Ellsworth American., 1876-11-09
Charley Ross.

THE STRANGE STORY OF NELSON PARKER.
On Thursday last Samuel Benners, alias
Geo. Ioushlng, allies A. +. Babb alias
Geo. Shaw, alias George Wright, alias
Draper; James Picket, alias DR.. Robert
+. Bell, and Sarah Brown, a colored wom-
an, known for some unexplained reason as
Dutch SAL were arraigned before Police
Magistrate VIM. b Collins, OF Philadel-
phia. on charge Of being concerned In the
abduction and concealment OF Charley
Ross.
Police Lieutenan. Given testified that he
had received Information from colored
man named Nelson Parker, otherwise
known as John Williams, TO the effect
that there was weli-organized gang of
burglars doing business between New Jer-
sey and central Pennsylvinia; that Mosher
and Douglass, who were killed In the per-
petration OF a burglary near New I orh
eighteen or twenty months ago, were mem.
bers of this league, and that Benners and
Picket under their various aliases and
the colored woman, Dutch Sal, were al
SO members OF the gang making their head
quarters al Harrisburg. On the 29th Of
september he arrested the woman, aud
on the 9th OF October the two men, acting
in each Instance on information received
from Parker.
Parker was released from the pen
iteutiary on the Sd of July. He had in
1871 q good situation and happy home
in Harrisburg. He was married and not only
sober and steady. but during his previous
residence In Delaware had been recognized
bv the conference of the Coiored Metho-
dist Church as local preacher. He was
engaged in a flour and feed store, and, by
L nj acE yta.ltY rod
integrity, gave entire satisfaction TO his
employers. Another of the colored resi-.
dents Of Harrisburg at the time was man
named Cole ho had been for many wears
town dog-catcher, and whose wife, then
a rather bright cOmely nulatto woman
known as Dutch SAL partly supported
herself and her husband by washing. One
Of the men for whom she washed belong
ed to party of travelling drug peddlers
who did business on Il novel and rather TAX
ing plan. They had buggy and wagon,
both of which looked as il they belonged
to q circus company. The travelling
salesman drove sometlmee two and some
times four horses in front Of their medicine
wagon, Whenever they stopped for trade
one of them would play the banjo and
sing songs till crowd was gathered
among whom his associates would ci!cu-
late selling lHslhHtducOus IsCiiCis. a.
tent Dentrifices, and other specifics
One of these men. the one who had his
washing done by Mrs. Bole, made acQuain-
tance either through her husband or BY
calliag At the store, with Williams. By
this time Williams had so far made his
way in the world that he was the owner
of house and kept horse and wagon
with which he began do little trading on
bis own account. He was ambitious, and
| worked hard and honestly, early and late,
to raise himself and to support in comfort
| his wife, between whom and himself q
strong attachment existed. He was dong
| we'll. II he could but get little capital
| he would do better still. To whom should
he apply but to his friend, the medicine
man? He did apply to him. The patent
medicine man was short of actual cash,
but hehad anOte In his possession enwhich
appeared the name of prominent citizen
OF that neighborhood. William was known
In that town and at the bank. He had his
wagon, his horse and house. The med.
icisn man was a comparative stranger.
He, too, would like little ready money.
They would divide after the note was dis
counted. The discount was obtained, the
division was made. The lions share and
q percentage besides fell to the peddler
and Oh he went. leaving little money In
williams possession and the note ir
back. Williams was arrested, and fOun(
himself in due course of time In the Pen
itentiary, while the bank seized the pro
perty and turned his wife adrift-
While he was In prison Parker received
several hundred letters, many Of then
from the man who had betrayed him
promising to obtain his liberation, prom
isiug to make amends to him for his un
deserved incarceration and endeavOriHl
; In every way to secure his silence. Her
Il one Of them: