Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-04-06
La Cambe, Notorious Bandit
and Murderer Climbs to
Roof Of Prison Where He
Perches for Two Hours,
TALKS WITH LAWYER
OF UNFORTUNATE LIFE
Last Words Are Of His Mother,
Before Leaping Head-fore-
most to Stones Far Below
Body is Crushed,
opy Morning Journal special Leased wIre)

lNNJ ~ ~ 0NliNAA
tBy Morning Journal special Leased wire)
Paris. April 5.--La Combe. a mo-
torious anarchist bandit and murd-
ercr committed suicide today by
jumping from the roof OF the prison
de Ia sante. His leap to death was
witnessed by all the prison officials
and guards. by La Combe's lawyer,
the prosecuting attorney. and the
Judge who had committed him TO the
prison All these spectators had been
summoned by telephone during the
two hours that La Combe stood at the
edge OF the roof, arguing with the
wardens who sought TO persuade him
to return TO his cell
la Comhe was awaiting trial on the
charge Of assasslnatng NJ. Ducret, ed
itor OF the newspaper Lldee Liber.
He was charged also with numbering
several other persons In various parts
OF France.
lie had been arrested I'm Paris on
March nth. after the police through
out France had sought him for seve-
raj months. A mob tried TO lynch him
while he was on his way 10 the po-
lice station.
lie was known as one OF the most
desperate criminals in the country
and during his Incarceration confess
ed 20 the murder of Ducret admitted
killing a postmaster at Bczons and a
railroad cashier al Les Auhrais, near
orleans. A special guard was kept on
him IN jain and even during his daily
hour Of exercise he WAS watched
closely.
This morning while Ia Comhe was
talking with his lawyer in an en-
closed court yard inside the prison,
his guards stood few yards away,
suddenly La Combe. who was an ALL
round athlete and a professional per-
former OF feats Of strength. at county
fairs. sprang forward and grasped the
lower rungs of an iron ladder leading
TO the upper part OF the building. lie
had climbed past tier after tier Of
cells and had mounted swiftly To the
roof before the guards recovered from
their surprise.
A dozen wardons passed through
the prison and onto the roof by trap
doors, gradually surrounding him on
three sides tie threatened 70 throw
himself down and the guards hesitat-
ed to approach
A singular conversation then took
place between La Combe. the exam
ing judge and the prosecuting attor-
ney, who had been telephoned for.
La Combe's attorney Georges
Boucheron, and others, gathered on
a balcony overlooking that part Of
the roof where La Combc was stand
ing.
MAGISTRATE Drioux called on la
Combe to surrender.
at is TOO late 1 have finished,
he replied
La Combe then complained of the
food provided for him aud the lack Of
heat IN his cell. The prison warden
shouted to him that he himself would
see that his desires were supplied.
"Too late" La Combe replied. 1T
is finished
He then said he would Ike to talk
to Boueheron. who thereupon climbed
down. approached La combe, shook
hands with him and talked for half
an hour.
Now and then wiping tears from his
eyes La Combe begged Boucheron tol
look after his mother and grandmoth-
er. Trembling with excitement he
continued:
IL was thrown on the world when
was years old. ! tried to do honest
work, but fate followed me-
Firemen and policemen meanwhile
had gathered on the roof of the pri-
son, preparing to capture La Combe
who stil stood poised on the edge Of
the roof Two hours had passed since
he clamored up During his talk with
his lawyer, prisoners in adjacent cells
overheard scraps Of the conversation
and shouted: "Hurrah for anarchy
~ Boucheron urged La Comhe tol
be reasonable, but the anarchist
glancing at clock in a church steeple
which pointed to HIPS. said
"At half past IL an will be finish
ed
At that hour. raising his hand to
his forehead In salute. he shouted'
"lt IS the moment Tell my mother
that my last thought was Of her. Fare
WehN
lie then Jumped like a diver to the
stone court yard far below and was