After his playing career ended, Latimer became a police officer with the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1924, after a dispute with another police officer, Latimer shot him four times in the back, killing him. Latimer was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. He received a pardon in 1930 for his heroism during a prison break.
Early life
Clifford Wesley Lattimer was born in Loveland, Ohio, on November 30, 1875, to John Wesley and Nora (née McAdams) Lattimer. At some point, his name was changed to "Latimer".[1] He began playing baseball with the Cincinnati Gymnasium Club, where he attracted the attention of scouts.[2]
Though Latimer signed with the Giants for the 1899 season,[10] he began the season with Dayton.[11] He signed with the Youngstown Little Giants of the Interstate League in May.[12]Buck Ewing, the manager of the National League's Cincinnati Reds, offered to sign Latimer on a trial basis,[13] but Latimer refused unless the signing was permanent.[14] In September 1899, the Louisville Colonels of the National League purchased Latimer from Youngstown.[15] He played in nine games for Louisville, and batted .276 (8-for-29).[16]
Latimer began the 1902 season with the Atlanta Firemen of the Southern Association.[32] In August, he suffered a broken finger,[33][34][35] and was released by Atlanta because he refused to play for half pay while injured.[36] He signed with the Brooklyn Superbas of the National League.[37][38] He played in eight games for Brooklyn, batting 1-for-24 (.042),[39] before Brooklyn's manager, Ned Hanlon, furloughed him for the remainder of the season.[40]
During Latimer's playing, he served as a part-time scout for the teams he played for in the minor leagues.[63] He scouted for the Reds while Clark Griffith was their manager, after his playing career ended.[64] Latimer became a full-time scout for the Pirates, and the Society for American Baseball Research has credited him with discovering Bob Vail and George Suggs.[1] He may have also discovered Red Faber,[1] and some contemporary sources credited him with finding Rube Waddell.[2]
Latimer served under Charles Mackrodt, a lieutenant with the Pennsylvania Railroad's police. They were friends, until Mackrodt was dismissed from the force. Mackrodt blamed Latimer for his dismissal. On November 26, 1924, Mackrodt confronted Latimer at the main intersection in Xenia, where Mackrodt allegedly threatened Latimer and challenged him to a fight in an alley.[66] When Mackrodt turned away, Latimer shot Mackrodt four times with a .38 caliberrevolver, killing him instantly.[67] One bullet struck Mackrodt in the side and three struck him in the back.[68] Latimer surrendered to police at the courthouse, which was across the street, and was charged with first-degree murder. He pled not guilty and was held without bond pending trial.[66][69]
In his trial, which began on December 29, 1924,[68] Latimer claimed that he shot Mackrodt in self-defense, saying that Mackrodt had threatened him previously and had shot at him on a previous occasion.[70] Latimer also claimed that he did not shoot at Mackrodt until he put his hand into his pocket. Mackrodt had been carrying a pocketknife. Among the character witnesses called by the defense was Bob Ewing, a former teammate of Latimer's who was serving as sheriff of Auglaize County.[68]
The jury convicted Latimer of second-degree murder on December 31, 1924, and was sentenced to life in prison at the Ohio State Penitentiary on January 5, 1925.[71][72] He decided not to appeal the verdict.[73] During his incarceration, Latimer was considered a model prisoner. He was made a trusty and managed the prison's baseball team.[1]
Pardon
On November 8, 1926, a gang of 13 prisoners attacked the guards as they attempted to break out of the Ohio State Penitentiary. Latimer and other trusties assisted the guards with capturing the escaped prisoners.[74][75] On April 21, 1930, a fire broke out that killed 322 prisoners. During the ensuing chaos, Latimer was given a shotgun and he stood guard overnight.[76]
By May 1929, friends of Latimer began petitioning GovernorMyers Y. Cooper to pardon Latimer.[1][77] Cooper issued a pardon for Latimer on December 24, 1930.[78]
Latimer's first wife, Lottie, filed for divorce in 1926, after 27 years of marriage.[80] They had three children together. He married Mildred Elizabeth Shawan on December 30, 1931, and they had a daughter in 1933.[1]
Latimer died of a heart attack at his home in Loveland on April 24, 1936.[2]
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