The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-02-02
AGAIN A PRISONER.
Recapture of Fitxsimmons, Pitts
burg's Escaped Murderer.
AN ACCOMPLISHED sooUNDREL.

The Remarkable Career in Crime of
the Notorious Libertine, Conf
dence Man, Burglar and Murderer,
and the Part Played by a Prett,
Type Writer.
PITTsBURa, Feb. IA telegram has
been received by the district attorne,
announcing that Frederick G. Fitzsim
mons, the murderer Of Detective Gil
kinson, and whose mysterious escape
from the county Jail caused such sen
sation, has been captured in New Or
leans. Holmes Anderson, who was il
Jail on a charge Of murder when Fitz
simmons was there, was contidant 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 Sooundrel.
Fitzsinmons is a refined scoundrel
and thorough going desperate. 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
Montreal college, where he became
proficient, especially as a linguist. Over
thirteen years ago he left home to take
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 successful business man.
MnorNUhi1n hn had IpDnln11l thp1i1frh
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 Louisiana planter,
aud for some time lived with her in
handsome style in various European
cities. On returning to this country he
went into business AS a confidence man,
and was at different times at the head of
u 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 AccompIice.
For three years Fitzsimmcus and his
gang operated in the western part of the
state with impunity, and during that
IGllUh ptt VI tiic lllDSb HULL
bers of the gang was Miss Laura Snow
den, a pretty type writer, now about 22
years of age, who, like the chief of the
band, was leading IA double life, posing
before the public as a clerk i'll the office
OF The Medical Review, of Pittsburg,
| where she enjoyed a reputation formot
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, i'll order
that he would have to go home to sup
per after dark, She kept her appoint-
ment and succeeded. When the unsus-
peeting Schmidt started for supper
Laura gave the signal to Fitzsilnmons,
who had effected nm 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 lot of trinkets, worth altogether
about $1,000. 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 fltzsimmons hiding place.
Fitzaimmons' 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 haze up to
this time been a profound mystery,
| though every effort was made to effect
his apprehension and recapture.