The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-12
OFFICER ELLIS MURDER
Notorious Judd Molcott Accused Of
the Crime by Bill Kent.
TELLS A PLAUSIBLE STORY
Wolcott Boarded with Him at Time aud
Burned Revolver In Ills Stove Can
Produce Two Other Witnesses TO
Whom WOicott Confessed Crime.

taken possession OF tne taHk anu tHe
watchman. Michael Brown. unable to
make them vacate, sent to the West
Side police station for assistance. John
Davis. now police lieutenant; Thomas
V. Lewis and John Ellis. were detailed
to capture the gang and went thither
never suspecting that resistance would
be offered.
As the police were about to gain en-
trance to the tank the Quartette inside
made a bold dash for liberty. One of
them. who was first to rush forth.
fired two shots into the body Of officer
Ellis. An exchange OF shots took place
but all four escaped. Although big re-
wards have been offered and the best
detective talent in the country engaged
on the case no one has ever been openly
charged with the crime until yesterday.
when Bill Kent, the ex-burglar. coun-
terfeiter and general all-around crim-
inal. accused his old pal, the notorious
Judd Wolcott. of being the murderer.
Kent, as announced In yesterdays
issue. was arrested Wednesday for
passing counterfeit money. He Is 6S
years of age and has served three terms
in the penitentiary. He served three
years In the Eastern penitentiary for
arson. did eighteen months in the West
ern penitentiary for counterfelting and
on Aug. 2 last was released from the
Eastern penitentiary after serving
four years. minus nine months. on ac-
count Of good behavior, for completely
In the burglarzing of Rev. William
Edgar's residence, in Dunmore.
Fastened tho Crime on Kent.
Kent. Judd Wolcott and Paddy Dew
ers, who was killed in the Baldwin Lo-
comotive works four years ago. We're
taI 30 &I,,h rlar NNln 1,..
came a stool pigeon, for the detectives
and fastened the crime on Kent. 1t af-
terwards developed that the burglars
hid their swag in an old deserted mine
and that Wolcott stole 1t from the hid
ing place and hid 1t In a culm pile in
Dunmore. where II was afterward dis
covered by Chief Simpson.
Kent was a shoemaker by trade and
kept shop in Dunmore near the cor
ners. His place was the rendezvous for
these and other bad men. and was the
scene of the concoction of many bold
and daring criminal plot. Wolcott' was
the worst of the trio, 1t was believed,
and later events establish that this
belief was about correct. Kent worked
every day and was apparently an hon
est. Industrious citizen, and in fact. no
crime except that of harboring VOL
colt, was ever fastened upon him. ex-
cept on the evidence of this same VOL
colt.
Kent. as may be readily believed,
knew Of the doings of his pal, Wolcott.
This, Kent now says. was what sent
him to the penitentiary the last time.
Wolcott and he had a disagreement,
and it was through fear of disclosure
that Wolcott swore him into prison so
that he might be out of the way. and
his testimony. II he was tempted to
make a disclosure, might be discredit-
able. 1t is significant fact that on
July % last. eight days previous to
Kents release from the penitentiary.
Wolcott disappeared from Dunmore
and has not been seen since.
He Told Chief simpson About It.
The startling disclosure Of the Ellis
mystery was made by Kent to Chief of
Police Simpson yesterday morning, and
later in the day he detailed the whole
story to Tribune reporter. but at the
time he did not know that he was talk
ing for publication.
On the morning following the Ellis
murder Wolcott came to the shop,
greatly excited and said to Kent, For
Gods sake keep this date In your mind,
and II you are ever asked about 1t
swear that I slept with you all night
asked him what the trouble was. and
at first he refused to tell, but finally
confided to him that he had shot n
policeman. He said that he and three
other men went to Hyde Park to tap"
place, and wishing to come in by the
back way. went around from Dunmore
to Providence and then down Keyser
Valley. At the tank they went in to
hide and keep warm until nightfall
when they intended to steal zip through
the fields to, the place which they were
going to rob. Kent did not inquire
what place they had in mind. The po-
lice swooped down on them. and they
had to use their revolvers to get out.
Wolcott said he hit one of the cops,
but did not know whether or not he
killed him. Wolcott then took re-
volver from his pocket removed the
shells, three Of which were loaded and
two discharged, and. stirring UP the
Goals In the stove, showed the revolver
In.
Kent says the revolver had a red
wood handle, on which the name ~.
Price" was cut in large letters. He did
not know who ]. Price might be.
When the fire had totally disfgnred
the revolver. Wolcott picked It out Of
the stove with a poker. Immersed Vt in
the bucket of water. which the cobbler
used to mOisten leather, and. after it
cooled sufficiently to be handled, took
It up and started out. saying he would
put II where Jesus Christ Himself
would not find It," He was gone about
of an hour, and upon
his return went TO bed.
wolcost's Midnight Visit.
A spell after this, as he put 1t. Kent
gave up his shop, and went to live In
the country just beyond Cummings.
boarding with Mr.. and Mrs. Josiah
Martin. One night about IL o'clock
Wolcott came there and asked for him.
Mrs. Martin, who was sleeping on the
ground floor. admitted him after arO,is-
ing Kent and her husband. The hus-
band did not get up. but Kent went
to see what the trouble was.
The two men sat down In the. front
room, and when Mrs. Martin withdrew
Wolcott told Kent that the police were
after him for the burning of Savages
In Dunmore; he had come out
into the country at night, believing he |
would not be seen, to ask Kent to help
him establish an alibi.
The fire in Savages building oc-
Cured while Wolcott and Kent were |
staying In the shop in Dunmore Kent |
to mirmur against being |
drawn into all Of Wolcott's crimes and |
a long interview occurred. during which |
the murder and other matters were dis
cussed. After getting Kent's word that |
he would stick to him, and agreeing |
upon a story to tell in case OF arrest, |
Wolcott drove away and got back to |
Dunmore before daylight.
Mrs. Martin, like any ordinary wo- |
nan, was curious TO know what busl- |
ness could bring man to the house at |
that unreasonable hour, and during the |
In the front room she |
was posted at the door leading to the |
hallway which separated the front |
'oom and her bedroom. Although they