iim when he might be on his guard
Besides he was constantly in the com
,any Of some Of the worst crooks Of
he south. lie was Incorporating in
he role Of peddler. and went through
he street. of New Orleans daily dis
,osing Of his wares.
Sunday night Detective Finney de-
'ided TO take his man ut all hazards
Fortune favored him, and during the
lay Fitzsimmons entered cigar store.
where he expected to meet Anderson
The detective was on him inan instant.
ind pinioning his arms TO his side.
'laced a pair of handouts over the
wrists and conducted him
o one Of the city police stations There
le was sea, ched. and three rcvolvers
md copies Of the Pittsburgh papers
an account Of his escape
rom Jail were found upon his person.
Some cigarettes found on Fitzsim-
mons are the exact counterpart Of those
molSed necessarily by the murderer
while confined in the Allegheny county
all prior TO his. sensational escape
They were made by himself and !
wrapped in a very peculiar blue paper.
md some Of these cigarettes were left
" the prisoner when he escaped from
nil. They have since been in tho pos
cssion Of the officers and were consid-
red very valuable link to the chain
y Identification.
Fitzsimmons was at the head OF a |
desperate gang OF thieves who operated |
y various parts Of the country. but had |
heir headquarters near Pittsburgh |
nd were known rs the Uniontown
'ang. Several women operate with
hem.
Fitzsimmons was wanted last March
Or numerous bnrglarics. and when
cnnd in his hiding place by Detectives
'ilkinson and Murphy terrible hattie
nsued. GillSinson was shot dead and |
iurphy was badly wounded. Fitzsim-
IONS also received bullet in his body |
nd escaped for time. but was finally
aptnrcd BY the Homestead police.
condition was for long time
ritical.
David II. Gilkinson was AZ one time
member Of the United States secret
crvice, and he had a national rcputa-
ion.
Fiizsimmons escaped from the county
ail in Pittsburgh before his case came