The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-06
CONVICT DASHES
HIMSELF TO DEATH
Leaps to Stone Courtyard
From Roof Of
Prison.
WAS DESPERATE CRIMINAL
Lacombc, Bandit and Murderer,
Cheats Justice in Sensa-
tional Fashion.
WAS DESPERATE GRIMM

Paris April 5.-Lacombe, a notorious
anarchist. bandit and murderer. com
mitted suicide to-day by jumping from
His leap to death was witnessed by
all the prison officials and guards. by
Lacombe's lawyer, the prosecuting at
torney and the judge who had COM
mitted him TO the prison All these
spectators had been summoned by
telephone during the two hours that
Lacombe stood 1T the edge OF the roof
arguing with the wardens. who sought
to persuade him to return to his cell.
Lacombe was awaiting trial on the
charge of assassinating NJ. Ducret.
editor of the newspaper EIdee Libre.
He was also charged with numbering
several other people in various parts
OF France.
He had been arrested in Paris on
March II. after the police throughout
France had sought him for several
months A mob tried TO lynch him
while he was on the way to the police
station.
Committed Mnny Crimes.
He was known as one Of the most
desperate criminals in the country, and
during his incarceration confessed to
the murder of Ducret. admitted kill
ing a postmaster at Besons and a rail-
road cashier at Les Aubrais, near Or
| leans. \ special guard was kept on
him in Jail, and even during his daily
hour OF exercise he was closely
watched.
This morning. while Lacombe was
/ talking with his lawyer I'm an inclosed
courtyard inside the prison. his guards
stood few yards off. Suddenly La :
combe. who was an all-rcund athlete
and a professional performer of feats
! of strength at county fairs, sprang for
/ ward and grasped the lower rungs Of
an iron ladder leading to the upper
/ part of the building. He had climbed
past tier after tier of cells and had
1 mounted swiftly 20 the roof before the
! guards recovered from their astonish
| ment.
! \ dozen wardens passed through the
! prison and on to the roof by trap doors
gradually surrounding him on three
sides. He threatened TO throw him
self down and the guards hesitated &c
approach.
a singular conversation then toof
place between Lacombe. the examining
judge and the prosecuting attorney
who had been telephoned for
Lacombes lawyer, Georges Bouchi-
ron. and others, meanwhile gathered
on balcony overlooking that part OF
the roof where Lacombc was stand
ing. Magistrate Drioux called on La
combe to surrender
1T is TOO late. ! have finished" n,
replied.
I.acombe then complained of the fooc
provided for him and of the lack o
heat in his cell. The prison warde,
shouted to him that he himself wouI,
see that his desires were supplied.
TOO late" replied Lacombe. 1T i:
finished
Sheds Tears I'm Inst Moments.
He then said he would like to tall
to Bouchirop, who thereupon climbed
down, approached Lacombe. shool
hands with him, and talked with hin
for half an hour Now and then wip
ing tears from his eyes, Lacombt
begged Bouchiron to look after hi.
mother and grandmother. Trembling
with excitement, he continued:
II was thrown on the world wher
was seven years old. tried to dc
honest work. but fate followed me-"
NJ. Bouchiron urged Lacombe to b,
reasonable. but the anarchist, glancinr
at clock in church steeple, which
pointed at 11:2s. said:
AT half-past eleven all will be fin
ished," and at that hour. raising hi.
hand to his forehead in salute. ht
shouted:
1T is the moment Tell my mothe,
that my last thought was of her
Farewell"
He then jumped like diver to tn,
stone courtyard far below and wa.
dashed TO death