Fitzpatrick became well known for acts of reckless bravado. He frequently taunted local officials and law officers who attempted to arrest him, often by ambushing and robbing them. On one occasion, he reportedly attended, in disguise, a meeting called by a local assembly to devise plans for his own capture. After one militia captain present at the meeting repeatedly announced that he intended to see Fitzpatrick and then bring him to justice, Fitzpatrick asked the captain to meet with him alone in another room, whereupon Fitzpatrick revealed his true identity, robbed him, tied his victim's hands behind him with his own handkerchief, and told him "Now sir, you may go back to your friends and tell them that you wanted to see Captain Fritz and you have seen him."