Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-08-02
A BAD Rreak.

A year ago last March complaint
was made against III. f. McNelly, son of
DIR. McNelly, of Muscoda, and one of |
the younger members of the bar Of this
county, charging him with a horrible |
crime on the person of a little girl ten |
years old, named Elizabeth Dickinson,
the child at the time being housekeeper |
for McNelly's father. 1t was alleged
by the child that at the time the crime
was committed the two were alone in
the house, when the great lusty man,
forgetting his manhood, seized the I'M
protected child as a bird of prey seizes
its victim and did that which it is a
shame to name. The little girl was the
daughter of widow lady living in the
vicinity and she made her way as best
she could home. The mother hesitated
about getting out warrant, besides
which, McNelly, when.sober sense cape
to his relief, and his friends, attempted
to hush the thing up by compromise.
Finally the warrant was issued but
McNelly being aware of what was up
took time by the forelock and got out
of the county before the Sheriff force
could get on his trail. A few days
chase convinced the officers that pur-
suit was useless at that time and they
returned to await further develope-
ments, convinced that McNelly would
inventually drift around to Dakota
whittier some of his people had gone.
A year went by and although the
Sheriff and his force made no sign they
were taking lively interest in every
thing that was transporting in certain
section of the west The result of
their wait was the swearing out of a
complaint for n requistion, which be-
ing duly honored by Governor Rusk.
with the proper papers in his pocket
about two weeks ago Officer Richards,
Of Sheriff Rewey's staff, was started on
the trail which assurances led them to
suppose could soon be run to earth.
They were not mistaken for few days
later Richards tapped section man
on the shoulder at Forsyth, in Montana
Territory, and informed him he was
wanted. McNelly, for it was he, flush
ed and paled, but offered no resistance.
During the past year he had been in
different portions of the northwest, at
one time having a tie contract. and at
another, being engaged in the erection
of warehouses, but later, evidently
fearing to make himself too prominent,
he had been working on section.
The officer and his prisoner came
through with no incident TO mar the
journey, and were met at Prairie du
Chen by Sheriff Rewey, who arrested
McNelly on a warrant returnable before
Justice Baldwin, in this city. and the
prisoner was accordingly brought here,
arriving Saturday noon.
McNelly was brought before Justice
Baldwin, Saturday afternoon, Mr. A. r.
Bushnell appearing as counsel. Here
there was some disagreement as to war
rants. the prisoner claiming the right to
be tried at Muscoda. AS District Attor-
ney Orr was absent, the court finally
decided to adjourn the case until Thurs
day, when Mr.. Orr would be back.
Bail was fixed at one thousand dollars,
and the prisoner committed unless the |
same was obtained.
McNelly, on his side, claims that the |
whole matter is a Matchmaking scheme,
pure and simple. He says, in ex-
PLANTATION of his flight, that he had made
all his preparations to go away before
the charge was made. The suddenness
of the affair, together with the advice of
friends, led him to take the course he |
did. He says. further, that certain par
ties offered that if he would accept ten |
dollars in payment of note for thirty |
dollars, nothing more would be said
about the matter. McNelly admits the |
bad look of his leaving in such haste,
but claims he can prove his innocence
on examination. The case rests here
until Thursday. and having secured no
bail McNelly remains behind the bars.