The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1892-02-11
TIE GALLONS ROBBED.
While in Jail at New Orleans. sensa-
tional Ending Ofa Remarkable
Criminal Career.

p1sOn Win tne stroke OF o CLOCK Thursday
morning, from the effects Of wounds In his
throat inflicted by himself.
There were no tears at his dying, no
payers, no sorrowing friends As he lies
dpd he presents shocking picture, the
bsndages and blood stains contributing their
slhre to the spectacle. His eyes were closed
AMI his slender hands folded across his
b'east when the grim messenger came. The
expression upon his face is one Of defiance.
His iron nerve lasted to the end.
Fitzsmmons had been fully identified
AMI knowing that he would have 10 go
back TO the scene OF his crime determined TO
sesk liberty through death. He was being
taken care Of in the hospital department OF
the PRISON. After dressing he sat down at
. table and wrote letter which he placed in
bis pocket. Then he asked for a cigarette
and when a nurse promised TO go out and
secnre some paper, he went TO bed, threw
himself on II and drew a blanket over his
face. Those in the room heard him
groaning, but believed him dreaming.
About twenty minutes after Fitznmmons
had lain down Detective Murphy and
Piusburg newspaper man came to the bed
and pulled off the blanket. They were
startled to see Fitzsimmons covered with
blood and gasping Assistance was sent for.
An examination showed that the murderer
had stabbed himself with penknife three
times in the left side and once on the right
the knife penetrating deeply. Every medi-
cal attention was shown him, but without
avail.
The letter Fitzsimmons wrote was ad.
dressed to the newspapers, and is as
follows:
New Orleans, La, Feb. g. 1892.
SiR-The Sunny South and the Crescent
recollections in my memory. During
repeated residences OF some fifteen years
past, have found the citizens of New
Orleans none other but noble, charitable and
humane. III le, the last year of my exs-
tence has been = blot of alamentable charac-
ter, the result Of crime with its fatal conse-
quences. Here | have found nv Waterloo
Hence prefer death aud relief OF any
further mental and physical suffering and
disgrace, and dragging Further in the mire
the good name of my deceased, honorable
and respected arents, and my relatives
living
My beloved wife is a daughter of q once
who. like other citizens of the South,
became impoverished through TIE effects of
the civil war. My wife, Lucy Rebecca
Fitzsimmons, was unjustly convicted at the
Allegheny county court of Pennsylvania of
murder in the second degree through the
testimony of peruring detective, viz: p. j.
Murphy. and prejudiced jury aud a Judge,
and sentenced to eight years Imprisonment.
Knowing / am about to hurl myself into
eternity, do most solemnly swear before
Almighty God that my wife Is as innocent
of any completely in the crime charged at
my door as new boru bibe.
effected my escape from the Allegheny
county Jail unaided by any officials con.
nected with that institution, because / fore
saw&"r conviction before my trial began,
5s.,esanse eff D'rf6e l,tess rejudice -ex, ;sing
against me. d. ."e .,s,lt, sunny atmosphere
that once encirced my soul is replaced by
a,gloomy,, sad heart, that only death can
alleviate because of the distressed condition
in which l leave noble, Christian and
beloved wife and mother.
My daughter, Lucy Frederick Fi.uimmons,
years OF age, Is now living with my sister
at Brockville, Ontario.
(Signedl
r. c. FIrzsrMMoSs.
FtrzsIMMoSs BURIED. In No. so, second
tier of the public vaults of St. Vincent de
Paul cemetery, parish of Orleans lies all
that is mortal Of Frederick &. Fitzsimmons.
He was deposited there Friday afternoon by
Undertaken Il. Dufreche. There were no
mourners at the funeral, no minister. no
flowers no music but the clinking of the
bricklayer's trowel.
Frederick Carrolton Fitzsimmons was
about 3S years old. He was born in Brook
willie, In the Province of Ontario, Canada,
and was the son OF prominent parents AT
ap early age he driftad into crime, full
record OF which would fill many newspaper
columns.
The crime charged against him. commits
ted on Narch u, 1891, at Fitzsmmon's
pected of the robbery Of several .jewelry
stores in this vicinity, and on the afternoon
of that day Detectives Gilkinson and Murphy
called at the house with warrants for his
arrest. They were met by Mrs. Fitzsimmons,
who became greatly frightened on seeing the
men. The woman's shrieks awoke Fitz-
simmons, who was sleeping in an adjoining
room, and as he rushed into the room,
followed by his child, he saw his wife sag.
Pering around the room. He then drew his
revolver, while the detectives drew theirs,
and the shooting began. Detective Gilkinson
fell dead at his feet. He was graphing with
Detective Murphy, who had him down,
when he cried out to his wife to give him her
pistol, which was on the mantel piece In the
room. She gave IL to him, he continued to
fire at Murphy and wounded him. His wife
was wounded in the arm by one OF the
detectives bullets.
After leaving the house he was pursued
by a crowd, and arrested. Detective Murphy
returned to the house with @ squad of police
10 capture Fitzsimmons, but arrested AIRS.
Fitzsimmons. Two DAYS after Fitzsimmons
was arrested. The public clamor ran so
high at the time that he was afraid his wife
would be lynched, and 10 prevent anything
like this, he says, he concluded TO return,
and submit to being arrested. He secured
ample counsel to defend her and spent nearly
$1,000 toward having her liberated. but the
feeling was against her, and she was convict
ed and sentenced 10 the ,nitentiary for
eight year. n the night ofSeptember 18th
Fitzsimmons escaped from the Allegheny
county Jail by saving the bars of his cell
and was not heard of until captured in New
Orleans last Sunday.
On account of his extensive travels Fitz
simmons was linguist of considerable
ability. French and Spauish he spoke
fuently. During Central American war II
4