People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1893 — BACK TO PRISON. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BACK TO PRISON.

>a*itlva Latimer Captared * Few Mlle* from Jackson—He Used PruMlo Acid to Polson His Guards. Jacksox. Mich., March 29.—Latimer was captured at about 10 o’clock Tuesday night at Jerome, a small village ia Hillsdale county. He went in Jo a store to buy a pair of shoes and was recognized. when he rushed out and down the railroad track. The frightened proprietor of the store at once recognized Latimer, and ran from the building, shouting the fact that the murderer was in his store, and calling on the people to help capture him. In a minute the church bells rang and people turned out en masse, armed with every conceivable weapon from a rifle to a carving knife. Latimer made a break for liberty, bnt was overpowered by the crowd in the street after a desperate struggle and was soon after taken In charge by the village marshal. The constable at Jerome and a strong guard started with their prisoner across country in a wagon for Jackson. The news of the capture created intense excitement here. The sheriff has been apprised of the news, which has also

Oeen received at the prison, whose doors will be wide open to receive the matricide, and it is thought he will not escape again. The inquest on the death of Gatekeeper George Haight was resumed at the prison Tuesday morning- The entire forenoon was taken Up in the examination of Charles E. Rice, the keeper, who was arrested Monday and released. Haight died from the effects of prussla acid. That fact is settled. Dr. E. L. Kimball, who took the two vials found in the sink, as well as the stomach, to Ann Arbor for analysis, came home Tuesday morning. He declared that both bottles contained prussic acid. Tuesday afternoon it was discovered where Ratimer purchased the poison. The first vial was obtained last Saturday from E. T. Webb’s drug store, having been ordered from New York some time before. The first vial was purchased some months ago. Evidently Latimer did not find it to his liking, for when the order was sent in for the second vial it was a kind more carefully prepared and not kept in drug stores in Jackson. The firm refused to fill the order. “I thought,” said Mr. Webb., “it was dangerous to fill such orders and did not do so. The clerk of the prison came in himself and said it was all right. He said Latimer wanted the prussic acid to develop some photographic plates, and I then ordered the vial from New York and it came last Saturday and I sent it down there.” “Did you know it was for Latimer?” “Yes, the prison clerk said so and we are obliged to fill any orders sanctioned that way.”

At the inquest on the body of George Haight, who was poisoned by Latimer, Charles E. Rice, night watchman, and the most important witness, was the first to testify. In substance he told the story of Sunday night’s occurrences just as Iras been narrated in these dispatches. He was followed by Guard Archie A Robson, who said: ••On S unday night at 11 o’clock I signaled Mr. Haight In the guard room and he answered the signal; at 11:30, when I stepped up to give the signal, I saw quite a number rushing around in the guard room. 1 also saw that the door of the west wing was open, which was unusual. I have frequently seen Latimer hand cups of tea, cocoa or beef tea to Mr. Haight through the bars; did not see him. do so that evening. Rice came downstairs and told me that Latimer had got away. Gill stated in my presence that he gave the keys to Guard Rice and sent him and Latimer to see what was the matter with Haight 1 thought from what I saw that his actions regarding sickness were artificial. Within five minutes after that he was walking around downstairs apparently well, but much excited. •‘Latimer has been out of his cell very frequently nights for the last two weeks ana other convicts were taken with him to the new conference room, where Latimer was trying to get the convicts to contribute toward a present for Capt Gill, whose time was supposed to be nearly out Latimer was frequently out for two or three hours in the morning. A week previous to the murder Latimer was out and Gill said he was going to have a lunch. I objected to his being out and was ordered to lock him up. The warden was in the captain’s office at that time. After the warden went to his apartments Gill got the key of me, unlocked Latimer and took him to his office.” Capt. Gill was on Tuesday arraigned before Justice Palmer en a warrant sworn out by Warden Davis, charging him with unlawfully and feloniously allowing R. Irving Latimer to escape from the prison. He demanded an examination, which was set for Friday morning at 9 o’clock. His bail was fixed at 81,000 and he is still in jail. As the circumstances surrounding Latimer’s bold deed gradually come to light a strong chain of evidence showing convincing proof of the existence of a plot to permit him to obtain his freedom is being woven. This chain already encircles M. P. Gill, captain of the night force, and is being drawn tighter every hour.

J. IRVING LATIMER.