New-York tribune., 1921-02-28
Mrs. Alice t. Lattimer Is
Arrested by Syracuse
T Pol &c 6 for Larceny
as She Steps From Ship
Left Her Patient
For Florida Trip
Authorities Also Report.
ed to Have Found Poi.
son i'm Food i'm Home

Mrs. Alice t. Lattimer, a trained
! nurse, who has been spending a month
IN Florida, was arrested on board the
steamer Arapahoe, of the Clyde Line,
when that boat tied up to her pier at
the foot of Charlton Street last night.
The nurse was arrested by Detective
Thomas j. Lynch, Of the Syracuse Po-
ice department, on charge of grand
larceny, issued in that city, and was
taken to Syracuse on late train last
night.
AS the Arapahoe was late in docking
the detective frc1n Syracuse, who was
accompanied by Detective Daniel Car
bone, from Police Headquarters here,
| had been waiting for hours to make the
arrest. AS the boat swung past
Pier SO the two men jumped on board
and were directed to Mrs. Lattimer's
stateroom. The nurse expressed no
surprise when presented with the war
rant She explained to the detectives
that she had received mysterious
wireless yesterday which warned her
to beware and that trouble was ahead.
She said that this radiogram was
signed simply "A Friend in Syracuse"
After being arrested, Mrs. Lattimer
to the Charles Street police station,
where she was questioned at length
It could not be learned what the de-
| tectives questioned her. about. She was
taken to Syracuse on the HAS train
last night.
Attended an Invalid
Mrs. Lattimer, until she left for
Florida month ago, had been attend
ing Mrs. Ruth Crawford, y-eight
years old, an invalid widow of SYRIA
cuse.
Mrs. Crawford, while under the care
of Mrs. Lattimer it is charged, has
been completely cut off from all her
relatives and friends. 1t mas recently
developed that during this year Mrs
Crawford has suffered considerably
and that she has been strapped fiat on
| her back in bed the greater part of
the time.
When Mrs. Lattimer left for her So
journ in the South, her patient was
placed in charge of Mrs. Cora Lamson,
assistant to Mrs. Lattimer during the
last year. According to Mrs. Lamson,
Mrs. Lattimer gave her the strictest
orders before leaving for Florida in
regard to keeping the patient strapped
to her bed.
Say They Found Poison
Last Friday the Rev. Elman A.
Jaynes, pastor of Trinity Episcopal
| Church, decided to make an effort to
see Mrs. Crawford. When he failed he
communicated with the police and ex-
plained to them that he was afraid
everything was not right in the house.
Detectives were sent to the house and
made thorough search.
According to reports, it is said that
these detectives seized a quantity of
food in the kitchen which, on examina-
ton, was said to be poisoned. 1t is also
by Mrs. Crawford's bed which con-
tanned poison, chloral hyslrate.
After thorough examination Of the
house, servants and friends made GER
tain sworn statements to the police,
which have nNs been made public, but
which are believed to bear directly on
the condition in which the patient was
found.
Investigation Of. court records, it is
said, showed that Mrs. Crawford for
mally decided her Emma Street home to
Mrs. Lattimer, at the samo time exc
cutting power of attorney. 1t was
known that Mrs. Crawford inherited a
large estate few years ago.
1t is reported that detectives who
were working on the case also discov-
cred that Mrs. Lattimer had made ar
rangements with an undertaken Of
Syracuse for Mrs. Crawford's burial in
case she died before her return,
Mrs. Lattimer, doctors who were at
gagged to stay at the Emma Street home
and take care of Mrs. Crawford for $1s
week. Mrs. Crawford was confined
to her bed for period of seventy-six
weeks, during which Mrs. Lattimer told
all friends who called to see her that
Mrs. Crawford was too i'll to receive
visitors.
Mrs. Cora Lamson, Mrs. Lattimer's
assistant. when questioned by the
police, said that on the numerous oc-
casions on which she had attempted to
loosen the straps which held Mrs.
Crawford fiat on her back. she was re-
buked by Mrs Lattimer.
SYRACUSE, N. Y, Feb. 27.-District
Attorney Frank Malpass of Onondaga
County announced here tonight that
he would submit evidence to the grand
jury tomorrow in connection with al
legged mistreatment of Mrs. Ruth Craw-
ford an aged woman, whom Mrs. Alice
T. Lattimer, arrested in New York to-
night on grand larceny charge, is said
I to have attended as q nurse for some
| time.
| Police officials declare Mrs. Crawford
has complained that she was kept in
bed for more than three years, al
though in good health and against her
! protests. Chemical analysis of medi-
| cine taken from a bottle in the room
/ of the aged woman revealed traces Of
/ poison, authorities declare
Revolt A.,ainsf Soviet