Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-11-03
BROTHER CONFESSED.
Results In The Pardon of
An Innocent Man.
SENTENCED FOR NINE YEARS
Thought by Many to Have Been Too
Heavy Even Had He Been Guilty.

Boston, Nov 3 The pardon committee
Of the executive council recommended the
granting Of "A pardon to William L. III.
Tucker, serving "A nine-ycar sentence at
the state prison. Warden Lowering, who
pleaded so ernestly for Tucker before the
committee, 'rred the news of the parlo
NJ the prisoner yesterday afternoon.
Tucker was taken before the committee
yesterday, when he prayed that he be re.
leased from captivity because OF his entire
innocence OF the crimes for which he was
imprisoned. lie was sentenced for lar
cenes commit ted in Andover, and he said
that they were all committed by his
brother, who is now serving sentence in
the state prison.
William ii. Tucker clgimed he suffered
for a crime he never committed. The his
tory of the case is repl ts with interest,
Involving rs it does the lives of two
brothers now behind the bars at Charles
town.
George and william II. Tucker were
born and brought up In Andover The
former il 80 wears II age and William Is
about ~. From the biographies of the
two IL would appear that the younger
ssheep Of the 'amily. RObberies and petty
larcenies made him not torious IN and about
his home, and society, as it existed la
those parts, sllghtrd him and preferred
his absence At its gatherings.
Both Brothers Sentenced.
william, on the contrary, though no
great int, was no great sinner either.
His record was far freer than his wayN ard
l.. A. -
own genius in an event occurred to y ard
the close of the year 1889 that brought
them together and has kept them so ever
since.
Various larc,nies had been committed
about that time. George had disappeared
for "A period. He was suspected. Ills
brothers premises were searched, and
some Of the stolen gods were found
Both were indicted Strange enough,
though Williams record had been com
parativey clean, ne was accounted com
mon aud noto thirf by Judge Sher-
man, aud in January, 1880, sentenced To
nine yea at state prison. George received
n l0year sentence for that. offense and
five in Cambridgc on anotheST They have
been incarcerat d ever since
William prote e,ted strongly aud accused
his brother as the guilty party. q rorge
accused William ia turn a. the sole male
factor Cirtaln circumstances in the case
attracted attention. Macy believed that
William wag innocent and that George
was simply sustaining his own reputation
Warden Lowering was firmly convinced
that he W is ga iriing an IunpCent man in
William II. Tucker and expressed himself
SO. The nature of the oifeuse, the magni-
tude of the sentence and strong protesta-
ton Of innoceuce prompted an investiga-
ton. While this investigation Was pend
ing Ge rye Tucker confessed that he, and
he alone, was the guilty party, and that
"Bi ly" had been wronged.
The Case Reviewed.
The case was referred to District At.
torney Moody, who reported To Governor
Russell as follows:
Upon assuming the Office of district attorney
In Jan airy, lSJO, found upon the files of the
court three indictments pending against Will
lam IL. Tucker. One charged him with the
larceny of certain tools. This Indictment
did not believe. c uld De sustained by the evil
dence and IL was mol pressed. The second, in
two counts, charged him with larceny of
overcoats, satchel and cartridges valued at
SIS, and other articles valued at so. To this
Tucker pleaded guilty
The third indictment charged him Jointly
with George A. Tucker In the first count for
breaking and entering the house Of Charles T.
johnson In the nighttime, and the second
count held him for the larceny In said house
OF clothing To the second count he pleaded
guilty, and Justice Sherman adjudged him "A
common and notorious thief aud sentenced
him TO Imprisonment for nine years. As to
the guilt OF w. IA. Tucker on the second count
have never heard any doubt.
On the third indictment each said the other
alone was guilty, but part OF the property
stolen was found sewed up in q bedtick in
William fuckers apartments Outside In .
wall near his house some stolen silver was
found secretsd. 1t was largely upon the pos
session Of this stolen property that the case
against your petitioner rested. So strenuously
did w. III. Tucker assert his innocence that
it was suggested that the indictment be
chan ed 10 one for receiving stolen property.
He, however, preferred TO plead guilty, say
ing that his brothers testimony would con-
vict him. am informed by the late warden
of state prison that he Is firmly convinced
that upon the last Indictment the petitioner In
guiltless. The written confession OF the
brother certainly tends TO sustain that view
Already served Time Enough.
He concludes by reminding the govern
and council that, without the last indict-
ment, the petitioner could not have been
sent to prison for 30 long term IA he has
already served, ~ It is more than an ade-
quate sentence TO- the other two larceDies
Lieutenant GDverror WOlcOtt presided
lester lay. Warden l. verinx went before
tn committee aud earnestly addressed the
mem ers IT. behalf OF the petitioner. He
lusIs ed that William ana George have
never he n togeth siuce they were over
there, and there mas been no cause for the
wiitten confession except the stricken
conscience of the younger.
Chaplain Barnes also put In a good word
for Tucker