The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-07
FISHERS hIIBI.
His Whereabouts on the Day Of Rcick's
Murder.

He Tells a Connected and Plain story of
His Whereabouts on the Day Of Rcick's
Murder
The first witness in the celebrated
Reick murder case, yesterday morning,
was James Fisher, one of the accused
men. He was put on the stand sworn,
and then said he was born in Philadel-
pha twenty-seven years ago, and both
parents were still living in that city.
In 1887 he came to Wilkes-Barrc first
and worked in turn for the fruit houses
\ of Frauenthal and Broad. Going to
\ Scranton he was in BroGd's employ,
and returning went to work for w. j.
Marvel. also a fruit and fish dealer.
He knew Barney Reick very well, but
never had any dealings with him.
On Nov. II. 1898, the day OF Reick's
death, Fisher said he met Charles Clos
ser. one of Broad's employees, about
3 a. m. at the Square and East Market
street. He went with CLOSER to
Kingston. and after stopping at several
stores there, went to Edwardsviilc,
where he stopped at Astons grocery,
and then went to Plymouth, arriving
there about 10 a. m. While there, he
stopped at Fines grocery store and also
at several little stores on Main street.
Went to Mr.. Jones' store near the Bull
Run crossing and then to Creveling's
butcher store, where he sold a lot OF
oranges; also sold fruit in a confcc-
tionery store. Went next to company
store on Main stree. Went to James
store, Devers' grocery store. Stopped
at an Italian fruit stand on the corner.
Went next to Mr.. Davis store Davis
is one of the jurors) and tried to sell
him some lemons or oranges. Then he
went to another confectionery store
and also stopped at Jones & Chamber
Inns. Next he went to the Eley House
and sold some lemons, and. turning up
that corner street stopped at two stores
Then he came down to the Frantz
House, took the horse out of the wagon
and fed him and had dinner and regis
tered. This was about l o'clock. He
left there at 1.3O O'Clock and stopped at
two other Italians stands. CLOSER
was with him all the time. After leav-
ing Plymouth, went to West Nantlcoke
about o'clock, stopped at the COM
pany store and several other smaller
stores. Crossed to Nanticoke about
p. m. and saw Mr.. Bttenbender, the
blacksmith, to whom he sold bunch of
bananas. A constable met him and
asked if he had license. Witness said
he had not, but. after some talk, the
constable let him go, after Fisher had
promised TO come down and "fix it up
another day. Visited several other
places in Nanticohe and then came to
Wilkes-Barrc, arriving about $50
O'clock. When he Hot 10 Northampton
street, he drove up that street to Wash
insrr and UP here 90 Dr.. '<rwan's nf-
flee, where he got off the wagon. That
was about 6.45 O'Clock. Then he went
to Harry LIENS hotel on Market street.
Saw there Mr.. Liem, a young man
named Miller and Constable Jim Hill.
He had supper there and drank some
Z beer.
Left Harry LIENS about 7.3o to go to
the show at Music Hall. Miller came
with him. He went through the court
house yard and out West Market and
Franklin streets. Then lie went to
Steve Regan's place, the fruit and
oyster dealers. That was nearly 8
O'Clock. Talked with Steve and ate an
oyster stew. Then he came back and
went up North Washington street,
where he lived. He went into Jake
lIdHueT Hotei anu ndu SlaSS OF Deer.
When he came outside Offer Zoeller
stood on the corner This was between
and O'clock Witness spoke to the
officer, who arrested him on suspicion.
Witness was taken to the lookup,
searched and 81 was found upon him.
Fisher was subjected to a rigid cross
examination, but his testimony was un-
shaken. The cross-eXamination con-
sumed nearly the entire afternoon. The
register books of the hotels where Fisher
stopped were put In evidence, and
idntified as being correct by the pro-
prietors of the hotels. After a rigid
cross-examfnation of more than two
hours Fishers testimony remained un-
shaken and was corroborated by
Charles Closer, the last witness before
court adjourned.