Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-03-30
DOSED HIS VICTIM.
LAtimer, the Matricide, Escapes
from Prison at Jackson, Mich.
Ne Drugs Two Guards. Secures the Keys
and Gains His Liberty-One OF His
Victims Dies from the Dose
A Cool PIotter.
GAINED HIS FREEDOM.

1
JACKSON, Mich. March rs. R Irving
Latimer, the notorious matricide, es-
capped from the prison Sunday night by
getting the keys and walking out of
the front door. The keys are missing
Capt. Gin, in charge of the prison at
night, is in Jail now. 1t is supposed
that Latimer got possession of some
powerful drug and administered it to
the guard and night turnkey. Guard
Haight was found dying about l o'clock
a m, Latimer having gone an hour
before that time Haight died at 3
o'clock
Maurice T. Gill, night keeper at the
prison was the indirect means Of Lati-
mer's escape. About 1880 o'clock he
and Latimer took lunch together in the
/ hall masters office. 1t was against
the rules for Gill to take a conviot
out of his cell. Capt Gill has
been completely bamboozled by Lati-
mer, who had been telling Gill that
there was 81 500 buried on an island in
Rhode Island, where Latimer's father
| lived when Irving was Is years old.
Gill was taken with this story and mad
Latimer out at lunch every night to
give him details Gill expected
to leave the prison in three
weeks 1t transpires that Latimer
had been in the habit of taking up a
cup of chocolate nearly every night to
Gatekeeper Haight, passing it through
slide in the grating. There is no
doubt Latimer had planned to poison
both Haight and Gill. and the chocolate
at night was only TO gain confidence
until he could get some poison.
| At lunch Sunday night Latimer car
ried up glass of lemonade to Haight
instead of the chocolate, and Haight
died in twenty minutes after drinking
it. Gin also drank of the lemonade and
was attacked with spasms almost in
stantly. In few minutes a cry
came from the guard-room above.
which llaight occupied. 1t was evident
that llaight was sick and needed help.
Gill was so sick he could not go Lati-
mer said:
- will 60 and whistle for DR. Mason.
"All right, go ahead, replied Gill
Latimer then took the keys, but in
stead of going for help he unlocked the
door of the guard room, passed
through the gates and was free He
took the prison keys with him lie
/ had neither coat nor hat and il is be-
lieved impossible ttLt he can escape.
I The PRISON authorities have offered
reward for Latimer, dead or alive and
officers are securing the country
Physicians made thorough autopsy
Of Ilaight's remains. The brains. lungs
and heart were found in perfect condi-
ton. The stomach contained half
pint Of liquid, and it has been sent TO
Ann Arbor for analysis. A scare Of
the doctors Office and the prison re
vealcd two tiny vials each containing
whitish watery liquid 1t is the be-
/ lief that from these bottles came the
poison which killed HMght.
Latimcr's escape from the prison was
The most daring act ever undertaken by
convict in any of the penal institn
tions of this state Facts have been
] developed which show however, that
be only partially succeeded in carrying
ont his plans lie fully intended, as
circumstances Indicate, to libcrate 800
other prisoners
Lstimer was serving a lIie term for The muir
der Of his mother January "A 1889 with whom
ne lived alone in their home in JacS IN
I Eighteen months before his father Robert
j Laiimtr, died suddenly, leaving consider
arle property including sii0OJ life in
s1ranre 10 Mrs Lattmer His death vas
I undoubtedly due to poisoning but, friends, SUP
posing the old had committed suicide,
bushed the matter up ana no inquest was held
The subsequent death of Mrs. Latimer under
/ circuTrst auces that left no doubt of the son :