The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-02-02
AGAIN A PRISONER
Recapture Of FitlsimmOns, Pitts,
barg's Escaped Murderer.
An ACCOMPLISHED soOuEDREL

The Rcmarkable Career Ia Crime Of
the Notorious Libertiue Comb
deuce Man. Burglar and Murderer
:, and the Part Played ~ Pretty
Type Writer.
PITTsBuRG. Feb, LA telegram has
been received by the district attorney
announcing that Frederick G Fitzsim
mons. the murderer of Detective Gil
kinson and whose mysterious escape
from the county jail caused such sen.
satiQng has been captured in New Or.
leans Holmes Anderson. who was in
Jail on charge Of murder when Fitz-
simmons was there, was confidant of
the fugitive, and It was through him
the clew that led to the capture was
obtained A brief review of his career
Of crime will prove interesting at this
time.
An Accomplished Scoundrel.
Fitzsimmons Is q refined scoundrel
and thorough going desperado. His
family is said to be one of the oldest,
wealthiest and most respected in the
| Dominion of Canada, his home having
been at Brockville, in Ontario, and as he
grew up he was received in the best so-
ciety in that place. He was educated at
q Montreal college, where he became
| proficient. especially as linguist. Over
thirteen years ago he left home 10 take
| q lucrative position in the southern part
of this country. His Canadian relatives
saw nothing of him for years until his
return some months ago, with plenty of
money and good clothes, and the gen
eral air of a successful business man.
Meanwhile he had wandered through
many lands, ON both sides of the ocean,
and become well known in all the large
cities of the United States.
Eight or nine years ago he ran away
with the daughter of a Louisiana planter,
and for some time lived with her in
handsome style in various European
cities. On returning to this country he
went into business as confidence man,
and was at different times at the head of
gang OF robbers. He finally became
the head Of an extensive gang Of profess
sional crooks. about thirty strong, whose
operations embraced the district In west
ern Pennsylvania, all the way from the
West Virginia border to the lakes.
His Fair Accomplish.
For three years Fitzsimmons and his
gang operated in the western part Of the
state with iinpunitY !, and during that
period one Of the most important mem
bers Of the gang was Miss Laura Snow.
den, a pretty type writer, now about %
years of age, who, like the chief of the
band, was leading double life, posing
before the public as q clerk in the Office
of The Medical Review, of Pittsburg,
where she enjoyed reputation formod-
esty, honesty and expertness in her oS-
tensible calling.
On the evening of Jan. 81, 1891, Fitz-
simmons worked the jewelry store of
John Schmidt at Homestead in a very
| skillful way. Laura Snowden's part in
| the job was to go to Homestead and de-
tain Mr. Schmidt for one hour, in order
| that he would have to go home to sup
ment and succeeded. When the nnsus-
pecting Schmidt started for supper
| Lanra gave the signal to Fitzsimmons,
who had effected an entrance inio the
cellar under the store He then made
his way up through the broken flooring,
| and gathered up l47 watches and chains,
| and a lot of trinkets, worth altogether
about $4,000. For her share in the job
Miss Snowden was to receive 81 900.
The detectives got a clew to the girls
implication in the crime. She was ar
rested, confessed, and guided the officers
to Fitzsimmons' hiding place.
FitzsimInons' resistance when con-
fronted by the detectives who went to
arrest him. the murder of Detective
Gilkinson, his subsequent arrest and
conviction for the Homestead robbery.
and his escape while waiting trial for
murder are matters of recent history
His subsequent movements have up to
this time been profound mystery,
though every effort was made to effect
his apprehension and recapture.