The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-06-06

| ~"~eNA'AAetA
Marshal Bridges then told Prescott he under
stood he had made confession and Nell had
been brought there to hear what he had to say.
| NO matter what statement he, Prescott, might
have made in the past it was his duty to tell
the truth now so that if Nell was innocent she
might go free, and if guilty receive punish
ment.
Prescott looked steadily out of the window
and would not answer word.
Nell Pray then kneeled before Prescott and
| begged him to tell the truth, if not for Gods
sake, or her sake, at least for the sake of her
child, to say whether she murdered Harry Will
| liams.
prescott made no answer to the appeal. He
SAID he would talk when his lawyer had been
seen and it was no use to send for him as he
would come when he got ready. Nell made
another earnest appeal to Prescott to speak but
| he declined Nell remained at the Jail at her
own request.
About p. m. last night Col. Scribner, coun-
sci Tor Prescott, visited his client at the JAIL
lie told Prescott he wanted him to tell him
frankly whether he was prepared to stick to
the story he had already confessed or not.
Prescott replied that what he had already said
he hung to-that Nell Pray committed the
deed.
Col. Seriber then saw General Mattocks,
who had already seen Nell Pray. The woman
solemnly declared to her counsel she was inno-
cent, but Scribner requested the case might be
continued one day in order that certain addi-
tlonal evidence might be prepared, and to this
request General Mattocks consented. The case
Will therefore come up before Judge knights
In the Municipal Court Saturday morning.
1t is reported that the new testimony which
Will be INTRODUCED will be that of a person who
was witness of the deed. The report goes
that, on the Thursday night before the muir
der, Williams was at Nell .Prays house, and,
IN an angry alteration, went for her with
knife Nell then determined to get rid of
MN. On the night of the murder, the report
continues, there was man in Nells house
who was intoxicated and noisy. Nell was
watching her chance to get rid of him and
finally, when he was standing near the win
dow, she pushed him out. He had not far to
fall but was somewhat confused. He arose,
however, and staggered off and, it was sup
posed he had gone. On the contrary, so the re-
port runs, he did not go far, but staggered
back with the intention of entering the house
again. He heard Prescott and Williams com
ing in the wagon, and managed to sneak into
corner where he was hidden. There he saw
the murder. At the trial of Prescott he did
not dare to come forward and testify, but since
then it has leaked out that he was present
This report does not rest on any substantial
basis and is probably nothing buta flying street
rumor that always accompanies any great SEN
sation, like an alleged murderer's statement
Again it is reported that after the trial Nell
left her house on Canton street and removed
elsewhere. While she was gone she had the
cellar dug up, the evidence of the murder she
had spoken of to Prescott, exhumed and car
ried off, and then she moved back to the house.
This, report says, accounts for the mound in
the cellar under which nothing was found.
On the other hand some of the officers who
have had-from the nature of their office-to
do with Nell Pray, consider that, at heart, she
Is not an ugly, or vindictive, woman, and that
murder would be the last thing she would re-
sort to in any event.
Last night reporter of the PRESS visited
the jail and was politely received by Sheriff
Dresser who afforded him all facilities to pro-
cure any information in regard to the case that
was possible. Prescott then gave his confes-
sion which, while it does not differ in any re-
spect from that to his mother, furnishes many
additional details of interest The following is
his confession: --
PREscoTT's CONFESSION.
The story that Williams was killed out at
the Smith barn was not true; that the state
ment as given from the time he left the barn
was true; that when they left the stable with
his team, both were drunk; that instead of
going out of town, as he testified, they went
directly to Nell Pray's that it was about il at
night. He hitched his horse behind an old
shed; they then started to go into her house
through the shed attached; that she had had
trouble with Williams day or two before
when he drew knife and assaulted her. She
came to the door leading into the shed and
told Williams he shouldn't come in. He at
tempted to enter. She pushed him back. He
then struck at her and attempted to go in. She
then stepped back into the kitchen and took
large club, she called persuader, or protector,
and, as he approached struck him heavy
blow on the head with it. Williams fell back
stiff, groaned, struggled slightly and didn't
move again. They then went into the kitch-
en- and had one or two drinks each. Both had
been drinking before. Nell then told him
PrescotD he must help her take care of the
body. She thought Williams was dead Pres
colt had several times tried to get her to marry
him. She then told him that if he would put
the body where it wouldn't be found,
she'd marry him and give him
deed Of house she owned. She then
went to the sewing machine and took
out OF the drawer paper which she told him
was deed of the house. He could neither
write, nor read writing, but has since learned.
She also showed him several bank bills She
then spoke of burying the body in the cellar
said that was good place and that it was often |
done. They could find nothing to dig with
except small coal-shovel. After talking the |
matter over they concluded it wouldn't answer
to go out to get shovel. He then suggested |
that he would take it out near the Smith barn,
and take it out in a small boat and sink it. |
They then went into the bedroom and had an |
other drink. He then went for his team, and |
when he returned she said that she had finish |
ed him, and he found Williamss head bruised |
and bleeding. He then put him in the wagon |
wrapped him up, and when he left she told
him to put the corpse where it would never be |
seen, and he drove out to the Smith barn. He |
SAID his testimony regarding what occsrred |
after he left the town was true; that on the fol-
lowing day, after burying the body, he return |
ed to Nell Pray's and remained there till Sat-
urday night. When he first returned she |
called him into the bedroom and asked him
what he'd done. He told her he'd buried it |
way out beyond Stroudwater. She asked him |
II he was sure he'd put it where it wouldn't |
be found He told her he had. When he left |
on Saturday to go to Windham it was agre ed |
between them that after fixing some business
matters there that he should come back to |
Portland and dispose of all her property here,
get married and go out West.
BRIEF FREEDOM.
Mrs Oracle St. John Clemance Arrested