The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-28
POLICE SURE THEY
HAVE LANDED COAL
SW|NOLER
WILLIAM MCGUIRE, CAPTURED ON
WOMAN'S TIP, SAID TO HAVE
MADE PARTIAL CONFESSIONAL
WiNDsoRITEs sTUNo, TOO.

AL w NJ. 90 Eliza
beth-st west, arrested on the west
side late Wednesday afternoon, the
police are satisfied that they have the
much-sought-for coal swindler who has
been making an easy living at the
expense OF credulous housewives for
several months. In fact. Mcclure him
self Is said TO have admitted to Lieut..
Denler. of Scotch station. that he has
been In the game for year. To Capt
Burton Girardin. in charge OF the Scot.
ten precinct, he said:
Il am going 10 tell the truth about
this thing. but want to see my law
yer first"
Justice Jeffries issued a warrant
against Mcclure. Thursday morning,
on complaint OF Mrs. William Elliott,
No. 2Ol Dragoon-ave., charging him
with the larceny OF Sl5 by trick. This
Is probably only the beginning OF a
series OF prosecutions, in which event
Mcclure, II convicted, will probably
be kept in the service OF Supt. Me-
Donnell, OF the house OF correction,
for some time TO come. The maxi
mum penalty Is 80 days. but the police
are OF the opinion that this will not
begin to satisfy his alleged victims.
who are scattered all over the city.
Mcguire has already been identified
by about dozen women in the Scot
ten and Delray precincts as the man
who -swindled them out of sums rang
ing from 81 TO SIS on the representa-.
ton that their husbands had pur-
chased coal from him. strong bit II
evidence against Mcclure Is that
coal receipt found In his possession
tallies exactly. in chirography. with
receipts in possession OF the police
officers OF various stations, turned over
TO them by victims of the swindler.
Mcclure, the police say, did not
conflne his efforts to Detroit Many
residents OF Windsor and Walkerville
have received visits from the coal
man" and have parted with hard-earn-
ed cash for coal that never came. 1t
IL expected that some of these victims
will come tn Detroit to take look at
AcGpike.
A womaE's sharp eye was really re.
sponsible for McGuire's capture, and
had he steered clear of West End-ave.,
Wednesday, he might still be free to
pursue his operations. Mrs. James
Dooley, No. 81 Vanderbilt-ave., is the
woman to whom the police give credit
for the mans arrest. Wednesday aft
ernoon she attended a sewing bee in
the home of friend on West End-ave.
She was sitting near one of the front
windows. Looking up from her work
to rest her eyes for moment she saw
passing the house man whom she
recognized at once as one who had
called at her house two weeks ago
and had attempted to collect IS on
some coal her husband had ordered.
But Mrs. Dooley was wise" and turn
ed the fellow down.
At sight of her recent caller, Mrs.
Dooley startled the other ladies pres
ent by jumping to her feet and ex-
claiming. as she pushed back the cur
tains:
Come quick II you want to see the
coal swindler."
There was a stampede for the win
dow, for among the ladies were some
who had occasion to remember the
mysterious coal man only too we'll
Mrs. Dooley at once called up police
Headquarters and In a twinkling Off
GERS were on the way from three sta
tons to head of the suspect. Mounted
Patrolman Hugh Purcell overlook him
at West End-ave. and Fort-st. and kept
tab on the man until Sergt Shaw and
Doorman Lang. OF Scotch station,
closed In on him. A minute later, De-
tectives Lally and Clare jumped off 2
Fort-st. car and IL was all of with the
coal man.
Mcclure was protesting his inno-
cence as Lally and Glare came up. At
sight of the former. MCGUIRE called
out.
Say, Tom, | know you"
why. hello MCGUIRE" answered
Lally. II don't expect to find you"
MCGUIRE was escorted In triumph
to the Scotch station, where he was
registered with great Formally. He
was transferred to the central station
Thursday morning. and will be held
there until arraignment.