The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-11-18
NELSON
A NOTED CRIMINAL AGAIN SECURE.
How the Burglar Who Escaped from Al
fred Jail was Captured

The telegraph yesterday morning ann ounced
in brief the capture in New York of William
Nelson who broke out of Alfred Jail, Oct. 26.
The particulars of the affair are as follows
1t will be remembered that Nelson and a COM
panion in crime named George O'Neill we're
the leaders of gang of desperate thieves,
who, during last spring and the early months
OF the summer, terrorized the inhabitants of
Biddeford and the neighborhood by their bold
crimes. Burglaries by masked men became of
almost nightly occurrence, and the staid peo-
pie living in detached residences were almost
afraid to retire to rest, fearing that they would
be murdered in their beds. All efforts by the
local police authorities to discover the gang of
thieves proved futile, and finally the people
organized a Vigilance Committee and, aided
by the sheriff of the county and the local mil
itary authorities started in real earnest to
hunt up the burglars. On July 1, Nelson and
O'Neill were captured, and after a long ex-
animation were committed to the York county
Jail at Alfred to await trial. On Oct. 26 they
escaped from prison by tunneling under the
walls of the jail. After their fight, the sher-
i'll OF York county sent broadcast throughout
the country circulars describing the fugitives
and offering reward for their arrest One of
these circulare recently fell into the hands of
Detective Schmittberger of New York, and
knowing the haunts OF the fugitives he kept
sharp lookout for them.
On Monday evening, while walking down
Sixth avenue, Schmittberger saw Nelson
standing on the corner of Thrty-frst street,
surrounded by crowd of his friends. Schmitt-
berger elbowed his way through the crowd,
and putting his hand on Nelson's shoulder,
told him he was a prisoner and requested him
to accompany him to the station-house. Nell
son shook OFT the officers grasp, and jumping
back few steps pulled out revolver from
his overcoat pocket and levelled it at the off
GER Before he could fire, however, Schmitt-
berger struck him blow in the face, telling
him 10 the pavement. He then jumped on
him and wrenched the pistol from his grasp.
The friends of the prisoner closed about the
struggling pair, and the the detective was in
perilous position. Patrolman Gamble of
the Twenty-ninth precinct rushed to the spot,
and driving the crowd away assisted in hand
cutting the prisoner. He was taken to the
West Thirtieth street police station, and on
| searching him there was found in his possess
| sion a new six-chambered revolver marked
| 81. M. Martin, New Haven, Conn, 1873" a
| valuable gold watch and chain with ten
| dollar gold piece pendent from the chain,
| plain gold ring set with five small diamonds,
| an onyx ring and $119 in cash. The case of
| the watch was marked -. T. S. & Co., 1877,
| warranted Is carat" When he was arraigned
| in court number of his associates were pres
| ent and listened eagerly to the proceedings
! The detective informed the magistrate that he
| had telegraphed to the sheriff of York county,
| Me-, but had not received reply, and the
| prisoner was accordingly remanded until yes
| terday.