The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-22
THE DETECTIVE MUDDLE.
The Barring. .Mcsweeuey Agency Present
q stack Of Affidavits.

THE DETECTIVE MUDDLE.
The Barring .McSweeuey Agency Present
Q stack Of Affidnvits.
In reply to the affidavits of Edward
Fulnwdder, setting forth that he had
been induced by Barring and McSwee-
ney TO see Frank Shaffer. the negro un-
der arrest for blowing up the Hun
garian shanty In the mountain cut-oH'
and that he had induced Shaffer to deny
his confession to Detective O'brien, the
Barring agency yesterday submitted a
bundle of afiidavlts to the contrary.
The first is that OF BILLY" Baur. de-
tective on the BarringM McSweeney
force. He says that McSweeney in
structed him to go to Pittston ana
bring Ed. Fulnwider to Scranton for an
interview. He found Fulnwider. who
accompa MED him to Scranton as per
request Of Mr.. McSweeney. Mr.. Baur
swore that while In Fulnwider's COM
pany he (Baur) did not make any propo-
sitlons to contradict any statements
made by him with regard to the crime
known as the mountain murder. and
did not request Fullwider TO go and
interview Frank Shafrer. to induce
them to contradict previous statements
made by them concerning this case;
that the statement as made by FUN
wider and charging deponent with hav-
ing done this, are false in every par
ucukr.
The second affidavit Is that of George
NJ. Shoemaker. who swore that he was
present at the interview between Da-
mel .McSweeney and Ed. Fulnwider.
and took down in shorthand the state
ment made by Fulnwider to McSwee-
ney. The statement made at that time
Uanuary. 1885 by Fulnwider was to
the effect that the cut-off murder was
committed by colored men named Scott
Jones, George johnson and George
Smith. That Jones had told him Fuln-
wideO that he had broken into Sayer &
McDonald's tool chest and took some
dynamite and battery wires and used
them to blow up the Hungarian shanty.
After doing so threw the battery into
the creek. Fulnwider said Johnson and
Smith were at Hoosic Falls and that
he went in search of Scott Jones and
found him in Scranton, Pa, and
brought him to Barring & McSwee-
nsy's Office. Jones denied all knowledge
Of the crime, whereupon Fulnwider ac-
knowledged that he had been lying.
The last affidavit. a very lengthy one,
was that Of Daniel McSweeney. of the
firm OF Barring & McSweeney. He sets
forth the interview with Fulnwider. as
given In Mr.. Shoemakers affidavit, and
further swsars that the man Fulnwider
is notorious liar. and always had that
reputation among his own people. and.
after Jones denied the murder, FUN
wider admitted to the deponent that he
was lying when he accused William
Jones OF the crime. Mr.. McSweeney
saw Fufnwider again on June II. 1895,
and inquired II he had seen Frank
Shaeffer. Fulnwider said Shaeffer
came to him and said that he had had
trouble with Nelse Miller and was 60
ing to tell sonnet thing about him. Shar-
fer also said that he and James and
Nelse Miller and George Jordan blew
up the Hungarian shanty. McSweeney
conducted the balance of Fulnwider's
examination as follows:
q. How did you know It was at that
time?
A. Because he told me at that time
about 1t.
Q. Where has shafrer been all this
time?
A. He has lived near me at Mrs.
Cobbs. He is a bad negro.
Q.Who did you inform about It?
A. told no one. but advised Frank
Shaffer to give himself up. and tell the
officers about 1t and would go light with
him.
Q. So you have told no one about this
matter until now?
A. No SIR.
q. Did you tell your wife?
A. No sir.
Q. 30 you did not know how It was
learned that Frank Shafrer would make
& statement?
A. No. SIR, I did not. All I know about
II Is that the officers called at my house
last Monday In search Of him.
Q. You made a statement to me last
January that you believed John Bird
knew nothing about II.
A. believe that John Bird does not
know anything about it.
Q. Do you remember what you said to
me when interviewed you before?
A. Yes, SIR.
Q. You lied to me at that time. and you
admitted that you told me lies, did you
not:
A. Yes, sir.
=. Did you tell me that William Scott
hsd told you that he had helped to blow
up the shsnty?
A. Yes. sir.
Q. And you knew It was lie. and you
cried about It?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And whom you were brought face to
race with Scott you admitted that 1t was
. lie?
A. Yes, sir.
Mr.. McSweeney's afYidavit closes with
statement that he made no overtures
or offers Of money to Fulnwider for the
purpose Of getting him to testify in
the case. but simply wanted to get at