The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-10-14
TRUESDELL
CONFESSES.
Mil Superintendent Systemat.
icaIIy Robbed Employers.
WAS SHIPPING THEIR WOOL.
He Consigned 10 Brother-ln.laW at Wor'
csstsT, 10 Be Sold Under the
Market Phcs.

The arrest In Worcester OF Charles T..
Fenner, alias Charles r. Cross. on the
charge OF receiving s4oo pounds OF wool.
which had been stolen from the Spring
Lake mills, at Washington village. was
followed by the apprehension last even
ing of william l.. Truesdell.
J. Frank Sunderland and Albert H.
Esten each own a woollen mill parted
only by a narrow lane. and operated by
the same power.
BY mutual arrangement they employed
william l.. Truesdell as superintendent
OF both mills. Truesdell had worked pre-
viously In a mill at Pawtucket and
brought the best OF references.
Neither Mr.. Sunderland nor Mr.. Esten
knew that there was anything wrong
with either the superintendent or the
stock in hts charge until Wednesday af-
ternoon, when Mr. Sunderland was called
into Capt Cannon's office, at detective
headquarters. and informed OF the arrest
of Fenner on suspicion OF having wool for
sale. stolen from him. Sunderland.
The latter was dumfounded. and de-
clared II was not possible that any person
could have got that quantity of wool or
anything like IL out OF his mill.
Mr.. Sunderland took Mr.. Esten UP TO
Worcester yesterday. and to his further
surprise discovered that the wool I'M
covered at Hull's warehouse had been
taken from Mr. Esten's mill.
The information obtained from Fenner,
who is a brother-in-law OF Supt. Trues-
dell took both the Providence men of
their feet. Their trusted agent had been
surreptitiously shipping their wool into
Massachusetts, 10 be sold under the
market price.
When they returned 70 this city IL was
with the nrm conviction OF causing Trues-
delIs arrest. and Sheriff Lynch OF Kent
county was sent out 10 Washington 20
get him.
Before the necessary papers could be
made out the fact was brought out that
the title 10 the wool found In the wor-
cester storehouse Is vested in the Ameri-
can Woollen company. which concern
must be considered in the prosecution.
Messrs. Sunderland and Esten went
down TO the town hall az Apponaug. where
they waited for Lynch and Truesden.
Lynch found Truesdell at the latter's
house. and telling him that his employ
Hrs wanted to see him at the Apponaug
hotel. induced him 20 get into his buggy
stop was not made at the hotel: in
stead, Truesdell was taken into the town
hall
Up TO this moment Truesdell had had
when the confession made by Fenner was
repeated TO him he became very chesty
and Indignantly denied the truth OF IL all.
Messrs. Sunderland and Esten had
taken TO Apponaug Thomas H. Holton
es their attorney, expecting TO get some
kind Of a signed statement out Of Trues-
Cell
Esten was after his S400 pounds of
WOOL and Mr. Sunderland was looking
HAe
missing from time to time. The natural
shrinkage OF the wool after II had been
secured should have been about : per
cent, whereas Truesdeu mad persistently
reported a much heavier shrinkage
After a while Truesdel confessed to
Messrs Sunderland and Esten and At
torney Hoton that he had taken the Esten
wool In two lots in July and September.
Finally ne softened UP and agreed 10
make good 10 Mr.. Sunderland the amount
the latter believed he had lost by the
manipulation OF his wool
Truesdsll offered TO sign a paper agree
ing TO return the wool that was found
at Worcester his idea being 70 make
good and thus escape prosecution
The mill pepole were inclined to fall in
with this plan. inasmuch as Mrs Trues-
dell was III and her ie.year- old daughter
was frantic.
ne OllnfuitN OF recovering the WOOL
seized at Worcester upon the claim that
~ was stolen property and OF holding
Fenner on that charge II the offence
was condoned here. was impressed upon
the minds OF the mill owners.
Also II was pointed out that any agree.
ment or confession Truesdell might sign
then he could repudlate today as having
been obtained from him under duress,
and another conference was begun.
As the result Of this second confer
ence. Truesdell agreed TO plead guilty
20 warrant charging him with the
larceny OF wool valued at $500. the prop
erty OF the American woollen company
and in possession OF Albert II. Esten, on
the agreement OF the compla lnant that
Trussdell should be released on bail fur
nished by Mr.. Esten, the surety being
$4,000.
This course was taken. and shortly after
10 o'clock Truesdell was arraigned before
Judge Loomis and was released. He is
20 turn up all the missing wool so far
n he can.