The Star And Newark Advertiser

James Fitzsimmons, Vowing to Kill Executive for Putting Him in Asylum Eleven Years Ago, Escapes to Wreak Vengeance.

"TAKE HIM DEAD OR ALIVE!" IS POLICE ORDER:

LUNATIC WRITES CHIEF OF CONTEMPLATED DEED

Declaring that he would kill Governor Fort on sight, James Fitzsimmons, an escaped maniac, was today ordered taken to Newark police headquarters, dead or alive.

Every police station in the city was notified by Chief of Police Corbitt to send out all men with the description of Fitzsimmons, and if apprehended to watch him closely, as he was considered a desperate character.

All detectives were sent out to the vicinity of 287 New street, where Fitzsimmons is known to have taken refuge after escaping from the Morris Plains Asylum last Monday.
In a letter to Chief Corbitt which has just been received, Fitzsimmons asks for immunity from arrest by the police until he "can collect the money which Judge Fort has robbed me of or until I can kill him."

Governor Tells of Threats.

Governor Fort only two weeks ago expressed a strong fear of Fitzsimmons. On that occasion he was passing through the Morris Plains asylum, and when he saw Fitzsimmons mingling with the other patients he expressed surprise, and ordered Fitzsimmons locked in a cell. The Governor said that the man had repeatedly threatened to kill him, and if he were permitted to escape he feared he would try to carry out his threat.

Fitzsimmons was sent to the asylum eleven years ago by Governor Fort when he was a judge. At that time Fitzsimmons claimed that Judge Fort had ruled against him and had taken away from him an estate to which he was rightfully entitled and that Judge Fort was withholding money belonging to him.

He bothered Judge Fort so persistently that the judge had him arrested and committed him to the Morris Plains Insane Asylum.

Sure Would-Be Assassin Is Here.

Despite the orders of Governor Fort, given two weeks ago to have Fitzsimmons confined in a cell, he was able to escape last Monday. He came directly to Newark, and since then he has been causing the authorities more trouble than a jail full of prisoners.

He was finally located in a house on New street, opposite the county jail, and the head keeper at Morris Plains and several detectives went there on Thursday, heavily armed, to capture him. Fitzsimmons heard that they were coming and he escaped.

That he is still in Newark is indicated by the postmark on the letter which he sent to Chief Corbitt.

Governor Fort went to North Carolina a week ago on a hunting trip and is not expected back for another week. In the meantime the police and other authorities are bending every nerve to recapture the man who has declared he would kill the Governor.