The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-16
THE PRISONERS.
Personal Appearance of the Men-The Pre-
Iaminary Examination.
Special TO the Indanapolis JournaI


Personal Appearance of the Men-The Pre-
liaminary Examination.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
FOWLER, Ind, Oct. 15-Upon the strength
of this statement Melting was at once taken
into custody, and Jacob Ladd the young
man implicated, was arrested at Oxford.
Both were placed in Jail at Fowler, the
county-seat, on Sunday morning, between 1
and 3 o clock. On Sunday the body of the
dead girl was exhumed for another and
more careful examination, with the hope of
finding something in the character of the
wounds inflicted upon her person to CORE
spond with the bloody knife found in Nell
ng's possession Immediately after the
murder, but the body had de-
composed so badly that it could not be
we'll handled and after opening the coffin it
was again closed and reburied. One of the
remarkable and one of the most damaging
things in relation to the confession of
Melting is that it is wholly in contradiction
of his sworn statement at the first examina-
ton held, when he claimed to have no
knowledge whatever of the circumstances
of the crime. There were some fears last
night that there would be lynching, and the
jaler expected mob.
Melting was visited in Jail by the Journal
representative early this morning. AT that
time he was walking up and down his cell
room smoking very disreputable looking
pipe, and apparently at his ease. AS the
jailer entered, Melting requested him to
throw open window opposite his cell, that
he might have more light, and then resumed
his walking When asked by the Journal
representative about the confession which
he had made, the prisoner replied in semi
insolent manner that he had nothing to say
more than he would tell on the witness
stand. The appearance of Nelling is
what may be characterized as de-
cidedly tough. He is fifty years
old, is rather small in stature, and has stol-
id, imperturbable air. 1t was evident, how
ever, that he was not as much at ease as he
affected to be-
Jacob Ladd, the young man whom Nelling
duplicates as the murderer, has sickly and
effeminate appearance. He is twenty-four
years old, but looks at least four years young
er. He talked freely with the Journal rep
resentative, and evinced no fear that he might
tell something which it would be to his in
terest to conceal When questioned regard
ing his whereabouts on the day OF the MUIR
der he stated that be was in the woods, prob
ably mile distant from the Atkinson house,
cutting wood He had been employed by a
Mrs. Johnson, milliner at Oxford, who fig
ures unpleasantly in the talk about the MUIR
Ter, or, rather, was used by her as kind of
tool. He is fellow of very weak character
andit would require no great detective skill to
fasten upon him the guilt of the crime if he
had committed it. He has wept almost in
cessanuy since his arrest, and when asked if he
had any fears he answered that The thing
which hurts me is to be locked behind these
bars" He said that he had no fears as to his
being vindicated, but repeated that he was
hurt to find that he was in Jail.
THE EXAMINATION.
The preliminary examination of the pris-
oners began this morning at 1920 O. clock be-
fore Coroner Hitze. Melting was the first ex-
amined, and Judge Coffroth, of Lafayette, in
questioning him, applied the interrogatory
thumb-screws III way quite discomfiting to
Ine prisoner. Throughout Tue examination,
however, he was remarkably cool. His
statement was substantially the same as given
in his written confession. In the cross-ex-
animation Melting said: "Some kind of feel
ing came over me when Ladd left me in the
orchard which told me that there was some
thing wrong. 1t appeared to me like some
thing awful was going to happen, 1 never
had such feeling before"
Mr.. Coffroth-Did you go near the house
to sse if things were all right after feeling
this awful fear?
Nelling-I was afraid to co. but it was not
because | was afraid of Ladd or OF any thing
happening to me. I had an inward feeling
that something was wrong. was afraid that
if went to the house would see something,
but did not know what it would be.
Coffroth-Tf you had these awful feelings
why did you not call some of the neighbors?
Nelling-I did not think about it.
Cofroth-When you were working within
fifty feet of the house, building the pig-pen,
and when this awful feeling came over you,
why did you not call, Adal Ada! Ada?
Nelling--I can not tell why.
Cohroth-While you had this awful pre-
sentiment that there was something wrong