The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-16

Bert Anderson, of 9O4 Keyser avenue,
was arrested at an early hour yesterday
morning by the police on suspicion Of
being the murderer Of Mary Quinn. The
police admit that they have no very di-
rect evidence against him, but say there
are several things which will require
considerable explaining to settle salts
factorily.
Ever since the murder two weeks
| ago, Anderson has been suspected Of
having had something to do with it by
the people residing in the neighbor-
hood. The police have had him under
surveillance ever since the day after
| the crime, but were unable to obtain
| any evidence connecting him with 1t
| until within the last three days.
Anderson is a tall, slim man, 20 years
| old, employed as stone mason by the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
Railroad company. He lives with his
mother and sister next door to the
| saloon of John Quinn, the murdered
girls brother, and within short dis
tance of the Quinn home.
The time Of the murder Of Mary
Quinn is definitely fixed. She left the
house of Mary Herrick at 1915 O'Clock,
and she was found with her head
crushed in at Ills o'clock. The police
have evidence to show that Anderson
passed through the field in which her
body was found some time between 10
and II o'clock, and that he arrived
home about 10.45 o'clock in a state Of
partial intoxication and acting in pc
culiar manner.
This evidence in itself would be prac-
tically worthless were it not for the
fact that Mary Quinn and Anderson
were formerly great friends, but had
quarrelled comparatively recently, and
were known to be bitter against one
another at the time of the murder. The
Quinn girl kept company with Anderson
for some time, and it is understood that
she corresponded with him when he was
out Of the city.
WARNED OTHERS.
After their friendship was broken off
she told at least one, and it is believed
several, of her girl friends to beware
Of Anderson, giving the inference that
he had apparently tried to take undue
liberties with her, and that she had re-
pulsed him. This is understood to have
greatly displeased and angered him. 1t
is also on record that the Anderson
family had some member Of the Quinn
family arrested at one time for some
alleged offense, and that what might be
called bad blood existed between them,
which feeling was accentuated by
Mary's remarks.
On the night of the murder a certain
witness, who was on the porch of the
Anderson home, saw Anderson come
toward his house from the field along
what is known as the "creek path"
This was about 10.45 o'clock. Instead
Of passing the Quinn saloon, in front of
which were several people, as one nat
urally would do, he walked alongside
the fence and crossed Keyser avenue
directly in front Of his house.
According to this witness, he appeared
to be desirous of not being seen. His
coat collar was turned up, despite the
fact that it was an exceedingly warm
night, and his cap was pulled we'll
down over his face. He seemed to be
intoxicated, and passed down the lane
running next to the house and into
shanty in the back.
one because friend of the suspected
man, it has been learned that Anderson
was seen in the field sometime between
10 and II o'clock. This witness is not
sure as to the exact time he saw him,
but Is confident that it was after 10
o'clock.
All these facts are interesting because
Of Anderson's statement to the police
hot 1,n ,;rrI, 80
murder at $50 o'clock and that he was
not intoxicated. This statement was
made by him shortly after his arrest,
when he had no knowledge as to just
what the police had against him.
SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS.
1t has been learned from other sources
that early on the morning after the
murder he passed by the scene of the
murder on his way to work. There was
crowd about the place. and Anderson
is said to have inquired what the en-
citement was about. When told that
Mary Quinn had been murdered, he
merely said, as that SOP" and without
making further inquiry. passed on.
This is deemed peculiar action by
some.
Another thing which caused the
neighbors to look upon him with sus-
picion was the fact that out Of all the
residents of the community he was the
only one, so they claimed, who did not
go to the Quinn house after the murder.
Anderson knew that he has been
under suspicion ever since the murder,
and has said to friends on one or two
occasions: ''If they want me, they
know where to find me-" The police
think that II he knew himself to be in
nocent he should have come forward
and demanded an investigation.
He was arrested yesterday morning
In bed by Superintendent Day and De-
tective Deter. He did not appear to
be at all surprised, denied having had
anything to do with the murder, and
quieted his mother and sister, who be-
gan to cry. He was hustled into a cab
and taken to the central police station.
Captain Williams. Lieutenant Davis
and Patrolman McManama, who were
along, were left to make thorough
search of the house and premises, but
1t Is understood that nothing of an in
eliminating nature was found
Anderson kept his nerve and didn't
allow himself to get the least bit rat
tied. The police say that IL he Is guilty
of the crime, he certainly doesn't betray
the fact in his demeanor
He will be given a hearing late this
afternoon before Magistrate Millar In
the municipal building.
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