Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-03-30
TIE CRASH OF a DISH
vas TO Blame for Iatimer's Capture-He
Had Taken All Possible Rrecautlon-Did
Not Intend to Commit Murder.

Not Intend to Commit Murder.
JACKSON, Mich, March 29.-R. Irv-
ing Latimer, the triple murderer, Is
again behind the bars. His capture was
effected near Jerome, about twenty
miles from this city. Latimer was
brought from Jerome in carriage and
under strong guard. arriving at the
prison at $40 this morning. The scene
at the prison door when the vehicle
dashed up was one Of TIE most dramatic
episodes that ever occurred In the his
tory of the institution. A large crowd
was gathered in front OF the building as
the carriage was seen in the distance,
and an expression Of general satisfaction
was heard as il was discovered the We
hicle was headed directly for the prison
front door. The occupants OF the We
hicle sprang out, and in trice
Latime was marched through the
front door. He seemed calm and col
lected and when some one started to
urge him on, he remarked: "Oh, It's
all right" This was said in the tone
OF one who wanted to have the whole
affair handled with proper decorum.
Latlmer decidedly objected TO being
showed. The crowd drew up within
the hall and as clerk Taber drew near,
Latimer said significantly: IL want TO
have q talk with you as soon as | can"
Tabers face was white rage. His
hatred for Latimer Is something
supremely bitter. He said with indig-
nation, "Yes presume you would like
to talk with me-" 1t looked as though
Taber would like 10 spring upon Lati-
mer, but he restrained himself. The
deputy warden and the prisoner passed
Quickly through the corridor and in a
few moments Latimer was secured
from the crowd by the grated gate.
During the long ride from Jerome to
the prison, Latimer told the story OF
his escape, and OF the plans by which IL
had been made possible.
81 had been working and thinking
out the ways and means OF the at
tempt" he said, (which az this mo-
ment is proving a failure for nearly a
year. 1 started with a fundamental
scheme, and have never deviated from
my original plans from the time Of its
conception. II should have succeeded,
but il miscarried and that too In a most
woeiul manner. / made a careful and
exhaustive study Of poisons and their
effects. That book will readily prove
that did not intend murder, and you
say that poor NaiRht is dead. i would
rather stay there until | rotted than TO
have murdered him, and think l muir
dered him by bundering.
~ poisoned him with glass OF lem
onade. | never thought for one mo-
ment IL would make him sleep over half
an hour. Gill said / might carry some
of our luncheon up to Haight. Before
taking IL up l made the lemonade and
put IN the powder. After be drank the
lemonade | came down and Gill got the
same dose. Itwas my intention TO treat
them both alike. Gill is entirely inno-
cent OF anything but negligence. The
same may be truthfully said OF every
one.
'FDo You know what made my plans
miscarry? II was the crash OF that
dish. 1t brought Rice TO the scene and
he disarranged everything. Haight was
Quiet, Gill was nearly helpless and /
would have had everything all 10 myself
II It had not been for the crash Of that
dish. | would have locked the guards
all in. / would have had three hours
the start before they could have made
any effort TO pursue me. l would have
left the prison with valise containing
two revolvers and good clothing, and
before they could have been started
after me would have been twenty miles
away.
"The poison which / used was mix
ture OF opium and prussaic acid. 1t was
certainly not intended that there should
be enough prussaic acid to be fatal The
logic OF the mixture is this: The opium
secures the usual sleeping effect and
prussaic acid secures an immediate ef-
feet, that was the whole scheme of the
mixture, and / can't immagine why II
went wrong.
after leaving the prison, / stated 70
run. don't think | stopped until had
made three miles. The first stop made
was at farmers house, where / was
furnished with a coat, hat and felt
boots. l then logged ahead, and the
next stop | made was for breakfast.
81 cut OF through the fields and
skirted the edge Of woods all day. In
attempting 20 cross a swamp ! got my
foot very wet, and while splashlng
around slipped and sprained my ankle.
This was my waterloo. Had II not been
for this accident, ! am satisfied that l
would have made my escape.
81 spent yesterday between Hanover
and Moscow. Went for something to
eat at one house, and picked up an old
Quilt on my way out, after being refus
ed a bed. Last night Mrs. Iron, near
Jerome, gave me good supper, aud ]
went from there TO Mr.. Moore's to get
some clothing, aud he advised me to 20
TO the Jerome store. ] went, and there
you are. The lame ankle laid me out"