The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-20
The Bloody Handed Wretch Laying the
Foundation of an Insanity Plea by
Which to Cheat the Gallows.
Unique Obituary of a Floyd County
Republican Paper.
Tributes to the Memory of the Late Clarence
Cumback--Notes from Correspondents
and Gieanings from Exchanges.
INDIANA
The Murderer Melting Laying the Founda-
ton for an Insanity Defense.

ton for an Insanity Defense.
Lafayette Courier,
Nelling's scheme is to create the impress
sion that he is or was insane at the time of
the murder, but it won't work No sane per-
son takes any stock in it. His ill-concealed
anxiety to convince those who talk with him
that he is insane, is of itself sufficient con-
tradctlon. No insane person was ever
known TO admit that he was insane. He may
fancy everyone else crazy, but himself never.
Melting is not crazy nor will he ever succeed
in convincing the community that he is.
The community is crazy, however-crazy to
see him hung, and "there will be weeping
and wailing and crashing of teeth" should
he evade justice, which is barely possibly.
His safest course is to stick to his plea of
guilty and abide the consequence. Should
he escape on the plea OF insanity or a tech
nicality, the mob would tear him to pieces,
q Joe Atkinson, uncle of the murdered
girl. says that during all the thirty years
that he has known him he could
never grow familiar with him. There was
something so dark and forbidding about the
man that he could not help but fear and
dread him, and, where it was possible. he
always made it point to avoid him. The
poor nOIleT NAH CIuZGu WlJn GRIEF at Iu6
dreadful death of her murdered child, with
her keen woman's instinct, which is far bet
ter than any mans judgment, at once set
tied it in her own mind who was the real
murderer of her pet, and despite the many
ingenious and plausible theories and the
erockodile tears and snaky sympathy of
Melting, loathed the very sight of him, and
could not bear to have him about the prem
ises 1t was only by the greatest effort of
the will that she could remain moment in
his presence or dwell at home while he was
there. Dissim ulation had to be met with
discrimination, however and cunning
with cunning and the detective, Harris, or
dered that nothing should be done that
might put the man on his guard. He was
tricked into his confession, but for which an
innocent man might have paid the penalty
of his crime. He sees his error now, when
it is almost too late, and he is determined to
make no more foolish and fatal mistakes.
Heretofore he has been laxative; he has now
changed his base and become uncommunica-
tive. He sees a chance to cheat the gallows
of its deserts-it is but a slender chance, il is
true but still it is a chance, and Jacob Nell
ing is not the man to despair. His active
mind is busy formulating a plan for his
future actions. All else has failed him; the
insanity dodge is old and worn and thread
bare, and the people are heartily sick
of it, but there are yet some over
scrupulous cranks who may be played
is born actor and a man of strong individ-
uality and strong mesmeric force. He feels
his power, is no coward, and is even fascinated
at the great game of life and death before
him which he must play with such fearful odds
against him. He is not dismayed or dis
heartened, but nerved to meet the issue, and
will no doubt abide the consequence with
the stolid indifference of an Indian brave,
who cruel and relentless himself, expects
nothing but a cruel death.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PRISONER.
To the reporters inquiries he returned the
evasive answer: 81 have already stated every
thing"
"Have you no recollections as to the last
words of Ada Atkinson?,'
mo, l have not. 1t was all like a dream
to me. Ali that 1 recall was what have al
ready stated"
did she not plead with you for her life
did she struggle muchT'
II tell you don't know, have no recol-
lection of anything that happened other
than l have stated
When did you first feel the mania to kill
her, was it just after you entered the houseT'
mo, first felt the inspiration to kill some
one out in the yard where L was chopping
wood, and then l knew who it was had to
kill"
'Did you slip into the house?"
mo; y alked in and up stairs as I usually
did"
WAS Ada frightened when you first en-
tered?"
Not at all; it was only after I told her
what was going to do"
He would go no further in this direction,
and the reporter tried another tack, hoping
to worm something further from him later
on.
"Were you much frightened at Fowler
when the mob was bowling about the jall?'
81 can't say that l was; 1 am as easily hurt
as any man and as easily killed. but they
always said hadn't sense enough to get
skeered, " and a sly expression stole over the
mans face as he gave keen look at his in
terrogator.
Are you subject to halucinations?"
"Well l have done strange things several
times in my life'
mo doubt, but did you ever feel an in
spiration to kill anybody before this?"
mo, l never did; I have always been a lit
tie queer, but never thought of killing any
body"
Cant you now recall any further particu-
lars of the murder"
mo, can't, and l don't want to be ques-
toned any further about it. I have been
annoyed until am worn out 1t is done.
and can't be undone, and to talk about 1T
will do no good If there's any other subject
YOU wish to talk to me about, am willing;
but I don't want to talk about this any
more"
perhaps not, but then we are more inter
ested in this subject than any other"
Yes, that's true, but am tired OF talking
about it."
did you sleep we'll last night?'
eyes; and had good breakfast
"Have You lawyer, or are you going to
employ one?'
with decided jerk of his head) Eyes
I'll have lawyer, and good one when he
is wanted"
Have you any friends?"
Eyes, I have plenty of them"
will they stand by you, now that you
have made your confession?"'
(Emphatically) YES they'll have to stand
by me-theyll stand by me to the very
last"
"Do YOU expect to get out OF this scrape?"