The Jesuit Who Shot an Archbishop: A Murderer’s Cold Confession on the Way to Prison

PORT TOWNSEND, May 14.—Among the passengers on the steamship Elder, which arrived early Sunday morning, was Frank Fuller, the murderer of Archbishop Seghers. He was in the charge of Marshal Atkins, of Alaska, en route to McNeil island to serve out a ten-year term of imprisonment.

Fuller was seen by the POST-INTELLIGENCER reporter, and although very reticent, made some statements which summarized are about as follows: "My name is Frank Fuller; I am 37 years old; was born in Dublin, Ireland, and am a lay brother in the order of Jesuits; had no animosity against Archbishop Seghers, and shot that morning believing that the Indians sought my life, being incited by archbishop. After firing I ran to the bishop, and did not see the wound in the head, as testified to by the Indians, and do not believe there was any such wound, nor was any post mortem held as I demanded, to show whether or not this evidence was true. Certain statements have been made that I said I had a communication from the Lord to kill Seghers. That is not true. I never said so. If I killed the Archbishop, it was in self-defense, as I thought. I am a good Catholic, and want to receive ablution, but priests have been kept from me through fear that I would kill them. As soon as I am settled on McNeil's island I intend making a statement to the world, detailing all the circumstances in this unfortunate affair, and I am satisfied the world will justify my action."

HISTORY OF THE CRIME.

On the 7th of July, 1886, Archbishop Seghers, two Jesuit priests and Frank Fuller took passage on the steamer Ancon from Port Townsend for Alaska. Arriving at Sitka the Jesuits referred to pursued the tenor of their way in some direction not known, while Archbishop Seghers, accompanied by Fuller and several Indians, proceeded into the interior of Alaska via the Yukon river. One bitter cold morning in the middle of December of the same year, the thermometer being more than 50° below, while the party were in camp at a station of the Alaska Commercial Company 150 miles up the river, Fuller shot and killed Archbishop Seghers.

The murdered man was well known all over the coast, of profound erudition in theological and other matters and very popular, especially in Victoria, B. C., and Portland, Oregon, where he had lived before going to Alaska. Fuller was seized by the Indians after committing the deed, brought to Sitka and in the course of time was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment.

Fuller is about five feet eleven inches tall, has a full sandy beard, high forehead, cold blue eyes, is evidently intelligent, but with something sinister in his make-up, which inspires one with distrust. Inordinate egotism is apparent in his conversation and general bearing, which recalls Guiteau. He evinces no remorse whatever for the terrible crime for which he has been found guilty.