Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-12-22
LAWYERS DECLINE THE CASE.
Alleged Fiend Makes Intellectual At.
tempts to Secure Counsel to Defend
Him Against Charge.
TwENTY.ONE WITNESSES CALLED
The State Summons Over Score OF
Citizens to Tesitfy--None for
The Defense.

The preliminary hearing OF Thomas
Il. Fuller, the soldier arrested on tho
serious charge Of criminally assaulting
Miss Edith GIN on Sunday night, Dec,
IL, was begun in Judge Diehls division
or the city court today 1t was expect
ed large crowd OF curious persons
would be on hand TO listen to the pro-
ceedings, but the courtroom was NOT
half filed with spectators.
The accused man was brought from
the county jail by Deputy Sheriffs Cow
an and Burbdge. He was handcuffed
ana closely guarded The authorities
did not take any chances with their
prisoner but locked him up until the
case was called, Fuller did not speak
TO anyone, but looked defiant and sui
len.
MISS Gill, the young woman ASSAULT
ed, was IN court, attended by several
Iady friends. That the prosecution pro-
poses to make every point possible IN
the case, Is evident by the careful prep
arations made by the county attorney
and his assistants.
TWENTY-ONE WITNESSES.
The case will probably consume more
than day in this examination, as
tnere are Fl witnesses summoned for
the State. They are as follows.
Edith Gill, y. Mecklenburg, HATTIE.
roth, Mrs Wright Snyder. Fred Sny.
der, George Buckle, Mrs George
Buckle, George C. Buckle, Dr.
lucia r. Miles, Or, Glea-
son; Wills Chugg, Jesse J. Martin, II.
a. Irueman, Barnard Alderman. Sergt.
j. d. Roberts, Patrolman Emil johnson,
Glade Metz Young, Detective chase.
Burbdge.
II was supposed, at the time OF Full.
ler's sensational arrest, that the au-
thorites had a good case against him.
out II Is now developed that Miss CHI
cannot Identify Fuller as the man who
committed the atrocious deed
she has seen the man twice since the
assault, and on both occasions stated
that she was not sure he Is the man.
Although the young lady does not
Identify the man, I think we Will he
able to make good case against him."
said Asst County Atty, Smith IN Tho
'News' this morning.
There was delay OF nearly Two
hours before the taking of testimony
was begun, owing to the fact that
Judge Diehl was summoned as wit.
ness In the district court When court
finally convened. Fuller stated he was
not ready for hearing, that he did not
nave an attorney TO defend him and
had no witnesses.
MISS GILL TEsTIFIEs.
Miss Gill was the first witness and
testified that she resides with her par
ents at sos east South Temple street
and was employed at the home OF Mr..
Hallorlth on Eleventh East street
Answering Mr.. Smith. Miss Gin said
she did not recognize Fuller, and did
not remember seeing him on the car
on the night OF the offense.
In describing the man who assaulted
her. she gave perfect description OF
Fuller.
1T was rather dark" she said. "and
the mans back was to the light. He
was Il large tall heavy man, dark com
plexloned and wore soldiers uniform
and cap"
Miss GIN said when the soldier smoke
to her she screamed and he choked her,
She remembered failing TO the ground,
but lost her senses Immediately after.
II do not know how long I was I'M
conscious, but when j came TO nv
senses I ran screaming down the street
into Mr. Buckles house. ] remained
there about Ave minutes and told what
had happened"
Were you bruised at all by tho as
sault?" asked Atty. Smith.
Yes, my neck, arms and face were
bruised and one eye was injured and
suffered other injuries"
COULD NOT GET COUNSEL.
Fuller made several Intellectual at
tempts today to obtain counsel. Attys.
Truman and s. X. Christensen de-
clined 10 take the case, as also did
Lieut. Clark.
Upon the conclusion OF Miss Gllps
testimony, the case was continued until
8 o'clock this afternoon.