The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-05-23
Desperate Attempt of Charles Gigante
to Escape From Workhouse, Ends in
Death of Geo. Jacobs, and Fatal
Injuries to Gigantic and
Guard Homer Stone.

In a murderous attempt to escape
from the workhouse, Charles Gigantic
shot and killed George Jacobs and per-
! haps fatally wounded Homer Stone,
guard, on Wednesday morning
shortly after o'clock. Gigantic him
self was shot three times by Stone and
is dying as the result of the wounds.
The dead:
George Jacobs, workhouse inspector
for STANDARD Brush company; shot in
head above right temple; died in
stantly. Jacobs was married and had
five children. He lived on Maple ave-
nue..
The wounded:
Homer Stone, guard. shot once, bull
let passed through right arm and en-
tered body between fifth and sixth
ribs about two inches to left of nip
pie. Bullet passed inward through
the lung in vicinity of heart. Lying
in workhouse hospital in critical con-
dition. Married and lives at 416
Brown avenue.
Charles Gigante, workhouse pris-
oner, one bullet wound In abdomen
below the ribs on right side; another
in hack near spine below ribs, and
left knee filled with shot. Lying in
workhouse hospital and will Gle. Is
~ years old, married and has one
child. Lived at North Mckinley ave-
nue. and East Second street
Gigante, who is degenerate, was
sent to the workhouse for driving a
horse to death, and had been making
threats to do violence to the guards
ever since he has been there.
Wednesday morning he was en-
ployed in the brush factory and Sc
cured permission to go to the water
closet, which is in the rear of the
back shop. Coming out of the water
closet, he walked up behind Guard
William Klotz, who was STOPPING over
q grindstone. and grabbed revolver
out of Klotz's hip pocket.
The guard felt the revolver leaving
his pocket and turned upon Gigante,
when the latter fired twice at him at
close range, but missed him, the balls
lodging in the side Of the building
near the grindstonc.
Klotz started to run toward the front
shop, where the electric alarm button
ia. George Jacobs, formerly a guard
at the workhouse, but recently employ
ed as foreman Of the brush factory at
that institution, was working at a
planer about fifteen feet in front of
Gigante. He started toward Gigantic
to take the gun away from him. JAG
obs was not armed, and went at the
desperate man with his bare hands.
When Gigante saw him coming, he
leveled the revolver at him and JAG
obs kept on advancing. He lowered
his head and ran in, when Gigante shot,
the bullet entering Jacobs head, kill
Ing him instantly.
Giganti then made rush for the
front shop, with the revolver in his
hand. Manager Yanders, of the brush
factory, and Guard Klotz arrived at
the front door about the same time.
: Yanders turned in the alarm. Guard
Homer Stone, who was sitting upon
the platform just inside the dbor,
sprang down as the men came running
toward him.
Stone shot first at Gigantic with a
shell loaded with small shot. The
load struck the prisoner in the knee,
but did not stop him. Gigantic then
shot at Stone. the bullet entering
his left arm about six inches below
the shoulder. Passing through the
arm 1t entered HIS left breast between
the fifth and sixth ribs, and made what
is thought to be fatal wound.
Stone then fred once or twice at Gil
gante Accounts differ as to the num-
Der Of shots that Stone fred, but there |
were three empty chambers In the re-
volver when II was examined after the |
affair was over. After Stone had fired,
Frank Yanders. who had turned in the
alarm, made a rush for Gigante, who
still was In the attitude to shoot.
Yanders caught hold of him and threw
him hard against the corner of
large bench, the revolver flying out
Of Gigante's hands and rolling some
distance away.
Others came to his aid, and Gigante
was secured. He was faint and weak
and made no resistance. II was found
that he had been shot directly through
the stomach. and that another ball