The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-28
MORE ABOUT THAT ovERcoAT
Mr.. Fuller Is Vindicated and Another
Is in the County Jail.

IL
| urday morning regarding William v
Fuller being arrested and held in $30C
bail before Alderman Baker for the
larceny of an overcat from Charles
Let's, of the Buffet. Another chapter
of that story is now ready for publica-
tion.
After Mr.. Fuller had realized the
gravity of the charge against him he
concluded that he wouldn't be obstln-
ate any longer and made up iss mind
to tell all he knew about the coat and
how it came into his possession. If
he had adopted this course in the be-
ginning he would have saved lots OF
trouble for all concerned. He conflded
to Constable Pierce, who had him in
charge, that he had bought the coat
from a man named Josiah White, OF
Jermyn, and Swore out warrant for
his arrest on the specific charge OF
selling or bartering stolen goods, know
ing them to be stolen. This warrant
was obtained from Alderman Morrison
as Alderman Baker had closed up his
office and could not be found. Con-
stable Pierce and Fuller drove down
to Jermyn. placed White under arrest
and brought him to this city. where
he was placed on trial before Alder
man Morrison at "a late hour Friday
night.
On the way back Constable Pierce
noticed that White was very uneasy.
He would every few minutes place his
hand inside his coat and work his fin
gers near the region of the inside
pocket. After a while Pierce asked
White what was the matter with him.
The prisoner mumbled something about
his "galluses" slipping down. But
Pierce was suspicious and told him to
keep his hand out of there. In a min
ute or so the member stole back Then
Pierce spoke plain and to the point.
He told White if he placed his hand in
there again he would knock him down
with his Jack" The constable was
unarmed except for this piece of wood
and did not propose to take any
chances.
When he had got him to Alderman
Morrison's office Pierce searched White
and in the inside pocket, where the
hand had so often strayed, was found
loaded revolver. wrapped in a piece
OF cloth. Evidently White had tried
to get the cloth off, but for what pur-
pose can only be conjectured. Another
find was a parcel of new silver spoons,
which the prisoner said he had gotten
from Chicago for the purpose of SELL
ing, but when pressed as to whom he
expected to sell them he was rather
muddled in his replies.
At the hearing before Alderman, Nor
rison Mr.. Fuller became the accuser
instead of the prisoner. He testified
that he had traded the coat with White
for his own and had given $l.50 ito
boot" Then he bought back his own
coat from White for 80 cents. He had
worn it innocently, going into Let's
place on Saturday unsuspiCious of the
fact that it was Let's coat he had
on, and then followed his arrest
Mrs. Fuller followed her husband on
the stand and told of how Fuller had
brought the coat home and she had
sewed his name in it, knowing that
her husband would not have come by
1t dishonesty. Other witnesses test!-
fled and then Josiah White was heard.
He said he had found the coat at No.
l bridge at midnight. The alderman
asked him why he had not gone home
instead of travelling in an opposite di-
rection. White said he did not know
the way to Jermyn.
How long have you lived there"
Mine years"
And you don't know the road after
dark?"
mo, sir"
After little the prisoner had a
brand new story to tell why he was at
No. bridge so late at night. This was
followed by others until the alderman
grew weary and held White in $500
bail for knowingly bartering stolen
goods, and an additional $500 for car
rying concealed weapons. He was
taken to the county Jail in Scranton
on Saturday morning by Constable
Pierce.