The Portland daily press., 1881-08-13
A Sketch of Fuller's Career.

The Associated Press yesterday telegraphed
that by the request of Boston parties, Sheriff
Vose of Machias arrested Captain Mosher of
the Western Sea, and Gardner f. Fuller, the
supercargo, Thursday night and lodged them
In Machias Jail. The vessel is in charge of
the customs authorities and was towed to Ma
chias yesterday. Eight hands are on board
the bark. The crew consists of eight men,
mostly foreigners Mosher says they were
bound for Biddeford but the mate says they
were bound for Liverpool. The Boston Herald
yesterday gave the following sketch of Fuller,
the supercargo. Gardner f. Fuller, now of
Machias, late of Boston, was born in Charles
town, about forty years ago, and figured as
Sunday school superintendent there as recent
ly as in 1868. In 1864 he opened an Office on
Washington street, Boston, ostensibly as
publisher, but really, it is believed, for the
sale of obscene literature. He left Boston sud-
denly to AVOID arrest. He next turned up I'M
der arrest in New York city, where he had
purchased large quantity of wine, which was
to be shipped to Australia and to be sold by
firm there, of which he was the agent. He
never paid for the wine. He escaped from
custody by knocking down the arresting off
Ger, and then travelled through the country,
living on his wits, and finally brought up in
South America.
Fuller next appeared in St. Louis in the
commission business. He stayed in that city
just twenty-eight days. but in that time pur-
chased an immense quantity of goods on cred
it, and sold the same for $4,000 cash, with
which he decamped For these goods Fuller
gave his personal notes, and when these fell
due he was in another part of tho country.
From st. Louis, Fuller went to Havana, and
thence to Providence, r. I. After he left St.
city employed several eastern officers to look
out for him. Deputy Sheriff Riley of Attle-
boro, Mass, finally tracked Fuller to Proyi-
dence, where the scoundrel appeared as one of
the firm of Gardiner & Co." Fuller was
found to comprise the whole firm in himself,
and the deputy sheriff finally, after much
trouble, arrested him, but he compromised in
some way and subsequently went to Swanzey,
where. it is understood, he had an in
terest in an illicit distillery.
He afterwards went to California, where he
was engaged in the commission business, and
was SO successful sthat he ultimately left the
Golden Gate with $150,000 of other peoples
money in his possession. He next appeared in
China, where his California 'friends" endeav-
Ored to have him arrested, but without sue
cess, as he escaped afrom that country before
the necessary papers touching his identity and
extradition reached there. The next heard of
him he was under arrest in Paris France, for
obtaining by false pretences quantity of BIZ
cycles, which he sold appropriating the pro-
ceeds to his own use. He served a term of
imprisonment for this offense, and, after his
release early in 1878, he again returned to this
country, but continued his old tricks. In
June or July of that year he opened a preten-
tious store at 101 Chauncey street, Boston, I'M
der the firm name of 81. M. Hatfield & Co. of
st. Louis. Fuller claimed to be a member
and representative of this firm, which was to
deal heavilyin drugs in the eastern market
cies telegraphed to st. Louis to ascertain who
Hatfield was, and were assured that he was
all right. This gave the firm of Hatfield &
Co. a rating, and the result was that Fuller as
representative of the firm. obtained credit
which he was not slow to use to his advan-
tage. Many Epersons from whom Fuller had
made purchases finally became suspicious, and
the service of detective was engaged. The
officer found that the stock in the store had
been mortgaged for 1886. Hatfield had new
er been seen at the store, and no letters had
been received or sent out Of the store bearing
that address, The officer further found that
Fuller had forged lease of the place. using
the name of Joseph Benari, and Fuller's ar
rest was contaminated just as he was about to
cart OFT the goods in the store, which embraced
more than dozen heavy team loads. This
property was thus saved by those from whom
it had been purchased. After the arrest Full
Ter proclaimed himself innocent of any intent
to defraud, and averred that he was induced
to open the store by man giving the name of
Hatfield, whom he met on the steamer COM
ing from France.
again escaped the punishment he so richly de-
served, and, after keeping shady for some
time. turned up to ensare Mr.. Goodnow as his
next victim.