S13 E22 - The Perfect Alibi - The Murder of Mary H. Latimer & the Prison Escape That Killed Again

In January 1889, Jackson widow Mary H. Latimer was found murdered inside her home. Her only son, young druggist Robert Irving Latimer, appeared to have an extraordinary alibi: he was in Detroit, where hotel workers and others had seen him. But an unused hotel bed, railroad timetables, blood evidence and financial questions began telling another story.

Latimer's conviction was only the beginning. Months later came an explosive prison-break plot. Four years later came poisoned food, cyanide-laced lemonade, the death of Deputy Gate Keeper George W. Haight and a successful escape from Michigan State Prison. Then, after forty-six years behind bars, came something almost unimaginable—a full pardon.

#MaliceInTheMitten #HistoricalTrueCrime #JacksonMichigan #MaryLatimer #GeorgeHaight

Written, edited, hosted and produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Christine Mulligan

Original music created exclusively for Malice in the Mitten by Tracy Preston

Original artwork by Todd Preston

Sources:

Buhk, Tobin T. Pardonable Matricide: Robert Irving Latimer, from Michigan’s “Most Dangerous Inmate” to Free Man. McFarland & Company, 2019. The book is a major modern reconstruction of Captain Jack Boyle’s investigation and Latimer’s later prison history.

“Her Son Arrested for the Murder.” Michigan historical newspaper archive, Jan. 1889. Clinton County Archives. Contemporary account of Mary H. Latimer's murder, discovery of her body, family finances, Irving's Detroit alibi and arrest.

“Latimer Murder Trial.” Michigan historical newspaper archive, May 1889. Clinton County Archives. Contemporary defense summation discussing the blood evidence, revolver allegation, railroad evidence and state's circumstantial case.

“Irving Latimer on Trial.” The Galveston Daily News, 3 May 1889. Portal to Texas History. Contemporary report of Latimer's testimony and cross-examination.

Buchanan Record. 4 July 1889. Buchanan District Library. Contemporary report noting the jury's extremely short deliberation and Latimer's life sentence.

“A Plot to Blow Up a Prison.” The Morning News, 27 Aug. 1889. Georgia Historic Newspapers. Contemporary reporting on the Hercules-powder escape scheme at Michigan State Prison.

Buchanan Record. 17 Apr. 1890. Buchanan District Library. Contemporary report describing Latimer's imprisonment and his statement concerning life confinement.

“Breaks Jail.” The Galveston Daily News, 4 Apr. 1893. Portal to Texas History. Period reporting on Latimer's prison privileges, poisoned lemonade, George Haight's death and escape.

Michigan Department of Corrections. “Deputy Gate Keeper George W. Haight—Michigan State Prison at Jackson.” State of Michigan. Official memorial history of Haight's line-of-duty death and service. Note: its description of Mary's cause of death conflicts with contemporary 1889 evidence.

Michigan Corrections Organization. “Fallen Officers.” MCO. Biographical information regarding Haight, his family and the Latimer escape.

“Odds and Ends.” The Lowell Ledger, 2 May 1935. Kent District Library Digital Archives. Contemporary report announcing Latimer's full pardon on the forty-sixth anniversary of his imprisonment.

Salisbury, Danielle. “CO Trying to Add Officer to Memorial 120 Years After Death.” MLive, reproduced by Corrections1, 2 Dec. 2013. Reporting on Jeff Reasoner's effort to restore George Haight to Michigan corrections history.

Michigan Department of Corrections. “Highway Dedicated for Fallen Corrections Professionals.” Corrections Connection, Sept. 2020. State documentation of the George W. Haight Memorial Highway dedication.

State Bar of Michigan. “First to Abolish the Death Penalty.” Michigan Legal Milestones. History of Michigan's 1846 abolition legislation and its 1847 effective date.