Evening journal., 1913-09-30

guished, the boy wrote his last low |
ing message 10 his mother.
Scrawled across the dirty yellow
paper, the spelling bad and the writ
ing barely readable were the few
words that will long be remembered
by many:
ITO My Mother Dear Mother do
not worry about me. l am better off
ded, ] will have no moor misry.
am going TO CONT suicide. They will
never take me back alive. Goodby,
loving son. HOMER"
Risk TO Get Photo.
The story Of the visit by Virgins
to the Eighth street studio 20 have his
picture taken for his mother. reveals
the extent OF the risk he would run
to accomplish his ends.
On Thursday, September II. with
the police OF this and other cities hot
on his trail, Virgins walked into the
studio OF George Chandler. S2s Arch
street, and requested the photograph
er to make portrait-sized photo
graph Of him and send II to his moth
er. AT that time he gave his name
as II. Wells. and requested that the
proof be sent to him at the Whining
ton address.
ION the following day" said Mr..
Chandler. detectives came into the
studio and told me that the man
was Virgins. I gave them all the
on until yesterday one or more de-
tectives shadowed my place in the
hope that he might return I made
-
given. On September rs I received
letter from Wells, instructing me
to send on the picture which ] did.
on September "a. He had paid for It
in advance"
Mr.. Chandler said that Virgins did
not seem the least nervous or APP
prehensive in the studio.
"IIe was rather we'll dressed and
spoke In a low and rather pleasing
voice." said Mr. Chandler. There
was no prison pallor in his face,
nor in fact anything about him that
might suggest an escaped convict. He
was an easy subject TO pose. carrying
out Immediately any suggestion 7
made. He might have been any kind
Of a business man"
Chief OF Police Black was only a
few hours behind Virgins when he
had his picture taken. The chief
then secured proof Of the new photo
graph. II is believed that Virgins,
knowing that capture was inevitable.
had decided to commit suicide before
falling into the hands of the police.
He told Taylor. his fellow fugitive.
that he would kill himself before he
would be taken alive.
Cried After Mothers Visit.
The news OF Virgins tragic death
did not come as a surprise to the
lwardens OF the Eastern Penitentiary.
from which he escaped a little over
month ago. From statements made
I by tho wardens. they did not expec;
ito see him back alive. feeling sure
that he would commit suicide rather
than be confined again
Virgins was known as "crybaby'
at the prison He would weep for
days following visit from his
mother. and was derided by his 'fel
low conyicts. Charles Taylor thu
icellmate of Virgins was the only on
who became a close friend of tn
youth. Taylor a professional burglar
with a long record OF crimes. surrcnd
cred without word 10 the detectives
while Virgins. practically youni
boy compared TO the older convict
fought an hour-long battle with tn
pOlicc and then blew out his owl
Z brains rather than submit to capture
The mean feature Of this lies in thu
fact that while Wiggins stood by hi
comrade 10 the end the burglar. sftcl
lbeins caught. gave the youth away e
tho detectives. telling them of the tat
too marks by which they Nigh
identify him. and also that he SPOKE
.of Fourth and Shipley streets. Vii
lmingion. as a favorable meeting place
Nothing Virgins could have dom
would have surprised me" was tn
comment OF Robert McKenty, wardel
at the Eastern PenitentiarS vester
day
Virgins was a thoroughly desper
ate and bad youth" Mr.. McKenty add
Cd II never expected 10 sec hin
back here. for felt certain he woul'
commit suicide before he would return
10 prison He was one OF those mel
who simply cannot do time. Eve
while he was here he tried TO commi
suicide by hanging. He was like
wild animal that will die rather thai
be Gagged.
81 knew. as reasonably we'll as
man could know anything. that Wig
gins was the man who robbed tn
cashier IN the car barn robbery 4
Wilmington. The cashier rememhere
only one thing about the robber--tha
he held the revolver IN his left hanC
Virgins was left handed-he coul
scarcely do anything with his righ
hand. How many stick up men d
you suppose would hold a gun Wit
the left hand.
Virgins was a stick-up' pure an
simple. Tie murdered only when he Wa
interfered with in his work OF robbinl
lie was not really 4 killer, but whc
he had killed he became desperate. II
had done other jobs besides the car bar
robbery since his escape.
"1he tragedy in Wilmington was III
result OF information ] sent the vi
mington police. ! had furnished thel
/ with every tip or bit OF information
/, got about him. The lodging hou'
where he died was one of the places
had mentioned while in the penitel
, tisry as place where he could 'hsr
/ out Naturally tho Wilmington poli'
+. have been watching It.
4 There was something in Niggii
: over which he had no control wi
/ strain OF some lIind-that simply Won
5 not let him remain in confinement.
Il had 10 be free and it he couldn't
I free he must die. There arc such me
as every prison warden knows and Wi
t,~ro