Smyrna times., 1907-03-20
YOUTHFUL ROBBER MAKES
FULL CONFESSION Of THEFTS
JOSEPH FOURAKER A Is YEAR OLD BOY AD-
hITS TAKING PART IN SEVERAL ROBBERlEs
Says Jim Green Was With Him When He Ac-
cOsted Benton V. Weldon, and Broke In
the Hardware Store of William FAIRIES.

tne hardware Store OF william FAIRIES
Constable Boyer made an important.
arrest Friday evening when he appre-
hended Joseph Fouraker, the Is year
old son OF Mrs. ---- Fouraker, of
this town, who was wanted for series
of hold-ups and robberies with which
he had been recently connected. Con-
stable Boyer took him home and there
IN the presence of Mrs. Boyer got from
his prisoner n full confession of a num-
Der of rObberies, &c, in which he i'm
plicated "Jim" Green, Jr., the II wear
old son OF James Green, near town. The
confession covered a period from
November up to the present time
Fouraker withheld nothing from Con
stable Boyer but admitted all willingly.
1t will be remembered that he had al
ready confessed to raiding the chicken
house of Mrs. Sadie Farrell on the
night of December 18th, and after a
hearing was held in bail for 800 for
his appearance at Court. Those i'm
plicated with him were Jim Green.
Curtis Still and Jim Fisher. All are
out on bail except Fisher, who in de-
fault wac committed. Young Four
aker and Green did not profit by this
experience but it appears got deeper
into crime. Fouraker admitted that
on the night of November the 23rd he
broke into the auction store of L. T.
Pennington, temporarily located in the
old Gordon stand on Main street and
stole lot of goods. Mr.. Pennington
put his loss at upwards of $75 These
goods which consisted of jewelry and
other articles were concealed in a fod-
der shock in field back of Green's
residence. Constable Boyer had traced
the stolen goods aud has some in his
possession.
Admitted Holding Up Benton V. Weldon.
Young Fouraker also admitted hold
ing up Benton V. Weldon, the we'll
known auctioneer on Thursday even
ing, December the 9th. He said he
and Green were the highwaymen and
they had planned the hold-up before
hand. They knew that Mr.. Weldon
was busy crying sales at that time and
supposing that he had considerable
money with him, put out the street
light on South street in front of the
High School and laid in wait Mr..
Weldon, whose bravery as an officer
had stood him in many an encounter.
was too much for them, it being re-
membered that he paid no attention to
the two revolvers poked at him and
their commsnd to ''hold up your hands"
but made a lunge at them with his
walking stick. The robbers took fright
and made their escape. On the even
ing of January 23rd, Fouraker said he
and Jim Green broke into the Smyrna
Depot but had secured nothing of ma
terial value.
Confesses RObbing Store of William FAIRIES.
On Friday evening January 25th
Young Fouraker said he and Green
broke into'and robbed the Iron Front
Hardware Store of William FAIRIES. 1t
will be remembered that they procured
one of Contractor Wrinkles ladders
and tried first to effect an entrance by
a window in the second story and find
ing the doors locked in the building,
they came out and smashed the front
bulk window. They got away with
part of a set of harness and some cut
lery to the amount of 500. Fouraker
also confessed to a robbery in Town
send. Since the robberies Fouraker
has been living out in "the forest
west of Clayton, and has been coming
in only at night. Jim Green is re-
ported to be at Woodbury., n. j. Con-
stable Boyer has been working dill
gently at the cases since November,
and had gathered enough information
to make an arrest at anytime but was
awaiting his opportunity. On Friday
evening last he received phone mes
sage at his home in Clayton, that Four
aker was driving to Smyrna. He vas
able to catch train Immediately for
Smyrna and got here in time to appre-
hend the youthful robber just as he had
reached Smyrna. Fouraker did not
resist arrest but gave himself willingly.
Saturday following his confession
Constable Boyer took him to Dover
Jail to await hearing which will take
place as soon as Green is captured.
The citizens of Smyrna feel grateful to
Constable Boyer for the excellent man
ner in which he has worked up the
case. While Fouraker only duplicates
Green as his accomplice. Constable
Boyer has reason to believe that there
are others in the band and every effort