The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-06-05

walls Prescott is looking much heater than
when he was on trial He did not appear
down hearted in the least When sked if he
had made confession he did not answer
directly yes or no, but equivocated making it
pretty evident that he had told some kind of
story. He utterly refused to repeat it or give
any idea what it contained. When told that
his counsel had given some points of it he in
timated that counsel sometimes manufactured
stories, but in way that left no doubt that
this story was not the work of counsel but his
repeat the story but his invariable reply was
that he couldn't tonight. He manifested
some faint surprise when told that Nell Pray
was arrested but pretended not to have any
idea of the cause of it. He was told that his
mother had reported that he had made con-
fession and simply replied that she was insane
He was asked whether he would not tell his
story on condition that it should not be printed
unless his counsel conse nted To this he
replied that he had learned not to trust people.
He said he had sent out to Windham man
for some money lowed him but the man
had replied very CURLY that he might whistle
for his money or words to that effect. Finding
that it was impossible to extract ANYTHING
from Prescott the reporters left. The Sheriff
was OF the opinion that Prescott had made
some kind OF statement but didn't know any
details He said Prescott's mother had had a
private interview with her son recently.
NELL PRAY RETIcENT
Nell Pray was next sought. She was found
occupying cell at the station and was sitting
ON the floor reading paper. She was perfect
ly cool and collected and apparently uncon-
cerned All sorts of questions were put to
her calculated to draw her out but she replied
to all of them that she had nothing to say She
denied even that she knew for what she was
arrested, but this was falsehood as the Mar
shall had informed her.
So far the only case against Nell Pray rests
upon the story Prescott is alleged to have told
his mother, which in view of Prescotts testi
mony on the stand constitutes rather weak
basis for a prosecution. How much credit
ought to be placed in Prescotts story it is diff
cult to say Undoubtedly, whether it be true
or false, he is influenced to tell it at this time
by the hope that it may mitigate his punish
ment. 1t has always been supposed by those
who had most intimate knowledge of the cir
cumstances of Williams murder that Nell
Pray was in some way connected with it. That
she actually committed the murder has, how
ever, never been suspected. The idea has been
that Prescott was in love with her and that he
was either jealous of Williams or else that Nell
Pray had manifested desire to be rid of Will
liams and that he had committed the murder
-, 4l,o 1,a1s - I
establish him in her affections. Nell Pray has
not been looked upon as an active participation
in the crime, however. There is evidently
very strong motive for Prescott to exaggerate
her connection with the murder, and it will
require very strong corroborative evidence to
make the public believe that he simply assist
ed in concealing the body, and that she was
the real criminal