The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-23
FUGITIVE GIVES
HIMSELF OVER
TO AUTHORITIES
Haunted by Fear and Remorse
Convict Makes Dramatic
Declaration to Chief.
KILLED MAN IN TEXAS,
ESCAPED FROM PRISON
SAYS HE is WILLING TO GO BACK
AND SERVE OUT HIS
TERM.

Driven by haunting remorse. and after
living eight months in a constant nerv
Gus fear, Z. l. Mccormick, convicted of
rIanslaughter in Texas. who escaped from
the state prison at Rusk, Tex, afte- he
had served but sixteen days of his SEN
tence, walked into the Salt Lake po-
lice station at O'Clock yesterday after
noor and Startled tile officers by the
sta teinent that ne was an esras,ed muir
derer and wanted to give himself up to
L killed a man in Texas, and was SEN
fenced for it. but broke prison. Since
then I have lived in constant terror. and
i can't stand it any longer. All the iuck's
gone back on me, and | want to be taken
back to the prison and serve out my
sentence
AS il happened. the incident. so unusual
even to those long in the service. formed
the first incident 10 come before Chief
OF Police Barlow. Mr.. Barlow had been
in the station as chief of police only
few minutes. and was talking with Lieu
tenants Hempel and Shannon. WHEN Nc
Corrnir X walked up and in a .iieI tone
of voice made his astonishing statement
The three officers were at first amazed,
and then incredulous, but Mccormick
earnestly and with convincing sincerity
told the story of how he had been con-
victed Of manslaughter: related his es-
cape from Jail. and told how his consci-
ence had forced him to give himself up.
Taken at his word he was locked in the
Jail, and a telegram sent to Majo. Derm.
warden of the prison at Rusk Tex, IN
forming him of the incident.
Tells His Story.
Mccormick granted an interview tn 4
Herald reporter last night. and freely told
of the crime for which he was convicted.
the long fight in the court, his escape.
how he had lived through what had
seemed an eternity of fear, and how he
now wanted to serve out his sentence. and
he able to rejoin his young wife and live
among his friends and acquaintance in
Texas His sentence was only a three
years term. and he now prefers to serve
this out than to be fugitive haunted
with the thought of capture.
Mccormick is clean-cut. fine appear
ing man about 26 years of age. There
are no traces of dissipation in the lines
of his fea lures. and he is respectfully
clothed 1t is hard to believe even his
own story that he had killed a man and
is an escaped convict
Answering the reporters query if he
wished to tell his story, he said:
Yes. / might as well I was convicted
of manslau lighter in Texas. and sentenced
had been there eighteen days / man
aged to make my escape. Since then /
have been living in Colorado, and only
came to Salt Lake last night.
Sees Chance to Escape.
"The affair which brought about NJ
trouble occurred Oct. l. 1904 al. Rockwell.
Tex l got into a fight with man named
Whit Readings, and l wounded him so
that he died eight days later. | was
arrested and the case dragged along in
the Rockwell county court, and never
came to trial until. through securing a
change of venue, the case came up at
Greenville in Hunt county. / was found
guilty last November and sentenced to
three years. Then the case was eontin-
ued. under appeals. until March %, 1903,
when I began my sentence. At the peni-
Tertiary ] was employed as fireman in
the ice plant, and on April [ saw my
chance to escape and succeeded in get
ting away. an+
Il started for Colorado and arrived in
Denver April %. 1 lived there until the
18th of this month. when | left for Gran
tie. Since then I have drifted from place
to place until l reached Salt Lake last
night.
I'm Colorado 1 worked steadily. most
of the time at ranching, but during ali
the time 1 didn't have moments hap
piness. ] worried every minute and
couldn't sleep or eat. l never knew if
the officers were after me, but | was
afraid of every man | met or that looked
at me. When / walked along the street
/ expected every instant to have a hand
placed on my shoulder. Then I kept
thinking of my wife in Texas and L
well. simply couldn't stand it any
is the first hours happiness I've had since
escaped from the prison, and it's the
first time I've breathed, easy. | want to
get back to begin my sentence as quickly
as l can, so that l will be free as soon
as possible and be able to join my wife
again. and be among my friends
THE killing was all a mistake but it
is horrible thought to know that you
killed a man for il. l want to atone
for It."