The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-28
ASK YOUR GROCER FOR
FLOUR.
PUT POISON In THEIR DRINK
Daring Escape of Matricide Latimer
from the Michigan Penitentiary.
Took Advantage Of Prison Privileges, Gave His
Keepers Poisoned Pink Lemonade and Went
Free-0ne Of the Guards Dead.

JACKSON, Mich, March T.-At an early
hour this morning R. Irving Latimer. serv-
ing life sentence for matricide, walked
into the world of liberty and freedom
through the wide prison doors and
disappeared In the darkness. and at this
writing I'll p. NJ not trace of him
has been found. One of his keepers is
dead and another Is q prisoner. charged
with being an accomplice. Maurice T. Gill.
night keeper at the prison, was the lndi-
rect means of the escape. About half
past 0 O'Clock he and Latimer took
lunch together in the hall masters
Office. Ii was against the rules for Gill to
take convict out of his cell, and that he
did so was entirely unknown to the war
den. The two men, Gill says, drank
pink lemonade. He thinks il must have
been poisoned, for soon after he felt
sick end doubled up with pain. About
the same time Gill and Latimer heard q
cry In the guard room above and entirely
separate from the office. In this room was
George w. Haight, the gate keeper 1t
was evident that he was sick and help was
needed at once. Gill could not 60 on ac-
count OF his illness. Lstimer went.
Shortly after Latimer left Gill, night
guard Rice also went towards Haight's
room TO see what was the matter. There
be found Latimer trying to lock the
door from the inside of the stairway.
doing at that door, Latimer made some
evasive reply and Rice took q bunch of
keys away from him. When Rice got in
side the hall where LatImer was the
convict told him that Haight was
dying mp stairs. Rice then went mp to
Haights room and found that Latimer ad
already succeeded In unlocking the upper
door into the hall masters Office. HaiQht
was found lying on the floor in an uncon-
scious condition. Tho two men carried
main hall. They had no sooner done
this than Gill appeared on the scene. Gill
was still complaining Gf being very sick.
very dangerous condition, and said that
some one should 60 for the prison physi-
clan. Latimer, who was bending over
the stricken Rate-keeper, Strengthened
up quickly and said: Il will run and get
the doctor" Latimer went and that was
the last seen of HIM. Latimer had removed
Q key from Haights pocket after he Was
unconscious and using il. effected his es-
cape. Tie sleeping guards were aroused
and those that could be spared were sent
were sent to the officials of
near by cities last night and
all trains were carefully inspected
Before daylight the houses of many of hi
$500 was offered for the body. dead or alive.
1t transpires that Latimer had been in
the habit of taking a cup of chocolate
nearly every night TO gate.keeper HaIght,
passing it through slide In the
grating. which Halghk took with
his midnight lunch. There Is no
doubt Latimer had planned to
poison Haight and Gill and the chocolate
as night was only To gain confidence and
until he could get the poison. Last night
Latimer carried mp glass OF lemonade TO
Halght. instead of chocolate. and the poison
was no doubt in that, as Haight was TAX en-
sick In about twenty minutes after drink
ing ft. and Gill was attacked with spasms
almost instantly. Haight died at 3 o'clock
this morning without regGining conscious
ness Gill and Rice were placed under
arrest, but Rice was subsequently, released
Latimer murdered his mother at jack
son soon after o'clock on the morning OF
Jan. 20, 1889. He evidently shot
her while she was in bed asleep
The wound was not fatal. and
she sprang from bed and attempted TO
make her way TO the window with the in
tentIon OF crying for help. Latimer then
shot his mother again and beat her over
the head with the butt of his re-
volver until she sank TO the
floor dead. Latimer owned q drug
store IN Jackson and was one of
the society youths of the city at the time
His father had died some years before the
murder. under very suspicious circum-
stances. and there is but little doubt that
Irving poisoned his father.