National Republican., 1883-10-18
MURDER CONFESSED.
Jacob Nelling Tells How He Brutally Butchorod
Ada Atkinson,
Preparations for Lynching Him Aban-
doned for Want OF Leader.
Netp York SIM.


in Fowler this morning that another oxami-
nation in the Ada Atkinson murder case
would take place at Oxford, ten miles dis
tant, and great many of the residents of
Fowler started for that place. Knots of men
gathered on the streets of tho little town Of
oxford, the murder and recent developments
being the sole topic of conversation. 1t was
evident that the feeling was deep and strong,
and whispers of summarily lynching the
murderer were frequent. Atabout IL o'clock
Col DE Hart and MIR. Coifroth, of Lafayette,
and Coroner Hitze drove up in u buggy to q
spot where the largest crowd was congrogated
and asked attention. Immediately silence
pervaded the crow. When everything was
quiet Col. De Hart read the following confess
sion from Melting, made first to Detective
Harris, of Pinkerton's agency, and afterward
TO the coroner:
I, Jacob Nelllng, being duly sworn, acknowl-
edge that killed Ada Atkinson with my POCKET
kniie, snown to-day in open court in Benton
county court house. ! killed her under the fol-
lowing circumstances Before 1 stated to do 1t
something came over me that outiced me to do so.
started from the fence on tho east side of the
orchard to the house. entered the south door of
the house. went up stairs and found Ada up
there. l said to her, ada, am going to Kill
you"
She told me not to do IT. that she did not want
TO die that way. told her should do 1t, but
don't recollect what she said then, l took hold of
her and threw her down on the floor. Then cut
her throat. Then became lrenzicd and made the
other cuts. II seems my mind lett me, and did not
rest of the cutting but suppose did 1t all.
had no motive that l remember for killing
her in this manner, and / did not attempt to
ravsh her. As left the house l went to the milk
house, and washed my hands and knife in the
basin which had lying on the edge Of the milk
yard aud likely it soaked into the grass. did not
get my clothes bloody because the blood did not
fly. IT seems TO me that had hold OF the hand
kerchief which was around her neck, and might
have twisted IL when cut her throat. Alter wash
ing the blood Off my hands and knife went back
through the orchard to my work. / do solemnly
swear that Jacob Ladd is innocent of the murder,
and that he did not visit the house that day, and
that the previous statements have made about
JACOB NJ NELLINd.
PSI will state that 1 have not been forced to
make this confession, and that make it yolun-
tarily, without any expectation Of immunity from
justice. JACoB NJ NELLING.
Paul f. Stze, coroner of Benton county, Indiana.
Col De Hart read the horrible confession
with delibcration and emphasis. When he
had concluded he said: "We are now going
to Fowler to hold public examination" In
an instant the crowd dispersed, men running
for their horses and teams, or to the livery
stables. In twenty minutes tho roads lead
ing to Fowler were black with wagons, all
going at rattling pace. To the farm hands
plowing in the fields, who stopped work to
inquire what was new, the answer was,
did come, and by ! o'clock the farms for
miles around were deserted, and the town of
Fowler was thronged with men seemingly
intent on vengeance. All hurried to the court
house. which was filled to its utmost capacity.
The murderer was ushered in, and every eye
fixed on his cold features. The prisoner dis
played no sign of emotion Order was kept,
and when Nelling took his scat in the witness
chair he looked like man about to converse
on trivial topic. Attired in blue overcoat,
white shirt, and blue overalls, sitting with
crossed hands and knees, he awaited his ex-
animation.
In answer to questions, Melting said the
statement he had signed was true in every
particular. He had committed the murder
hipSeif, and no one had suggested it to him.
IIo could not tell what induced him to do it,
rQ. You had seen this girl grow up from child
@. She was always kind and gentle to you?-A.
q. What did you say to her when you entered
the room?-A. probably told her was going to
kill her.
He did not recollect what tho girl was
doing but she might have been combing her
hair when he entered the room. She did not
struggle, he said, after he took her by the
throat He threw her on tho floor, and stood
by the side of her when he was thrusting the
knife into her, and she did not scream when
he caught her. He supposed the commission
of the crime occupied about twenty minutes.
He did not remember striking her with his
fist and said 81 have no recollection of cut
ting her about the body or anywhere else
but -" Here he ran his finger across his
throat and added, in lower voice, throat
During this recital the father of the mur.
dered girl had his head buried in his hands
and was weeping.
Arc you guilty or not guilty." was
asked.
NO" he responded in distinct tones, "tc
all that is charged. | had no malice it was
not premeditated. l had no revenge against
the girl. / always loved her. Something
told me to kill her, and did. 1 couldn't
help it,"
Not tear dimmed his eye as he said he
loved the girl. He only clasped his hands q
little tighter, and rolled his quid of tobacco tc
another side.
There was whispering in the court room
after the examination was over. Melting wa:
taken down the rear stairs, near which he
was seated. The father of Ada rose from his
chair, the tears streaming down his cheeks
and, in broken voice, called out: Take
him out, men." A rush was made for tho
doors with a view of intercepting the sheriff
with his prisoner on the way to the Jail, but
the doors were locked. The crowd could moi
leave the room, and before they could at,
tempt to break down tho doors, Mr.. Con'roth
mounted table and cautioned them not tc
do any violence, as they had restrained them
selves so far.
When the doors were opened tho crowd oil
about 500 surged out and surrounded tho Jail
Sheriff Scanlan and posse met them Mt the
entrance and finally, after lingering for al
hour, the mob dispersed to talk over the mat
ter and await better opportunity.
AS evening came on it was rumored that
few resolute avengers had gathered over
hundred men and organized little way on
of town. COuriers were sent out to all thu
farms bidding men to como and participate il
the work of stretching the neck of villain
The sheriff and constables were around
pressing men into posse for the protection
of the Jail, but there were few who willingl,
consented to serve. The jail is substantial
two story building OF stone, about seventy
[ five yards from the court house, and so con
structed that handful of men could hold il
against mob if the defenders were deter
mined.
About IL o'clock the mob made an assault
on the jail, but was repulsed. They hung abou
the jail for some hours afterward but final,
dispersed. During the demonstration Nellin
was overcome with terror, aud, crouching il
the darkest corner of his cell, begged hi
guards 70 protect him.
Removal OF Indians,
The commissioner Of Indian affairs ha
received a report from Indian Agen
Llewellyn, announcing the arrival Of tn
Jicarillos at the Mescalero reservation Ney