Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-03
A PRISONERS STORY.
augusta Lady the Cause of his Down.
n-he mas visited Her Many Times
ana Looked In at Her window

When Nathaniel d. Smith. the somewhat
noted criminal. whose downfall ia asc,;had
by himself to disappointment in love and
indulgence in liquor, was arrested. he nrom
ised after his trial was over to give in foIl
the story of his life. He was recently sen-
fenced by Judge Bonney of Portland 10 six
years confinement in prison, and Tuesday
evening reporter called at the Portland
jail, and in the presence OF Sheriff True. ,be
prisoner told the sad story of ruined life
manitestiug many times deep emotion. He
said:
was born in Mercer, Somerset Comfy
% years ago. | was well brought up. and
sustained good moral character until i was
ABOUT 80 years of age. | was married whom
ABOUT 70 iTas deceived in my wife. |
thought she must BE- good because she was a
Free Will Baptist believed in the .sme
doctrine. lived with her II wears. and
tried my best TO get along, but felt Obliged
al last to get clear of her, and obtained a
OIL OF enforcement. then met a woman.
and as looked at her said Il must mar
ry that woman, or | shall be
Ruined Man
81 became engaged to her. At that time AZ
at present, she lived in Augusta She set the
month, and gave me a solemn promise that
she would be my wife.
II Kept on writing TO her until found that
Ia lost her, and then nv downfall commence
ed. gave up business and began to run
from place to place, still writing to her. |
! soon was arrested and put in Wiscasset iail
tor taking money from the Nobleboro depot
of the Knox & Lincoln road bought a
ticket on the fourth of July at Rockland to
Lewiston and return. and didn't go back the
same day. but remained in Lewiston over
night.
Il had trouble about NY railroad tickle,
with the conductor, went to Rockland
on foot saw lawyer who said had good
case, and the next day | started to 90 back.
| wanted revenge, and when got to Noble
boro depot, finding no one in, the door open.
and the money all in sight, |. supposlng it
Belonged 10 the Company
took about $50 to S35 then went 10
Damariscotta and took the train for Bath.
On the way | gave the conductor and Moses
good blowing up, and got up quite an
excitement threatening 'em. said I'd
have pay for the outrage. By talking SO
bold, they having already missed the money,
they had me arrested. and come to find GU,
the money belonged to the deDot master
himself. | got four months in Jail. After
got out of that Jail went to Massachusetts,
but was soon in the Augusta Jail. | wa,
there from three to four months, and was lei
Off | stole a watch; had great fancy FOL
a watc'; a watch looks mighty good to me
when I'm drunk. | pleaded guilty, and wa'
let go with the understanding that I'd leave
the State. went to st. John, n. b., filled
with liquor.
Il was drunk from the time | left Bangor
until | arrived in st. John and drank harder
than ever after got there, the liquor being
great deal better than our Maine liquor.
soon commenced the old trade and continued
it until was arrested on the charge of lar
ceny, and was sent to prison for six years.
was sent to the prison ct ST. John, then wa,
transferred at Dorchester. and then was sen
to Kingston and served cut my sentenc,
except what good time | got--nine months
and twelve days in all. | forgot one thing
after leaving the Augusta Jail | was in tn,
Jail at Auburn for twerty days, for obtanins
liquor at the agency by misrepresentation
but | rather got the best of that matter.
Whilr in PRISON tri-d to be honest will
the officers, and before I'd been there on,
year the warden rec m uended INV pardon.
came out Of prison about a month before
was arrested here | then came to Portlaa,
July determined to make restitution, aut
: went with memorandum book in hand
f commenced Mt Portland, thence in Lewiston
Bath, Gardiner. and Augusta to people II
wronged, to see what they'd be willing to tax,
when got able. | was honest in it, and pal,
out all my money travelling about in thi
way. At Augusta inquired for the girl
wanted to marry, aod uud where she livcC
then. | went and stood outside the house tO
q long time waiting to see her through II,
window could see her shadow. and at las
saw her face. waited there until the
Lights Were Put Out
and then came away. I'd done that many
times before"
You didn't mean to kill herr
ono, no, | never thought to harm her,
love her too much for that"
II was once trial justice in Somerse
county and qualifying officer. | was ap
pointed Postmaster of Smithfeld by Andrew
Johnson, but did not agree with his polio,
and so did not take the office. You can 81,
that my love for that woman led to my drink
ing, and that drinking brought me here"